📈 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.
💉 Covid vaccines saved 20 million lives during first year of the pandemic
The Covid vaccine saved an estimated 20 million lives globally during the first year the vaccine was available. Data shows that mortality was significantly higher among unvaccinated individuals, particularly during virus outbreaks. At least 25 million people died in the pandemic.
💉 Sudan begins malaria vaccination
Sudan starts malaria vaccination, with 186,000 doses reaching 148,000 children under one year. The vaccine will be administered in 15 areas in the Gedaref and Blue Nile states, with plans to expand to 129 areas during 2025-2026. Sudan has high prevalence with over 3.4 million cases during 2023.
🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon decreases by 30%
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has decreased by 30 percent over the past year, reaching its lowest level since 2015. In Cerrado, Brazil's savanna region, deforestation also decreased by 26 percent, the first reduction in five years.
📉 Lowest poverty level of the 21st century in Latin America
Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean has decreased by 4.7 percentage points between 2021 and 2023. The middle class has grown to 41.1 percent of the population in 2023, the highest level this century.
💊 Weight loss drugs could transform society and save billions
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 20 percent in overweight people with cardiovascular disease. The drugs could save countries $429 billion annually between 2020-2060 if obesity increase slows by 5 percent.
🌐 The ozone hole over Antarctica continues to shrink
The ozone hole over Antarctica was the seventh smallest since 1992. Scientists estimate that the ozone layer could be fully restored by 2066.
📉 Deaths from air pollution decrease globally
Deaths caused by air pollution from fossil fuels decreased by 7 percent between 2016 and 2021.
🚣 The Cuyahoga River was so polluted it caught fire - now it's making a comeback
The Cuyahoga River in Ohio has undergone a dramatic improvement from being one of America's most polluted waterways to now having water quality good enough to reintroduce sturgeon. The river that used to regularly catch fire due to industrial pollution is now home to blue herons and bald eagles.
👩⚕️ Tuberculosis steadily declining
Global tuberculosis cases have stabilized after pandemic increase - 10.8 million cases in 2023 compared to 10.7 million in 2022. Mortality continues to decline - 1.25 million deaths in 2023, down from 1.32 million in 2022.