📈 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.
🏫 327 million more children – a 30 percent increase – are in school today compared to 2000
Since 2000, the world has seen one of the most extensive expansions of education in history. Enrollment in preschools has risen by 45 percent, and in higher education by 161 percent over the same period.
🌊 Montana tribes restore their rivers after historic water agreement
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are restoring the Jocko River and other waterways in Northwestern Montana following a historic water compact with the state. Restoration work has already resulted in more bull trout returning to their native streams.
😺 The number of cats euthanized in American shelters has decreased by 75 percent in ten years
Ten years ago, the chance of a cat surviving a shelter was roughly fifty-fifty. Today, cats are being saved at record levels. The number of cat adoptions has increased by 20 percent over the past decade, and Generation Z has had the biggest impact on the increase.
🌲 Europe's forests are growing faster than they are harvested
Forest growth exceeded harvesting in 23 EU countries with available data in 2023. Romania had the largest surplus with nearly 40 million cubic metres more growth than harvesting. Sweden had the second largest surplus in the EU with 26.4 million cubic metres of net growth.
💣 Terrorism deaths at lowest level since 2007
The number of people killed in terrorism dropped by 28 percent globally in 2025, to a total of 5,582. The number of terrorist attacks decreased by 22 percent, to 2,944 incidents. These are the lowest figures recorded since 2007.
🧒 Global child mortality has decreased by 60 percent since 1990
Mortality among children under five has fallen by approximately 60 percent since 1990, thanks to investments in vaccinations, newborn care and nutrition. Mortality among newborns has decreased by 45 percent during the same period.
🧒 Child poverty in Sweden drops to lowest level in ten years
The share of children living in families with a low income standard has fallen from 10 percent to 6 percent since 2014. 56 percent of all children live in families with a high income standard, that corresponds to more than 1.2 million children.
📰 Trust in journalists has nearly doubled in 20 years
44 percent of Swedes have high or fairly high trust in journalists, according to the latest survey from the SOM Institute. The share has risen from 24 percent in 2004, nearly doubling over two decades. At the same time, the share who think journalists do their job poorly has been cut in half.
🚭 The share of Americans who smoke has dropped to a historic low
Less than ten percent of American adults smoked cigarettes in 2024, the first time the rate has reached single digits. Reduced smoking has contributed to nearly four million lung cancer deaths being averted between 1970 and 2022.