While percentages like 68% of US adults being overweight or 90% of the world breathing unsafe air reveal startling truths about health, society, and our planet, they also hold the power to shape our understanding and spark meaningful change.
Key Takeaways
- 68% of US adults were overweight or obese in 2019-2020 per CDC data
- 13.7% of US children aged 2-19 were obese in 2017-2020 according to NHANES survey
- 42% of US cancer cases are linked to tobacco use per American Cancer Society 2022 report
- 52% of world GDP growth from emerging markets in 2023 per IMF World Economic Outlook April 2023
- 8.7% US unemployment rate peak in 2020 per BLS
- 60% of global workforce informal employment per ILO 2022
- 73% of US adults aged 25+ have high school diploma per Census 2023
- 38% of US population has bachelor's degree or higher 2022 ACS
- 89% global primary school enrollment rate 2020 per UNESCO
- 49% deforestation rate reduction Amazon 2004-2022 per INPE Brazil
- 71% of Earth surface oceans absorbing 90% excess heat IPCC 2023
- 14% global land protected areas 2023 UNEP-WCMC
- 19% US population growth from immigration 2000-2020 Census
- 26% global population urban in 1950 vs 56% 2020 UN
- 50.8% US female population 2023 Census
Percentages reveal key patterns in health, economy, and environment statistics.
Demographics
- 19% US population growth from immigration 2000-2020 Census
- 26% global population urban in 1950 vs 56% 2020 UN
- 50.8% US female population 2023 Census
- 16% world population over 65 by 2050 projected UN 2022
- 59% India population under 25 2023 UN
- 13.6% US foreign-born population 2022 ACS Census
- 80% global population growth in Africa/Asia 2022-2050 UN
- 21% millennials US homeownership rate 2023 NAR
- 38% EU population aged 50+ 2023 Eurostat
- 4.2 births per woman sub-Saharan Africa 2023 UN
- 77% US population white non-Hispanic 2020 Census
- 29% global median age increase 1950-2020 UN
- 42% Hispanic share US population growth 2010-2020 Census
- 68% world population in countries with below replacement fertility UN 2023
- 15% US population 65+ 2023 Census
- 51% China urban population 2023 World Bank
- 24% global migrants international 2020 IOM
- 35% youth unemployment Arab countries ILO 2023
- 49% world population Asia 2023 UN
- 28% US single-person households 2023 Census
- 1.6 children per woman EU fertility rate 2022 Eurostat
- 62% global internet users 2023 ITU
- 17% Africa population share global but 60% growth 2050 UN
- 46% US workforce Gen Z/Millennials 2023 BLS
- 7.5% global population growth rate decline since 1960s UN
Demographics Interpretation
The world is simultaneously aging, moving, connecting, and diverging, revealing a future where youthful continents drive growth while developed nations grapple with housing and graying workforces.
Economy
- 52% of world GDP growth from emerging markets in 2023 per IMF World Economic Outlook April 2023
- 8.7% US unemployment rate peak in 2020 per BLS
- 60% of global workforce informal employment per ILO 2022
- 24.5% EU GDP from services in manufacturing share 2022 per Eurostat
- 41% of US households own stock market investments per Fed SCF 2022
- 3.5% global inflation average 2023 projection per IMF
- 70% of world oil consumption by developed economies per EIA 2022
- 15% increase in global trade volume 2021 per WTO
- 28% of US GDP from financial services 2022 per BEA
- 55% of global FDI inflows to developing Asia 2022 per UNCTAD
- 9.1% China GDP growth average 2010-2020 per World Bank
- 67% of US consumer spending on services 2023 per BEA
- 22% global poverty rate reduction since 1990 per World Bank 2022
- 45% of EU exports intra-regional 2022 per Eurostat
- 12.3% US corporate profit share of GDP 2023 per FRED
- 80% of world merchandise trade by top 10% countries per WTO 2023
- 34% increase in global remittances 2022 per World Bank KNOMAD
- 6.8% India GDP growth 2023 per IMF
- 50% of US labor force women in 2023 per BLS
- 18% global debt-to-GDP ratio rise 2020-2022 per IMF
- 62% of Brazil exports commodities 2022 per World Bank WITS
- 4.1% Eurozone unemployment 2023 per Eurostat
- 75% of global VC funding to US/Europe 2022 per Crunchbase
- 26% US manufacturing output share globally 2022 per UNIDO
- 11% global growth in e-commerce sales 2023 per UNCTAD
- 39% of Japan government debt to GDP 2023 per IMF
- 47% US households with debt 2022 per Fed SCF
- 20% decline in global FDI 2022 per UNCTAD
- 58% of world population urban contributing 80% GDP per World Bank 2022
Economy Interpretation
A world economy in dizzying transformation is increasingly powered by emerging markets and urban centers, yet remains burdened by stark inequalities, debt, and a fragile reliance on services, finance, and a handful of dominant players.
Education
- 73% of US adults aged 25+ have high school diploma per Census 2023
- 38% of US population has bachelor's degree or higher 2022 ACS
- 89% global primary school enrollment rate 2020 per UNESCO
- 12% of world youth not in education employment or training per ILO 2022
- 57% of US college students female 2022 NCES
- 25% increase in global tertiary enrollment 2010-2020 per World Bank
- 91% US high school graduation rate 2019-20 per NCES
- 40% of low-income students proficient in reading US NAEP 2022
- 66% global literacy rate for adults 2022 UNESCO
- 28% of US public schools chronic absenteeism 2021-22 per NCES
- 15% of world children out of school per UNICEF 2023
- 52% of EU students PISA math proficient 2022 OECD
- 70% of US adults read below 6th grade level per literacy studies 2023
- 9% global gender parity in STEM higher ed per UNESCO 2022
- 84% US kindergarten enrollment rate 2021 NCES
- 33% increase in online learning adoption post-COVID per OECD 2023
- 45% of low/middle-income countries teacher shortage per UNESCO 2023
- 62% US college completion rate within 6 years public 4-year 2022 NCES
- 76% global female primary enrollment parity 2022 World Bank
- 18% dropout rate secondary school sub-Saharan Africa UNESCO 2022
- 55% of US adults lifelong learning participants per NCES 2023
- 94% Japan literacy rate adults 2022 UNESCO
- 27% US student loan debt holders under 30 per Fed 2023
- 68% OECD countries vocational training share secondary OECD 2022
- 11% global adult illiteracy women vs 8% men UNESCO 2022
Education Interpretation
While we've achieved near-universal enrollment and record graduation rates, the sobering gaps in proficiency, literacy, and equity reveal that our global report card is a mix of impressive attendance with far too many students left without the core skills to thrive.
Environment
- 49% deforestation rate reduction Amazon 2004-2022 per INPE Brazil
- 71% of Earth surface oceans absorbing 90% excess heat IPCC 2023
- 14% global land protected areas 2023 UNEP-WCMC
- 78% renewable energy share electricity EU 2023 per Ember
- 24% decline in global plastic waste recycled 2022 per OECD
- 37% of fish stocks overfished globally FAO 2022
- 50% mangrove loss since 1950 per UNEP 2023
- 68% US national parks visitation increase 2022 NPS
- 21% global CO2 emissions from agriculture FAO 2023
- 85% coral reefs threatened worldwide ICRI 2023
- 12% reduction EU air pollution deaths 2010-2020 EEA
- 40% biodiversity loss vertebrates since 1970 WWF 2022
- 65% renewable capacity addition global 2023 IRENA
- 28% ocean plastic from top 10 rivers per Jambeck study 2023
- 55% forest cover loss tropics 1990-2020 WRI
- 92% US electricity from fossil fuels 2000 vs 60% 2022 EIA
- 16% global water stress population 2023 UN-Water
- 73% reduction ozone depleting substances Montreal Protocol UNEP 2023
- 31% increase wildfires California 1980-2022 USFS
- 47% peatland drainage emissions global per IPCC 2022
- 80% marine protected areas no-take FAO 2023
- 9% sea level rise acceleration 1993-2023 NOAA
- 64% bird population decline North America 1970-2020 USGS
- 22% electric vehicle sales global 2023 IEA
- 35% soil degradation affected land UNCCD 2022
- 76% wind power capacity Europe 2023 EWEA
- 41% global population exposed extreme heat IPCC 2023
- 90% world population breathing unsafe air WHO 2022
Environment Interpretation
Our planet is a wildly mixed bag, where one step forward in renewable energy is often met by two steps back in deforestation and pollution, proving we're simultaneously capable of brilliant repair and reckless destruction.
Health
- 68% of US adults were overweight or obese in 2019-2020 per CDC data
- 13.7% of US children aged 2-19 were obese in 2017-2020 according to NHANES survey
- 42% of US cancer cases are linked to tobacco use per American Cancer Society 2022 report
- 29% of global deaths in 2019 were due to cardiovascular diseases says WHO
- 11% of US adults have diabetes in 2021 CDC statistics
- 18.5% of US adults experienced depression symptoms in August 2020 per HPS survey
- 81% of COVID-19 deaths in US were among those 65+ as of 2022 CDC data
- 27.7% of US adults aged 18-44 reported anxiety symptoms in 2020 per CDC
- 9.4% of world population has chronic kidney disease per 2023 Lancet study
- 14.7% of US adults smoke cigarettes in 2021 NHIS data
- 36% of adults worldwide are insufficiently physically active per WHO 2022
- 4.2% of US teens aged 12-17 have major depressive episode per NIMH 2021
- 22% of global population lives with chronic pain per 2021 Lancet
- 50.2% of US women aged 20+ are overweight per CDC 2015-2018
- 7.8% of US adults have generalized anxiety disorder lifetime per NIMH
- 16% of world population aged 60+ by 2030 projected by UN
- 31.8% of US adults get less than 7 hours sleep nightly per CDC 2022
- 10.5% of US adults have asthma per CDC 2021
- 24% of Europeans are obese per WHO 2022 Eurostat
- 2.8% of global population has Parkinson's disease per 2023 Lancet Neurology
- 28.7% of US adults binge drink per CDC 2022
- 15% of US adults have high blood pressure control per CDC 2021
- 33% of cancer deaths worldwide tobacco-related per WHO 2023
- 19.7% of US children have obesity per CDC 2017-2020
- 12.5% of world population has mental disorder per WHO 2022
- 45% of US adults 18-34 use tobacco products per CDC 2021
- 8.3% of US population has hearing loss per NIDCD 2023
- 21% of global adults have hypertension per Lancet 2021
- 6.1% of US adults have bipolar disorder lifetime per NIMH
- 37.3% of US adults sedentary per CDC 2018 BRFSS
Health Interpretation
We seem to be a society expertly calibrating our lifestyles to maximize our time with doctors by minimizing our time with vegetables, exercise, and sleep.
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