Is life getting better or worse? Watching the news, it’s easy to become pessimistic. But don’t forget that reporting is often selective. Bad news leads to higher ratings, while good news is seldom covered. So, what is the real state of humanity? Consider the changes that have occurred in the world since the end of World War II.

  • In 1960, the average life expectancy at birth was only 51 years. In 2021, it was 71 years. That’s an increase of 39 percent.
  • Out of every 1,000 live births in 1990, 65 children died before reaching one year of age. That number was only 28 in 2021. That’s a decrease of 57 percent.
  • Between 1960 and 2022, the average income per person rose from $3,613 to $11,315. That’s an inflation adjusted increase of 213 percent.
  • Between 1961 and 2018, the average food supply per person per day rose from 2,192 calories to 2,928 calories. That’s an increase of 34 percent.
  • In 1950, the length of schooling that a person aged 15-64 could typically expect to receive was 3.1 years. In 2020, it was 8.8 years. That's a 184 percent increase.
  • The world’s liberal democratic score rose from an average of 0.223 out of 1.0 in 1950 to an average of 0.301 out of 1.0 in 2022. That’s about a 35 percent increase.

How Does Your Data Compare?

Those are global improvements. What about life in your country? See the changes that have happened in your lifetime, and share the results with your family and friends – just enter the country and year of your birth.