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.
Global production of rice, wheat and soybeans reached new record levels during 2024. Corn production remained at high levels, comparable to the 2021 harvest. Yields per hectare for most staple crops were equal to or higher than previous years.
Thousands of grey seals are now born every year along Norfolk's beaches, with almost 4,000 pups during last year's record season. Humpback whales and minke whales are seen more frequently in the North Sea.
The number of malaria deaths in Kenya has decreased by 93 percent. Approximately 400,000 children in western Kenya have received the RTS,S malaria vaccine, the world's first of its kind. The country has distributed 15.3 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Childhood cancer mortality in the US has decreased six-fold since the 1950s. Improved treatment methods for leukemia have led to significantly more children surviving the disease. Mortality has decreased significantly for all types of cancer, including lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
EU unemployment has dropped from 11.3 percent in 2013 to 6 percent in 2023, the lowest level in several decades.
New studies show sea turtles are increasing in numbers at 28 locations worldwide. Only five sites show a decrease. On Sal Island off Africa, the number of loggerhead nests increased from 500 to 35,000 between 2008 and 2020.
Life expectancy has increased continuously for over a century. Progress in medicine, public health and living standards drives development. Scientific predictions about maximum life expectancy are constantly surpassed.
Measles vaccines have saved 94 million lives globally since 1974, of which 92 million were children. The measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other childhood vaccine in the last 50 years.
AIDS-related deaths in India decreased by 79 percent between 2010 and 2023. New HIV infections decreased by 44 percent during the same period, exceeding the global reduction of 39 percent.