Numbers That Reflect Lives: A True Picture of the World
We are 8 billion strong.
For most people, this is just a massive figure. It’s something they hear, read about in the headlines, nod at, and move on.
But what if we viewed this populous world in percentages? What if we saw our planet not just as a number, but as a community where everyone has their place?
Where do people live?
If we imagine all the people on Earth as 100%, it breaks down like this:
11% reside in Europe
5% in North America
9% in South America
15% in Africa
60% in Asia
In other words, Asia is a true giant, hosting more than half of the world’s population.
Meanwhile:
49% of people live in the countryside
51% are city dwellers
Cities keep expanding, yet nearly half the human race still stays connected to the land.
What languages are spoken around the globe?
Despite English being widely known, the linguistic landscape is quite 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 on this list
The world is more multilingual than it first appears.
Who lives in comfort, and who in need?
Consider these numbers:
77% of people have a roof over their heads
23% are without permanent housing
Food:
21% of people overeat
63% have enough to eat
15% go hungry
Finances:
48% live on less than £2 a day
Drinking water:
87% have access to clean water
13% must drink dirty or contaminated water
Communication and technology:
75% of people have mobile phones
25% live without this connection
30% can access the internet
70% have never been online
Education:
7% have completed higher education
93% have never attended university
83% can read
17% remain illiterate
Religions of the world
The beliefs are divided as follows:
33% are Christians
22% are Muslims
14% are Hindus
7% are Buddhists
12% follow other religions
12% are atheists or agnostics
Age statistics: How many live to old age?
26% of people die before age 14
66% die between 15 and 64
Only 8% of people on the planet reach age 65
If you’re over 65, you’re among the lucky few outliving 92% of the world’s population.
Age is Not an End, but a Beginning
There’s a myth that one’s peak productivity is in youth. However, studies suggest otherwise:
The most productive age is from 60 to 70
The second most productive phase is from 70 to 80
Third is from 50 to 60
Average age:
Nobel Prize laureates—62 years old
CEOs of the largest companies—63 years old
Leaders of major religious groups—71 years old
Popes—76 years old
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirms: a person reaches their emotional and intellectual peak at 60 and maintains it until 80.
So if you’re 60, 70, or even 80, these are the prime years of your life.
What Truly Matters
As years pass, you start to realize that the little things don’t matter anymore.
You stop chastising yourself for an extra slice of cake.
You can read late into the night or sleep as much as you wish.
You can sing, dance, stroll, and relish life—because you no longer need to prove anything to anyone.
You’ve learned what’s important and what isn’t.
You’ve seen friends come and go.
You know life is short.
And you don’t waste time on regrets.
Old age is not a sentence. It’s freedom.
I don’t want my youth back.
I love who I have become.
I refuse to regret the past or worry about the future.
I will savor each day as long as I have the chance.
And if I fancy it, I’ll have dessert every single day.
Life isn’t about living longer.
Life is about living fully.
