📈 Human Progress
In the last decades humanity has made great progress with less extreme poverty, increased health, wealth and democracy. We follow in the tradition of professor Hans Rosling.
📈 Long-term study: Swedish young people spend more time in nature, trust researchers and have strong confidence in institutions
Three out of four young people exercise at least once a week and many spend time in nature regularly. A large majority of young people have high confidence in researchers and Swedish public authorities. Book reading is stable over time and audiobook listening has increased.
👩🏫 Nine out of ten children in the world now attend primary school
In 1900, only 31% of boys and 23% of girls of primary school age attended school globally. In 2023, 91% of boys and 89% of girls are enrolled in primary school. The gender gap in school enrollment has decreased from 8 percentage points to 2 percentage points in just over a hundred years.
⚰️ Lithuania has more than halved its suicide rate
Lithuania's suicide rate has dropped from 44 to 19.5 per 100,000 residents since 2004. Free psychological help is now available in all 60 municipalities and reaches over 30,000 people annually. Approximately 10,000 people have been trained to identify and help people with suicidal thoughts.
👮 London has fewer murders than in over 20 years
London recorded 70 murders during the first nine months of 2025, the lowest number since monthly measurements began in 2003. Knife crime decreased by seven percent. Hospital admissions for knife injuries among people under 25 fell by 10 percent over 12 months to June 2025.
💉 New vaccine can stop meningitis in Africa
A five-in-one vaccine has begun to be used in several African countries to protect against bacterial meningitis. The vaccine costs only three dollars per dose and protects against four types of bacteria that cause almost all meningitis epidemics in the region.
🥃 The glass is neither half full nor half empty
Fact-based optimists don't care whether the glass is half full or half empty. They see the world in a different way.
🐝 Solar farms could become important refuges for bumblebees
Solar farms with wildflowers can more than double the number of bumblebees compared to parks with turf grass. The study modelled 1,042 British solar farms and their potential to support bumblebees until 2050.
📉 Tuberculosis deaths have decreased by 29 percent globally since 2015
Global tuberculosis deaths fell to 1.23 million – the lowest number ever recorded. Since 2000, tuberculosis treatment has saved an estimated 83 million lives. Over 100 countries have reduced mortality by at least 20 percent since 2015.
🐘 Elephant poaching decreased by 50 percent after China's ivory ban
Elephant poaching decreased by 50 percent after China implemented its total ivory ban in 2018. The number of illegal ivory seizures also declined after the ban. No "last-minute rush" in smuggling occurred before the ban took effect.