Numbers Behind Lives: A Genuine Picture of the World
The global population has reached 8 billion.
For most people, this is merely a large number, something they hear in the news, acknowledge, and forget.
But what if we visualized this vast world in percentages? What if we viewed our planet not just as an abstract figure, but as a community where each individual 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
Simply put, Asia is truly a giant, encompassing over half of the world’s population.
Meanwhile:
49% of people live in rural areas
51% inhabit urban areas
Cities are expanding, yet nearly half of humanity remains connected to the land.
What languages are spoken globally?
Despite the widespread use of English, the picture 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% communicate in other languages not listed here
The world is far more multilingual than it might initially appear.
Who lives in comfort, and who lives in need?
Here’s what the figures reveal:
77% of people have a roof over their heads
23% lack permanent housing
Food:
21% have too much to eat
63% have enough
15% are undernourished
Finances:
48% live on less than £2 a day
Clean water:
87% have access to clean water
13% must rely on polluted or unsafe water
Communication and technology:
75% possess mobile phones
25% live without them
30% have internet access
70% have never been online
Education:
7% have obtained higher education
93% have not attended university
83% can read
17% remain illiterate
Religions of 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 reach old age?
26% pass away before 14 years
66% die between ages 15 and 64
Only 8% live to see 65 years
If you’re over 65, you are among the fortunate 8% who have outlived 92% of the world’s population.
Age is not an end, but a beginning
There is a myth that one’s most productive years are in youth. However, research shows otherwise:
The most productive age is between 60 and 70 years
The second most productive phase is 70 to 80 years
The third is 50 to 60 years
Average age:
Nobel Laureates — 62 years
CEOs of major firms — 63 years
Leaders of significant religious organizations — 71 years
Popes — 76 years
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirms that individuals reach their emotional and intellectual peak at 60 and maintain it until 80.
So if you’re 60, 70, or even 80 — these are the best years of your life.
What truly matters
With age, you begin to realize that the little things don’t matter.
You stop blaming yourself for an extra dessert.
You might stay up late or sleep in as long as you desire.
You can sing, dance, stroll, and enjoy life — there’s no longer a need to prove anything to anyone.
You understand what’s important and what’s not.
You’ve watched friends pass away.
You know that life is short.
And you no longer waste time on regrets.
Growing old isn’t a sentence; it’s freedom.
I have no desire to return to my youth.
I cherish who I’ve become.
I’m not going to lament the past or worry about the future.
I’m going to revel in each day as I have the chance.
And if I want, I’ll indulge in dessert every day.
Life isn’t about living longer.
Life is about living fully.
