📈 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.
🧠 Users of digital technology have 58 percent lower risk of cognitive decline
Digital technology reduces the risk of cognitive impairment by 58 percent according to a comprehensive meta-analysis. The effect persisted even after accounting for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and health conditions.
💰 Gates Foundation will spend $200 billion on charity over the next 20 years
Bill Gates has decided to donate virtually his entire fortune through the Gates Foundation. During the foundation's first 25 years, over 100 billion dollars were donated, and Gates plans to double this amount to more than 200 billion dollars by 2045.
😊 Young Americans are getting happier
The percentage of university students with symptoms of depression has decreased from 44 percent in 2022 to 38 percent in 2024. Studies show that this trend applies to American youth in general, with decreasing rates of depression and suicide.
📖 Johan Norberg: How golden ages are created, how they end - and what it says about our time
Why do some societies become creative powerhouses while others stagnate? From Renaissance Florence to today's Silicon Valley, Norberg examines what makes civilizations flourish - and what threatens our own golden age.
♀️ Significant progress for women's rights over 30 years
90% of the world's countries have enacted laws against violence against women and girls. The proportion of women in parliaments has more than doubled since 1995. 53% of member countries have implemented gender-responsive laws and policies for climate and environmental measures.
💥 Thousands of square kilometers cleared of landmines in Cambodia
Nearly 3,300 square kilometers of land have been cleared of mines since 1992. 81 percent of the cleared land is now used for agriculture, benefiting over 10 million people. The number of accidents has decreased dramatically from 4,320 in 1996 to only 49 during 2024.
🐻 Wild predators make successful comeback in Europe
The Iberian lynx, which 25 years ago had fewer than 100 individuals left, has now recovered and its status has changed from "critically endangered" to "vulnerable." Brown bears have increased by 17% to 20,500, Eurasian lynx by 12% to 9,400, and wolverines by 16% to 1,300 since 2016.
💒 Decrease in child marriages in Malaysia
The number of child marriages in Malaysia has decreased by 37 percent between 2019 and 2023. The government is implementing a national strategic program to address the causes of child marriage.
🥶 Fewer people dying from cold worldwide – global progress in combating hypothermia
The number of cold-related deaths globally has decreased significantly since 1990, showing progress in protecting vulnerable populations. Effective preventive measures such as heating assistance, better insulation, and community programs save lives during cold periods.