While the average person today can expect to live into their seventies, a global tapestry of statistics—from skyrocketing older populations to shrinking families—reveals a world undergoing a profound demographic and social transformation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the global average life expectancy at birth for individuals was 73.4 years, with variations by gender where females averaged 76.1 years and males 70.8 years.
- As of 2022, the world population of individuals aged 65 and older reached 761 million, representing 9.9% of the total global population.
- In the United States, the median age of individuals in 2023 was 38.9 years, up from 38.5 in 2022.
- The average adult human brain weighs 1.4 kilograms and contains about 86 billion neurons.
- Worldwide, 1 in 6 individuals experiences infertility, affecting 48 million couples in 2023.
- In the US, 41.9% of adults had obesity (BMI ≥30) in 2023 data.
- Worldwide literacy rate for individuals aged 15+ is 87% in 2023.
- In the US, 89% of individuals aged 25+ have high school diploma or higher in 2023.
- Global tertiary enrollment rate for individuals is 40% in 2023.
- Global median household income for individuals in purchasing power parity is $10,000 annually in 2023.
- In the US, median personal income for individuals aged 25+ was $45,160 in 2022.
- Global wealth per adult individual averaged $84,718 in 2023.
- Daily social media usage averages 2.5 hours per individual globally in 2023.
- 85% of individuals own a smartphone worldwide in 2023.
- Average daily TV watching time is 2.8 hours per individual in the US.
Global population statistics show rising life expectancy, growing older populations, and significant regional variations in health and demographics.
Demographics
- In 2023, the global average life expectancy at birth for individuals was 73.4 years, with variations by gender where females averaged 76.1 years and males 70.8 years.
- As of 2022, the world population of individuals aged 65 and older reached 761 million, representing 9.9% of the total global population.
- In the United States, the median age of individuals in 2023 was 38.9 years, up from 38.5 in 2022.
- Globally, the fertility rate for individuals (total births per woman) dropped to 2.3 in 2022 from 2.5 in 2012.
- In Europe, 21.3% of individuals were aged 65 or older in 2023, the highest regional share worldwide.
- The global sex ratio at birth for individuals is approximately 105 boys per 100 girls as of 2023.
- In India, the population of individuals under 15 years old constitutes 25.3% of the total in 2023.
- Urbanization rate for individuals worldwide reached 56.9% living in urban areas in 2023.
- In China, the working-age population (15-64 years) for individuals peaked at 1.01 billion in 2014 and declined to 975 million by 2023.
- The global median age for individuals increased from 26.5 years in 2000 to 30.5 years in 2023.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, 42% of individuals are under 15 years old as of 2023.
- The dependency ratio for individuals aged 65+ globally is projected to rise from 16% in 2023 to 25% by 2050.
- In Japan, 29.1% of individuals were 65 or older in 2023, the highest proportion globally.
- Global population growth rate for individuals slowed to 0.88% in 2023 from 1.25% in 2010.
- In Brazil, the proportion of individuals aged 60+ rose to 15.1% in 2023.
- The international migrant stock for individuals was 281 million in 2020, or 3.6% of world population.
- In the EU, life expectancy for individuals at age 65 is 20.5 years on average in 2023.
- Global youth population (15-24 years) for individuals is 1.2 billion in 2023, 16% of total.
- In Nigeria, 44.2% of individuals are under 15 as of 2023.
- The old-age dependency ratio in South Korea reached 20.3% for individuals in 2023.
- Worldwide, 49.6% of individuals are female as of 2023.
- In Russia, the population decline for individuals was 0.39% in 2023.
- Global child population (0-14) for individuals is 2 billion in 2023, 25% of total.
- In Germany, 22.3% of individuals aged 65+ in 2023.
- The potential support ratio (workers per 65+ individual) globally is 6.2 in 2023.
- In the UK, median age for individuals is 40.7 years in 2023.
- Global refugee population for individuals hit 36.4 million in 2023.
- In Indonesia, youth (15-24) comprise 16.5% of individuals in 2023.
- Total global population of individuals reached 8.045 billion in 2023.
- In Canada, 19% of individuals are 65+ in 2023.
Demographics Interpretation
We are a species growing grayer, more urban, and more lopsided by age and gender, trying to build a future on a foundation of fewer children and more grandparents.
Economic Status
- Global median household income for individuals in purchasing power parity is $10,000 annually in 2023.
- In the US, median personal income for individuals aged 25+ was $45,160 in 2022.
- Global wealth per adult individual averaged $84,718 in 2023.
- Unemployment rate for individuals worldwide was 4.9% in 2023.
- In Germany, average gross monthly salary for full-time individuals is €4,105 in 2023.
- US labor force participation rate for prime-age individuals (25-54) is 83.3% in 2023.
- Global Gini coefficient for income inequality among individuals is 38.8 in latest data.
- In China, urban disposable income per capita for individuals is 51,821 RMB ($7,300) in 2023.
- Average hourly wage globally for individuals is $11.15 PPP in 2023.
- In the UK, median weekly earnings for full-time individuals is £702 in 2023.
- Poverty rate (below $2.15/day) affects 8.5% of global individuals in 2023.
- Sweden has the lowest income inequality Gini of 27.6 for individuals.
- In India, average annual salary for individuals is ₹3.58 lakhs ($4,300).
- US wealth inequality top 10% hold 69% of total wealth for individuals.
- Global remittances to individuals reached $831 billion in 2022.
- In Japan, average annual income for individuals is ¥4.6 million ($30,000).
- Female-male wage gap globally is 20% for individuals doing same work.
- In Brazil, minimum wage for individuals is R$1,412 monthly in 2023.
- Billionaires number 2,781 individuals controlling $14.2 trillion in 2023.
- In France, net disposable income per capita is $35,300 for individuals.
- Global underemployment affects 400 million individuals seeking more hours.
- In Australia, average full-time salary is AUD 94,000 annually for individuals.
- US savings rate for individuals averaged 3.8% of disposable income in 2023.
- In South Africa, unemployment rate for individuals is 32.9% in 2023.
- Global middle class individuals number 3.8 billion in 2023.
- In Canada, median employment income is CAD 42,000 for individuals.
- Debt-to-income ratio for US individuals averages 130% in 2023.
- In Italy, average net monthly salary is €1,500 for individuals.
- Global informal employment covers 58% of workforce individuals.
- In Russia, average monthly wage is 73,709 RUB ($800) in 2023.
- Worldwide average retirement age for individuals is 64.3 years.
Economic Status Interpretation
While the statistics present a world of staggering progress, they also starkly illustrate that the "average" global experience—marked by modest income, deep inequality, and precarious work—remains a universe apart from the relative prosperity enjoyed in wealthy nations.
Education and Skills
- Worldwide literacy rate for individuals aged 15+ is 87% in 2023.
- In the US, 89% of individuals aged 25+ have high school diploma or higher in 2023.
- Global tertiary enrollment rate for individuals is 40% in 2023.
- Finland has the highest PISA math score average of 507 for individuals aged 15 in 2022.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, 33% of individuals aged 15+ are illiterate.
- US student-teacher ratio in primary education is 15.4 individuals per teacher in 2023.
- Global average years of schooling for individuals aged 25+ is 8.6 years.
- In South Korea, 70% of individuals aged 25-34 have tertiary education.
- Worldwide, 260 million individuals of school age are out of school.
- Canada adult literacy proficiency (level 3+) is 54% for individuals.
- Global government expenditure on education is 4.5% of GDP for individuals' access.
- In India, 74% gross enrollment ratio in secondary education for individuals.
- PISA reading score global average is 476 for 15-year-old individuals in 2022.
- Japan has 99% literacy rate for individuals aged 15+.
- In the UK, 45% of individuals aged 25-64 have tertiary qualifications.
- Global early childhood education enrollment is 70% for individuals aged 3-6.
- US dropout rate for high school individuals is 5.2% in 2022.
- In Brazil, 93% primary school completion rate for individuals.
- Average class size globally is 27 pupils per teacher for primary individuals.
- Singapore PISA science score is 561 for individuals in 2022.
- In Germany, vocational training covers 50% of upper secondary individuals.
- Global digital literacy skills gap affects 2.7 billion individuals without basic internet skills.
- Australia has 60% of 25-34 year-olds with skills above level 3 in literacy.
- In China, 58.8% secondary gross enrollment for individuals.
- UNESCO estimates 750 million illiterate individuals worldwide, mostly women.
- Netherlands lifelong learning participation is 25% of individuals aged 25-64.
- Global STEM graduates per 1,000 individuals aged 25-34 is 25.
- In Mexico, 40% of individuals aged 25+ have below basic skills.
- Worldwide, girls' primary completion rate is 89% vs 92% boys in 2023.
- Estonia e-learning adoption is 95% for school individuals.
- Global average PISA score in problem-solving is 500 equivalent.
- In France, 42% tertiary attainment for 25-34 individuals.
- US per-pupil expenditure is $13,185 annually for K-12 individuals.
- In OECD, 15% of individuals aged 25-64 lack basic digital skills.
Education and Skills Interpretation
While we've impressively educated most of the global village, our report card shows we're still flunking the class on equity, depth, and digital access, leaving billions behind with an 'incomplete' stamped on their future.
Health and Wellness
- The average adult human brain weighs 1.4 kilograms and contains about 86 billion neurons.
- Worldwide, 1 in 6 individuals experiences infertility, affecting 48 million couples in 2023.
- In the US, 41.9% of adults had obesity (BMI ≥30) in 2023 data.
- Global depression prevalence among individuals is 5% or 280 million people in 2023.
- Average daily sleep for individuals in OECD countries is 7.8 hours in recent surveys.
- Diabetes affects 537 million individuals aged 20-79 globally in 2023, projected to 783 million by 2045.
- In Europe, 27% of individuals report chronic pain lasting over 3 months.
- Global cancer incidence for individuals is 20 million new cases annually in 2023.
- Average daily step count for individuals worldwide is around 3,000-4,000 steps per day.
- Hypertension affects 1.28 billion individuals aged 30-79 globally in 2023.
- In the US, 20.6% of individuals aged 12+ had substance use disorder in 2022 data.
- Global HIV prevalence is 38.4 million individuals living with HIV in 2023.
- Average fruit and vegetable intake for individuals is 3.9 servings per day globally.
- Alzheimer's disease affects 55 million individuals worldwide in 2023.
- In low-income countries, 90% of individuals with severe mental disorders receive no care.
- Global physical inactivity rate is 27.5% of adults (1.4 billion individuals) in 2023.
- Tuberculosis infected 10.6 million individuals globally in 2022.
- In Australia, 31% of individuals meet aerobic activity guidelines weekly.
- Global suicide rate is 9 per 100,000 individuals, higher in males at 12.3.
- Osteoporosis affects 200 million women individuals worldwide.
- In the UK, 1 in 4 individuals will experience mental health problems yearly.
- Global malaria cases were 249 million in individuals in 2022.
- Average blood pressure for healthy individuals is 120/80 mmHg.
- Parkinson's disease affects 10 million individuals globally.
- In India, 15% of individuals have mental disorders.
- Global hearing loss affects 1.5 billion individuals, projected to 2.5B by 2050.
- Average resting heart rate for individuals is 60-100 bpm.
- COPD affects 392 million individuals globally in 2023.
- In the US, 10.5% of individuals have asthma.
- Global average BMI for adults is 24.5 kg/m² in 2023.
- Anxiety disorders affect 301 million individuals globally in 2019 data.
Health and Wellness Interpretation
Our remarkably complex 1.4 kg biological computers, tasked with navigating a world increasingly defined by metabolic, infectious, mental, and chronic health burdens, appear to be running a staggering number of systemic errors for which our current societal software offers no adequate patch.
Lifestyle/Social
- Daily social media usage averages 2.5 hours per individual globally in 2023.
- 85% of individuals own a smartphone worldwide in 2023.
- Average daily TV watching time is 2.8 hours per individual in the US.
- Globally, 62% of individuals are internet users in 2023.
- Marriage rate in the US is 6.2 per 1,000 individuals in 2022.
- Average number of close friends per individual is 3 in recent surveys.
- Divorce rate globally averages 2.5 per 1,000 individuals.
- 70% of individuals exercise less than recommended 150 min/week.
- Average commute time is 27 minutes one-way per individual in the US.
- Vegetarianism adopted by 8% of individuals globally.
- Social isolation affects 1 in 4 older individuals worldwide.
- Average weekly alcohol consumption is 1.5 units per individual in Europe.
- 55% of individuals report high work stress daily.
- Pet ownership is 57% of US households (individuals).
- Global average happiness score is 5.5/10 for individuals.
- 40% of individuals meditate or practice mindfulness weekly.
- Average screen time per individual is 7 hours daily in 2023.
- Single-person households rose to 34% in OECD countries.
- 75% of individuals prioritize family time over career.
- Gaming participation is 48% of global individuals weekly.
- Average volunteer hours per individual is 50 annually in US.
- 28% of individuals are remote workers post-pandemic.
- Global reading average is 6.5 hours per week per individual.
- 62% of individuals recycle regularly.
- Average sleep satisfaction is 65% of individuals globally.
- 35% of young individuals live with parents in OECD.
- Podcast listening reaches 42% of US individuals monthly.
- 80% of individuals use ride-sharing services occasionally.
- Average family size globally is 4.8 individuals.
- 50% of individuals report loneliness occasionally.
- Travel frequency: 70% of individuals take 1+ vacation yearly.
Lifestyle/Social Interpretation
The modern human experience is a surprisingly efficient, mildly melancholic juggling act: we are more connected than ever, yet often alone; we know the stats for a good life but are just slightly too stressed, sedentary, and screen-bound to perfectly achieve it.
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