GITNUXREPORT 2026

Scary Statistics

Many global threats to humanity are shockingly common and severe.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

58% road deaths are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists

Statistic 2

1.19 million road traffic deaths yearly

Statistic 3

Falls cause 684,000 deaths annually

Statistic 4

90% of aviation accidents due to human error

Statistic 5

353,000 drownings yearly

Statistic 6

Poisonings kill 120,000 yearly

Statistic 7

2.8 million occupational deaths per year

Statistic 8

Earthquakes kill average 60,000 yearly

Statistic 9

Floods affect 250 million people yearly

Statistic 10

Droughts displace 18 million yearly

Statistic 11

Storms cost $1.4 trillion in last decade

Statistic 12

Wildfires burned 4.5 million hectares in 2023

Statistic 13

Volcanoes erupt 50-80 times yearly

Statistic 14

Tsunamis kill thousands periodically, e.g., 230,000 in 2004

Statistic 15

Landslides kill 5,000 yearly

Statistic 16

40 million lightning strikes daily worldwide

Statistic 17

Building collapses kill 100,000+ in disasters

Statistic 18

Industrial accidents like Bhopal killed 16,000+

Statistic 19

Oil spills average 3 million tons yearly

Statistic 20

Shipwrecks 3,000 vessels lost yearly

Statistic 21

Elevator accidents kill 30 in US yearly

Statistic 22

Food poisoning sickens 600 million yearly

Statistic 23

96% disaster deaths in developing countries

Statistic 24

Asteroid impacts possible every 500,000 years catastrophic

Statistic 25

Solar flares disrupt power grids periodically

Statistic 26

Global temperatures have risen by 1.1°C since pre-industrial times

Statistic 27

3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts highly vulnerable to climate change

Statistic 28

Sea levels rose by 20 cm since 1900

Statistic 29

Arctic sea ice has declined by 40% since 1979

Statistic 30

Coral reefs could decline by 70-90% at 1.5°C warming

Statistic 31

14% of global human-caused greenhouse gas emissions from food systems

Statistic 32

Extreme weather events have increased fivefold since 1970

Statistic 33

91% of wildfires in 2023 linked to climate change

Statistic 34

50% increase in atmospheric water vapor due to warming

Statistic 35

1 million species at risk of extinction

Statistic 36

75% of global land area severely altered by humans

Statistic 37

Plastic pollution could triple by 2060

Statistic 38

8 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans yearly

Statistic 39

69% decline in wildlife populations since 1970

Statistic 40

85% of wetlands lost since 1700

Statistic 41

Deforestation emits 12-15% of global GHG

Statistic 42

Ocean acidification up 30% since industrial revolution

Statistic 43

20-30% of plant and animal species at risk from climate

Statistic 44

Heatwaves have become 5 times more likely

Statistic 45

Crop yields could drop 10-25% per degree warming

Statistic 46

250 million more hungry by 2050 due to climate

Statistic 47

143 million displaced by climate extremes by 2050

Statistic 48

$1.8 trillion in economic losses from disasters 2000-2019

Statistic 49

CO2 levels highest in 800,000 years at 420 ppm

Statistic 50

Methane concentrations up 150% since 1750

Statistic 51

Glacier mass loss accelerated to 286 Gt/year 2015-2019

Statistic 52

Permafrost thaw could release 100 Gt carbon

Statistic 53

489 million more in extreme poverty by 2030 due to climate

Statistic 54

37% of heat deaths attributable to climate change

Statistic 55

Homicide rate is 6.1 per 100,000 globally

Statistic 56

464,000 homicide victims yearly

Statistic 57

Firearms used in 50% of homicides

Statistic 58

1 in 3 women experience physical/sexual violence

Statistic 59

87,000 women killed by intimate partners yearly

Statistic 60

6 million people forcibly displaced by violence yearly

Statistic 61

Organized crime markets worth $870 billion annually

Statistic 62

Cybercrime costs $8 trillion globally in 2023

Statistic 63

2.5 billion people affected by identity theft

Statistic 64

Human trafficking generates $150 billion profits yearly

Statistic 65

25 million in forced labor, 15 million forced marriage

Statistic 66

Child soldiers number 250,000 worldwide

Statistic 67

1 billion children experience violence yearly

Statistic 68

Rape reported in 59 countries as weapon of war

Statistic 69

Gang violence kills 120,000 yearly

Statistic 70

Domestic violence costs $8.3 trillion over lifetime

Statistic 71

Elder abuse affects 1 in 6 over 60

Statistic 72

Terrorism deaths peaked at 44,000 in 2014

Statistic 73

Drug trafficking deaths 500,000+ yearly indirect

Statistic 74

Corruption costs $2 trillion annually

Statistic 75

Money laundering $800 billion to $2 trillion yearly

Statistic 76

Online child sexual exploitation images 1 million+ new monthly

Statistic 77

Human smuggling $5.7 billion revenue yearly

Statistic 78

190,000 conflict deaths in 2022

Statistic 79

100 million landmines remain, killing 5,000-10,000 yearly

Statistic 80

783 million people in extreme poverty

Statistic 81

2.33 billion in multidimensional poverty

Statistic 82

828 million hungry in 2021

Statistic 83

3 billion cannot afford healthy diet

Statistic 84

Wealthiest 1% emit double CO2 of poorest 50%

Statistic 85

10% richest take 76% economic growth 2012-2021

Statistic 86

2,755 billionaires hold $13 trillion, more than 4.6 billion people

Statistic 87

CEO pay 1,000 times worker average in US

Statistic 88

54% global wealth with men

Statistic 89

Racial wealth gap: white families 8x black families US

Statistic 90

4.2 billion lack social protection

Statistic 91

Youth unemployment 13.7% globally

Statistic 92

160 million children in child labor

Statistic 93

650 million workers in informal economy poverty

Statistic 94

Debt service 10% GDP in poorest countries

Statistic 95

3.3 billion in informal jobs no protection

Statistic 96

Gender pay gap 20% globally

Statistic 97

132 million girls out of school

Statistic 98

258 million children out of school

Statistic 99

Homelessness affects 1.6 billion lacking adequate housing

Statistic 100

$4.6 trillion COVID stimulus to corporations vs aid to poor

Statistic 101

Billionaire wealth up 99% since 2020

Statistic 102

60% world resources used by 10% population

Statistic 103

Gini coefficient average 0.63 in poorest countries

Statistic 104

Over 700,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide

Statistic 105

Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year

Statistic 106

1 in 6 people globally have a mental disorder

Statistic 107

Alzheimer's disease affects 55 million people worldwide

Statistic 108

422 million adults live with diabetes

Statistic 109

HIV causes 630,000 deaths annually

Statistic 110

2.3 billion people suffer from tooth pain due to untreated caries

Statistic 111

1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese

Statistic 112

Tuberculosis kills 1.5 million people yearly

Statistic 113

2.4 billion people lack access to improved sanitation

Statistic 114

Malaria causes 619,000 deaths per year

Statistic 115

705,000 deaths from strokes annually

Statistic 116

17.9 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases yearly

Statistic 117

1.18 million deaths from road traffic injuries

Statistic 118

464,000 deaths from drowning each year

Statistic 119

2.8 million deaths from alcohol annually

Statistic 120

1.3 million deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Statistic 121

4.4 million deaths from outdoor air pollution

Statistic 122

407,000 maternal deaths per year

Statistic 123

2.4 million neonatal deaths annually

Statistic 124

5 million child deaths under 5 yearly

Statistic 125

149 million children under 5 stunted

Statistic 126

50 million children wasted globally

Statistic 127

340 million new STI cases yearly in ages 15-49

Statistic 128

1.5 million new hepatitis B infections annually

Statistic 129

800,000 deaths from hepatitis C complications

Statistic 130

1.71 billion people with hearing loss

Statistic 131

2.2 billion people with vision impairment

Statistic 132

15 million babies born preterm yearly

Statistic 133

1.15 million deaths from unsafe water

1/133

Sources

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Behind a world of quiet smiles and ordinary days lies a staggering hidden reality: hundreds of millions of lives are silently cut short or shattered each year by a vast constellation of preventable health crises, environmental disasters, social violence, and crippling inequality.

Key Takeaways

Over 700,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year
1 in 6 people globally have a mental disorder
Global temperatures have risen by 1.1°C since pre-industrial times
3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts highly vulnerable to climate change
Sea levels rose by 20 cm since 1900
Homicide rate is 6.1 per 100,000 globally
464,000 homicide victims yearly
Firearms used in 50% of homicides
58% road deaths are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists
1.19 million road traffic deaths yearly
Falls cause 684,000 deaths annually
783 million people in extreme poverty
2.33 billion in multidimensional poverty
828 million hungry in 2021

Many global threats to humanity are shockingly common and severe.

Accidents & Natural Disasters

58% road deaths are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists
1.19 million road traffic deaths yearly
Falls cause 684,000 deaths annually
90% of aviation accidents due to human error
353,000 drownings yearly
Poisonings kill 120,000 yearly
2.8 million occupational deaths per year
Earthquakes kill average 60,000 yearly
Floods affect 250 million people yearly
Droughts displace 18 million yearly
Storms cost $1.4 trillion in last decade
Wildfires burned 4.5 million hectares in 2023
Volcanoes erupt 50-80 times yearly
Tsunamis kill thousands periodically, e.g., 230,000 in 2004
Landslides kill 5,000 yearly
40 million lightning strikes daily worldwide
Building collapses kill 100,000+ in disasters
Industrial accidents like Bhopal killed 16,000+
Oil spills average 3 million tons yearly
Shipwrecks 3,000 vessels lost yearly
Elevator accidents kill 30 in US yearly
Food poisoning sickens 600 million yearly
96% disaster deaths in developing countries
Asteroid impacts possible every 500,000 years catastrophic
Solar flares disrupt power grids periodically

Accidents & Natural Disasters Interpretation

Our planet is a spectacularly dangerous place to live, but the greatest threat to humanity is, and has always been, humanity itself.

Climate & Environment

Global temperatures have risen by 1.1°C since pre-industrial times
3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts highly vulnerable to climate change
Sea levels rose by 20 cm since 1900
Arctic sea ice has declined by 40% since 1979
Coral reefs could decline by 70-90% at 1.5°C warming
14% of global human-caused greenhouse gas emissions from food systems
Extreme weather events have increased fivefold since 1970
91% of wildfires in 2023 linked to climate change
50% increase in atmospheric water vapor due to warming
1 million species at risk of extinction
75% of global land area severely altered by humans
Plastic pollution could triple by 2060
8 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans yearly
69% decline in wildlife populations since 1970
85% of wetlands lost since 1700
Deforestation emits 12-15% of global GHG
Ocean acidification up 30% since industrial revolution
20-30% of plant and animal species at risk from climate
Heatwaves have become 5 times more likely
Crop yields could drop 10-25% per degree warming
250 million more hungry by 2050 due to climate
143 million displaced by climate extremes by 2050
$1.8 trillion in economic losses from disasters 2000-2019
CO2 levels highest in 800,000 years at 420 ppm
Methane concentrations up 150% since 1750
Glacier mass loss accelerated to 286 Gt/year 2015-2019
Permafrost thaw could release 100 Gt carbon
489 million more in extreme poverty by 2030 due to climate
37% of heat deaths attributable to climate change

Climate & Environment Interpretation

We are not just failing a test, but setting fire to the answer sheet while calculating that we'll still somehow get extra credit.

Crime & Violence

Homicide rate is 6.1 per 100,000 globally
464,000 homicide victims yearly
Firearms used in 50% of homicides
1 in 3 women experience physical/sexual violence
87,000 women killed by intimate partners yearly
6 million people forcibly displaced by violence yearly
Organized crime markets worth $870 billion annually
Cybercrime costs $8 trillion globally in 2023
2.5 billion people affected by identity theft
Human trafficking generates $150 billion profits yearly
25 million in forced labor, 15 million forced marriage
Child soldiers number 250,000 worldwide
1 billion children experience violence yearly
Rape reported in 59 countries as weapon of war
Gang violence kills 120,000 yearly
Domestic violence costs $8.3 trillion over lifetime
Elder abuse affects 1 in 6 over 60
Terrorism deaths peaked at 44,000 in 2014
Drug trafficking deaths 500,000+ yearly indirect
Corruption costs $2 trillion annually
Money laundering $800 billion to $2 trillion yearly
Online child sexual exploitation images 1 million+ new monthly
Human smuggling $5.7 billion revenue yearly
190,000 conflict deaths in 2022
100 million landmines remain, killing 5,000-10,000 yearly

Crime & Violence Interpretation

We have not only normalized a staggering spectrum of human cruelty as mere statistics, but we have also built a multi-trillion dollar global economy from the suffering it creates.

Global Poverty & Inequality

783 million people in extreme poverty
2.33 billion in multidimensional poverty
828 million hungry in 2021
3 billion cannot afford healthy diet
Wealthiest 1% emit double CO2 of poorest 50%
10% richest take 76% economic growth 2012-2021
2,755 billionaires hold $13 trillion, more than 4.6 billion people
CEO pay 1,000 times worker average in US
54% global wealth with men
Racial wealth gap: white families 8x black families US
4.2 billion lack social protection
Youth unemployment 13.7% globally
160 million children in child labor
650 million workers in informal economy poverty
Debt service 10% GDP in poorest countries
3.3 billion in informal jobs no protection
Gender pay gap 20% globally
132 million girls out of school
258 million children out of school
Homelessness affects 1.6 billion lacking adequate housing
$4.6 trillion COVID stimulus to corporations vs aid to poor
Billionaire wealth up 99% since 2020
60% world resources used by 10% population
Gini coefficient average 0.63 in poorest countries

Global Poverty & Inequality Interpretation

The data reveals a system meticulously designed for the comfort of a few, but only at the catastrophic expense of billions of others.

Health & Disease

Over 700,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year
1 in 6 people globally have a mental disorder
Alzheimer's disease affects 55 million people worldwide
422 million adults live with diabetes
HIV causes 630,000 deaths annually
2.3 billion people suffer from tooth pain due to untreated caries
1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese
Tuberculosis kills 1.5 million people yearly
2.4 billion people lack access to improved sanitation
Malaria causes 619,000 deaths per year
705,000 deaths from strokes annually
17.9 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases yearly
1.18 million deaths from road traffic injuries
464,000 deaths from drowning each year
2.8 million deaths from alcohol annually
1.3 million deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
4.4 million deaths from outdoor air pollution
407,000 maternal deaths per year
2.4 million neonatal deaths annually
5 million child deaths under 5 yearly
149 million children under 5 stunted
50 million children wasted globally
340 million new STI cases yearly in ages 15-49
1.5 million new hepatitis B infections annually
800,000 deaths from hepatitis C complications
1.71 billion people with hearing loss
2.2 billion people with vision impairment
15 million babies born preterm yearly
1.15 million deaths from unsafe water

Health & Disease Interpretation

The sheer weight of these numbers—a grim anthology of human suffering—suggests we are spectacularly efficient at devising ways to die, yet tragically inept at organizing ourselves to simply live well.

Sources & References

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