The Numbers Behind Lives: A Real Look at Our World
We’re 8 billion strong.
For most, that’s just a massive number. It’s something they hear, read about in the news, nod at, and then promptly forget.
But what if we imagine this vast world in percentages? What if we see our planet not merely as a big number, but as a community where each one has their place?
Where do people live?
If we picture Earth’s population as 100%, it breaks down to:
11% living in Europe
5% in North America
9% in South America
15% in Africa
60% in Asia
In simple terms, Asia is a true giant, home to more than half of the planet’s people.
Additionally:
49% of people reside in rural areas
51% live in urban environments
Cities continue to grow, yet nearly half of humanity remains connected to the land.
What languages do people speak worldwide?
Despite the widespread use of English, the global linguistic landscape looks different:
12% speak Chinese
5% speak Spanish
5% speak English
3% speak Arabic
3% speak Hindi
3% speak Bengali
3% speak Portuguese
2% speak Russian
2% speak Japanese
62% speak other languages not listed here
The world is far more linguistically diverse than it first appears.
Who lives in abundance, and who in need?
The numbers reveal:
77% of people have a roof over their heads
23% lack permanent housing
Food:
21% of people overeat
63% have enough to eat
15% are undernourished
Finances:
48% live on less than £2 a day
Drinking water:
87% have access to clean water
13% must drink contaminated water
Communication and technology:
75% have mobile phones
25% live without connectivity
30% have internet access
70% have never used the internet
Education:
7% have a university degree
93% never attended higher education
83% are literate
17% are illiterate
Religion in the world
The distribution of faiths is as follows:
33% are Christians
22% are Muslims
14% are Hindus
7% are Buddhists
12% adhere to other beliefs
12% are atheists or agnostics
Age statistics: how many people live to old age?
26% die before reaching 14 years
66% die between the ages of 15 and 64
Only 8% globally make it to 65
If you’re over 65, you’re among the fortunate who have outlived 92% of the world’s population.
Age — a new beginning
There’s a myth that our prime productive years are in our youth. Yet research shows otherwise:
The most productive age is from 60 to 70 years
The second most productive stage is from 70 to 80 years
The third is from 50 to 60 years
Average age:
Nobel Prize laureates — 62 years
CEOs of large companies — 63 years
Leaders of major religious organizations — 71 years
Popes — 76 years
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirms: people reach their emotional and intellectual peak at 60 and maintain it through 80.
So, if you’re 60, 70, or even 80, these are the best years of your life.
What truly matters
As years go by, you realize the small things don’t matter.
You stop blaming yourself for an extra slice of cake.
You can read late or sleep in as much as you wish.
You can sing, dance, walk, and enjoy life because you no longer need to prove anything to anyone.
You’ve understood what is important and what isn’t.
You’ve seen friends come and go.
You know life is short.
And you no longer waste time on regrets.
Old age isn’t a sentence. It’s freedom.
I don’t wish to regain my youth.
I love who I’ve become.
I won’t mourn the past or worry about the future.
I’ll savor each day while I can.
And if I want to, I’ll have dessert every day.
Life isn’t about living longer.
Life is about living fully.
