By 2025, the world’s population story already hinges on urgent public health and safety trends, not just growth. While life expectancy reaches 72.8 years, fragile gains coexist with 1.8 billion people using faecally contaminated drinking water and 39.5 million people needing humanitarian assistance in 2023. World Population brings these figures together so you can see where progress is accelerating and where it is stalling.
Key Takeaways
- Global life expectancy at birth is 72.8 years in 2019 (World Bank / UN IGME compilation).
- 2.2 deaths per 1,000 live births occur among infants in 2021 in the world average (UN IGME/World Bank compilation).
- 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water that is faecally contaminated (WHO/UNICEF JMP).
- 2.2 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation services in 2020 (WHO/UNICEF JMP).
- 8.7 million refugees were newly displaced in 2023 (UNHCR Global Trends 2023).
- Globally, 2.0 billion people were aged 0–19 in 2023 (UN Population Division estimates).
- The old-age dependency ratio is projected to rise from 13% in 2019 to 27% in 2050 (UN DESA).
- 9.8% of the world’s population is aged 65+ in 2023 (UN Population Division age estimates).
- 84% of the global population reported access to improved drinking water sources in 2022 (WHO/UNICEF JMP; JMP estimates).
- 7.4% of people globally are undernourished (FAO SOFI 2023; prevalence of undernourishment estimate).
- 9.1 million deaths were attributable to air pollution globally in 2019 (WHO Global Health Observatory / air pollution estimates).
- 1.2 million asylum-seekers were recorded globally in 2023 (UNHCR).
- The number of people displaced worldwide by disasters rose to 36.4 million in 2023 (IDMC).
- 736 million people were living in extreme poverty in 2023 (World Bank poverty estimates).
- 3.3 billion people lacked clean cooking facilities in 2022 (IEA).
Despite improving access to water and internet, millions still face unsafe sanitation, hunger, and displacement worldwide.
Fertility & Mortality
1Global life expectancy at birth is 72.8 years in 2019 (World Bank / UN IGME compilation).[1]
Single source
22.2 deaths per 1,000 live births occur among infants in 2021 in the world average (UN IGME/World Bank compilation).[2]
Verified
Fertility & Mortality Interpretation
From a Fertility and Mortality perspective, global health outcomes look strong as life expectancy at birth reaches 72.8 years in 2019 while infant deaths are low at just 2.2 per 1,000 live births in 2021.
Health & Migration
11.8 billion people use a source of drinking water that is faecally contaminated (WHO/UNICEF JMP).[3]
Single source
22.2 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation services in 2020 (WHO/UNICEF JMP).[4]
Directional
38.7 million refugees were newly displaced in 2023 (UNHCR Global Trends 2023).[5]
Verified
42.3% of the world’s population are international migrants (UN DESA).[6]
Verified
539.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023 (UN OCHA Global Humanitarian Overview).[7]
Verified
61.6 million deaths occurred as a result of maternal complications worldwide in 2020 (WHO).[8]
Directional
Health & Migration Interpretation
Health and migration pressures are closely intertwined, as 1.8 billion people drink faecally contaminated water and 2.2 billion lack safely managed sanitation while conflict and displacement continue, with 8.7 million refugees newly displaced in 2023.
Demographics & Ageing
1Globally, 2.0 billion people were aged 0–19 in 2023 (UN Population Division estimates).[9]
Verified
2The old-age dependency ratio is projected to rise from 13% in 2019 to 27% in 2050 (UN DESA).[10]
Verified
39.8% of the world’s population is aged 65+ in 2023 (UN Population Division age estimates).[11]
Verified
Demographics & Ageing Interpretation
As the world grapples with demographics and ageing, the share of people aged 65+ reached 9.8% in 2023 while the old-age dependency ratio is projected to climb sharply from 13% in 2019 to 27% by 2050.
Health & Mortality
184% of the global population reported access to improved drinking water sources in 2022 (WHO/UNICEF JMP; JMP estimates).[12]
Verified
27.4% of people globally are undernourished (FAO SOFI 2023; prevalence of undernourishment estimate).[13]
Verified
39.1 million deaths were attributable to air pollution globally in 2019 (WHO Global Health Observatory / air pollution estimates).[14]
Verified
410.6 million people died in 2021 from causes related to communicable diseases globally (Global Burden of Disease estimates).[15]
Single source
51.9 billion adults were overweight worldwide in 2016 (Global Burden of Disease / WHO/NCD reporting).[16]
Verified
6Antenatal care coverage (at least one visit) was 81% globally in 2022 (UNICEF maternal health reporting).[17]
Verified
Health & Mortality Interpretation
In the Health and Mortality space, progress is clear in clean water reaching 84% of the world in 2022, but the burden remains heavy with 10.6 million deaths from communicable causes in 2021 and 9.1 million deaths linked to air pollution in 2019.
Migration & Displacement
11.2 million asylum-seekers were recorded globally in 2023 (UNHCR).[18]
Verified
2The number of people displaced worldwide by disasters rose to 36.4 million in 2023 (IDMC).[19]
Directional
Migration & Displacement Interpretation
In 2023, migration and displacement pressures were clear as 1.2 million asylum seekers were recorded globally and disaster-related displacement climbed to 36.4 million people worldwide.
Socioeconomic Indicators
1736 million people were living in extreme poverty in 2023 (World Bank poverty estimates).[20]
Verified
23.3 billion people lacked clean cooking facilities in 2022 (IEA).[21]
Single source
366.6% of the world’s population used the internet in 2024 (ITU).[22]
Single source
42.7 billion people lacked access to safe sanitation facilities in 2020 (World Bank/WASH).[23]
Verified
Socioeconomic Indicators Interpretation
Even as internet use rose to 66.6% of the world in 2024, socioeconomic gaps remain stark because 736 million people were in extreme poverty in 2023 and billions still lack basic needs like clean cooking (3.3 billion in 2022) and safe sanitation (2.7 billion in 2020).
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). World Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/world-population-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "World Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/world-population-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "World Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/world-population-statistics.
References
- 1data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN
- 2data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN
- 3who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
- 4who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sanitation
- 8who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-health
- 14who.int/data/gho/data/themes/air-pollution
- 16who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
- 23who.int/publications/i/item/9789240036703
- 5unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/UNHCR%20Global%20Trends%202023.pdf
- 18unhcr.org/global-trends-2023
- 6un.org/development/desa/pd/content/international-migrant-stock
- 10un.org/development/desa/pd/news/world-population-prospects-2019
- 7unocha.org/publications/report/world/global-humanitarian-overview-2024
- 9population.un.org/dataportal/home/
- 11population.un.org/dataportal/knowledgebase/
- 12unicef.org/reports/state-of-worlds-children-2023
- 13fao.org/publications/sofi/2023/en/
- 15vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 17data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/antenatal-care/
- 19internal-displacement.org/global-report/grid2024/
- 20worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-poverty-brief
- 21iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2023/executive-summary
- 22itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx