Daily Data Insights

Bite-sized insights on how the world is changing, published every weekday.

Every second, 10 cows, 47 pigs, and 2,400 chickens are slaughtered for meat

Around the world, 10 cows, 47 pigs, and 2,400 chickens get killed for meat every second.

Recent estimates suggest that 99% of livestock in the United States is factory-farmed. Globally, the majority of animals are raised on factory farms.

For many of these animals, life is short and painful.

Newborn calves are typically taken from their mothers shortly after birth, causing distress for both. Castrating and cutting off piglets' tails without anesthesia is common practice. With high doses of antibiotics, chickens grow so quickly that after six weeks, many struggle to stand for long and spend most of their time lying down.

There are ways to make life less harsh for farm animals. Reducing meat consumption can lessen the demand for factory farming and its associated harms. Moreover, slowing chicken growth rates or giving hens better living spaces can help reduce their suffering.

These figures are based on estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Explore many more charts in our Animal Welfare Explorer

Which type of cancer kills the most men in each country?

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. In several countries, it is the most common cause of death.
But which cancers cause the most deaths?
This map shows the data for men. It presents the most common type of cancer death, based on the cause listed on death certificates, compiled by the WHO Mortality Database. Many countries are not shown as they lack sufficient death registration.
Lung cancer is the most common in many countries. In several others, especially in South America, prostate cancer leads.
In Iran, stomach cancer, and in Mongolia and Egypt, liver cancer, are the most common. 
Many of these cancers are preventable. Stomach cancer, for example, has declined almost ten-fold in the last seventy years in the United States thanks to improvements in food safety, hygiene, and antibiotics. Meanwhile, lung cancer death rates have halved since their peak with the fall of smoking.

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. In several countries, it is the most common cause of death.

But which cancer types cause the most deaths?

The map presents the most common type of cancer death among men. This is based on the cause listed on death certificates, compiled by the WHO Mortality Database. Unfortunately, many countries are not shown as they lack sufficient death registration.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of male cancer deaths in many countries, primarily driven by smoking.

In parts of Latin America, prostate cancer leads. Although it has high survival rates in richer countries, it is common and can reach late stages before diagnosis, which limits treatment options.

Stomach cancer — shown in purple on the map — is the leading cause in several Central Asian countries. It is primarily caused by H. pylori infections. In wealthier countries, infections have declined thanks to better food safety, hygiene, and antibiotics.

Liver cancer, leading in Mongolia, Thailand, and Egypt, is often the result of inflammation caused by long-term alcohol consumption or hepatitis virus infection.

Learn more about the rates of different cancers and how they have changed over time

Nearly half of teenagers globally cannot read with comprehension

Nearly half of teenagers globally cannot read with comprehension

The chart shows the share of children at the end of lower-secondary school age — aged 12 to 15 — who meet the minimum proficiency set by UNESCO in reading comprehension. This means they can connect the main ideas across various texts, understand the author’s intentions, and draw reasoned conclusions.

Only around half of children of this age can read this well. In countries like Ireland and South Korea, more than 8 in 10 children reach this level. But in poorer countries like Senegal, Zambia, and Cambodia, fewer than 1 in 20 do.

These numbers include all children of middle school age, not just those who attend school.

Explore the most recent education data from UNESCO, now available in our updated charts →

Per capita CO2 emissions have peaked globally, but total emissions are still increasing

A line chart showing global per capita CO2 emissions from 1850 to 2023. The red line represents emissions from fossil fuels, peaking in 2012 at about 4.9 tons per person. The green line shows combined emissions from fossil fuels and land use, peaking slightly earlier. Both lines show a sharp rise starting in the 20th century and recent declines. The source is the Global Carbon Budget (2024).

To tackle climate change, the world needs to rapidly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. But before we reduce emissions, we need to stop them rising; the world needs to pass the peak.

Globally, total CO2 emissions are still slowly increasing. The Global Carbon Project just released its preliminary estimates for 2024, which suggest another 0.8% increase.

However, while total emissions have not yet peaked, emissions per person have. Globally, per capita CO2 emissions from fossil fuels peaked in 2012. When land use emissions — which are more uncertain and noisier — are included, they peaked in the 1970s and have fluctuated since then. You can see both trends in the chart.

This suggests that, globally, lifestyles are slowly decarbonizing. However, to come closer to our global climate targets, economies must decarbonize much faster to push total emissions into decline.

Explore the latest CO2 emissions data in our updated charts →

Measles vaccines have saved over 90 million lives in the last 50 years

The image shows a bar chart titled "Number of lives saved by childhood vaccinations from 1974 to 2024," sourced from Shattock et al. (2024). A total of 93.71 million lives have been saved by measles vaccines since 1974. Other diseases include tetanus (27.95 million) and whooping cough (13.17 million). The data highlights the large impact of vaccination programs globally.

Measles vaccination has saved 94 million lives globally since 1974. Of those, 92 million were children.

The chart shows the number of lives saved by different childhood vaccines in the last 50 years. These estimates come from Andrew Shattock and colleagues and are based on global data on diseases, causes of death, vaccination rates, and vaccine efficacy.

Measles vaccines rank the highest in the total number of lives saved.

Measles is especially contagious and deadly. The virus depletes immune cells, making it harder to fight off measles and making other infections much more life-threatening. It can also erase immune memory to infections and vaccines that children have already encountered.

Before vaccines, almost all children caught measles, and it was a common cause of disability and death. With high measles vaccination rates, millions of lives are saved globally each year.

Read more in our article about the impact of global vaccination

The UN projects that Africa’s population will double by 2070

Today, Africa is home to 1.5 billion people. By 2070, the UN expects this number to more than double. Its estimates range from 2.7 billion to 3.7 billion, with the most likely scenario placing the African population around 3.2 billion.

This region is where most of the growth in the world population will occur in the next 50 years.

Europe’s population is already shrinking, with Asia and Latin America expected to follow from the 2050s onwards. The UN expects North America’s population to grow, although much slower than Africa's.

Read more about population growth →

In these nine African countries, average incomes have more than doubled since 1990

Economic growth is most important for the world's poorest people, and most of the world’s poorest live on the African continent. Are Africa’s economies growing?

The picture is mixed. In some countries, incomes have unfortunately declined in the last decades. This includes Madagascar, Zimbabwe, and Burundi. I have written about this in my brief explainer on extreme poverty.

In today’s Daily Data Insight, I want to focus on the other side: I want to highlight the African countries that are achieving economic growth. Nine of them are shown in the chart above.

In all nine countries, people’s average incomes have more than doubled since 1990.

This made substantial improvements in living standards possible: the share of people in extreme poverty and the rate of child mortality declined in all nine countries.

If you want to know more about the importance of growth and how it can be measured, you could read my article: What is economic growth? And why is it so important?

In 2023, PEPFAR provided life-saving therapy against HIV to 20.5 million people

Line chart titled '20.5 million people receive antiretroviral therapy through PEPFAR' showing the annual number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy through PEPFAR, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, from 2004 to 2023. The chart starts near zero in 2004, rising steadily each year, and reaching 20.5 million people in 2023. The therapy helps keep people with HIV healthy and prevents its spread to others. Data source: President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (2024), published by Our World in Data.

The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, was established in 2003 to fight the global HIV epidemic.

Since its launch, PEPFAR has provided millions of people with antiretroviral therapy (ART) worldwide, especially in Africa.

The chart shows the number of people who received therapy through PEPFAR in a given year. In 2023, it was 20.5 million people.

ART is highly effective: it helps keep people with HIV healthy and reduces the risk of spreading the virus to others, saving more than one million lives each year.

But, after months of legislative delay, PEPFAR was recently renewed for only one year, raising concerns about the program's future after March 2025.

Explore data on other aid success stories →

Spotting and fixing data issues: how we help improve data quality on and off our publication

Line chart showing an example of a data error that was detected and flagged for correction. The old data has a large spike in the middle of the timeline, while the new data shows a consistent line without the anomaly.

In today’s Data Insight, we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a part of our work we rarely talk about, but that is crucial in contributing to a more accurate understanding of the world.

We work with hundreds of datasets from many different sources. To check their quality, we’ve built in-house tools that flag unusual patterns, helping us spot when something seems off. Even in high-quality datasets, occasional errors can slip through.

The chart shows a recent example: after we updated a dataset, we noticed an unexpected spike in one of its time series. Investigating further, we traced the issue back to the data provider and let them know. They reviewed it, confirmed the problem, and corrected the error. Thanks to exchanges like this, several datasets have been improved this year.

Improving data quality is always a collaborative effort. We deeply appreciate the work of statisticians and data providers worldwide, who play a critical role in creating and maintaining these datasets. Our role is to help flag issues when we spot them and provide constructive feedback to make the data better for everyone.

The world population grew fast over the last 60 years, but farmers grew fruits and vegetables even faster

For almost all of human history, food was scarce for nearly everyone. The reason for this perpetual scarcity was that whenever food production increased, it did not lead to more food per capita but to more people.

Food production did not increase per capita. Population pressure ensured that living standards remained only barely above the subsistence level. Economic historians refer to this mechanism as the Malthusian Trap, and if you’d like to know more, you could read my article about it.

This changed in the last decades. More and more societies around the world broke out of the Malthusian Trap. We see this in the data as increasing food production in per capita terms. The chart shows that farmers have grown many fruits, vegetables, and nuts faster than the world population has increased.

The increase in global agricultural output was crucial for the reduction of hunger and famines that the world achieved in this period. Whether or not we will be able to end hunger globally will depend on whether this increase in food production will continue.

Explore global and country-specific data on a wide range of foods in our Food Data Explorer →

Fossil fuels are the biggest source of CO2 emissions in most countries, but there are a few exceptions

Six area charts display the share of CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels versus land-use change across the world, United States, United Kingdom, China, Brazil, and Indonesia. Fossil fuel emissions dominate globally, particularly in the U.S., U.K., and China, where over 90% of emissions come from fossil fuels and industry. However, in Brazil and Indonesia, a significant portion of emissions arises from land-use change, especially in Brazil, where it is the main source.

Around 90% of the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions come from fossil fuels and industrial processes such as cement production. The other 10% comes from land use change, primarily carbon released from trees and vegetation due to deforestation.

Fossil fuels are also the biggest source of emissions at the national level in most countries across the world. But there are a few exceptions.

In the chart, you can see the share of emissions from fossil fuels compared to land use change across a small selection of countries. In the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, fossil fuels dominate. This data comes from the Global Carbon Project.

However, in Brazil, land use change plays a much more significant role. This is for two reasons. First, deforestation rates are higher than in most other countries. Second, Brazil has a very clean power grid. Most of its electricity comes from hydropower, with solar and wind also growing quickly. It burns very little coal and gas.

Explore data on how emissions compare across the world and by source →

The United States is the world’s largest oil producer

Line chart showing oil production by country since 1990. The United States is now the world's largest producer and has been for the past seven years.

The United States is the world’s largest oil producer.

The chart shows annual production by country from 1990 to 2023. The US has been the largest producer for the last seven years.

Production in the US gradually declined during the 1990s and early 2000s but increased steeply again post-2010 and is now at an all-time high.

This data comes from the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy.

Explore oil production data for more countries and further back in time →

Spain and Portugal both get 40% of their electricity from solar and wind

Line chart showing the share of electricity produced from solar and wind in Spain and Portugal. Both countries got around 40% from these sources in 2023.

European neighbors Portugal and Spain are currently neck-and-neck in the race to roll out solar and wind power.

On the chart, you can see the share of electricity from the combination of solar and wind in each country. Their rate of progress has been very similar.

In 2023, both countries generated around 40% of their electricity from these sources. Wind power is more prevalent in Portugal, while solar is more used in Spain.

This data comes from Ember.

Explore more data on the rollout of clean energy across the world →

Global mean sea levels have increased by around 25 centimeters since 1880

Line chart showing global mean sea level rise since 1880. It has increased by around 25 centimeters.

There are two key drivers of sea level rise. First, water expands as it gets warmer. Second, ice on land — in the form of ice sheets and glaciers — melts and adds water to ocean basins.

Both of these processes have accelerated due to climate change. The effect is shown in the chart, based on data from the US’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It combines two sources: recent data from the University of Hawaii Sea Level Center and a publication from Church and White (2011).

On this chart, the rise in sea level is measured relative to the average from 1993 to 2008. Levels had risen by almost 20 centimeters between 1880 and this period, and 5 more centimeters since. Combined, that’s around 25 centimeters.

Explore more data on the impacts of climate change →

Most carbon emissions from food miles are produced by trucks on the road

Bar chart showing where carbon emissions from food miles come from. Road transport is 3.9% of food system emissions, compared to just 0.02% from aviation.

Food miles — moving products from farms to processors to consumers — contribute just 5% to 6% of the greenhouse gas emissions from food. Instead, most emissions come from land use change or emissions on the farm.

Within food miles, people often assume that international freight accounts for most of the climate impact. In reality, most of these emissions come from domestic delivery trucks on the road.

In the chart, you can see the breakdown of transport’s 5% of food emissions. Road transport represents 3.9%, compared to just 0.02% from aviation. This is based on data from a 2021 study by researchers M. Crippa and colleagues.

International food miles are just a small share of emissions because very little food is flown by air, and transporting goods by boat is much more carbon-efficient than by road.

Read more about the impact of food miles →

The global number of people aged 65 years and older is set to double within the next thirty years

Today, there are around 830 million people aged 65 and older in the world. According to the latest UN data, it is projected to grow to 1.7 billion by 2054.

Asia, the world's most populous continent, is at the heart of this change, with its elderly population expected to more than double.

While rapid population growth has driven some of this increase, better healthcare and longer life spans also play a huge role.

It’s a great achievement that so many more people are living longer, healthier lives. At the same time, the working-age population will only grow 20% between 2024 and 2054. Societies will need to figure out how to care for more elderly people while improving everyone’s quality of life.

Explore population growth across countries with our explorer →

Packaging is the source of 40% of the planet’s plastic waste

Packaging is the source of 40% of the planet’s plastic waste

Around 40% of the world’s plastic waste comes from packaging. Packaging also makes up a significant share in the three regions that generate the most plastic waste: the United States, Europe, and China.

Packaging accounts for 37% of total plastic waste in the United States. It’s 38% in Europe, and in China, it's 45%. Together, these regions account for 60% of global packaging waste generation. This data comes from the OECD Global Plastics Outlook.

These figures show the vast impact of packaging on global plastic waste.

Explore how other sectors contribute to plastic waste production

Australia is replacing coal and gas power with solar and wind

A line chart showing the change in the electricity mix of Australia over time. Coal power has declined from over 80% to less than 50%. Solar and wind are growing strongly.

At the turn of the millennium, Australia got more than 80% of its electricity from coal. This has dropped to less than 50%.

The chart shows how the country’s electricity mix has changed in recent decades. The data comes from the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy.

In the 2000s and early 2010s, coal was initially replaced by gas, with only moderate growth in solar and wind. But in the last five years, solar and wind have been deployed much more quickly. Gas is now on the decline, too. In 2023, solar overtook gas to become Australia’s second-largest electricity source.

While coal is declining, it still supplies much more of Australia’s power than most high-income countries.

Explore how electricity sources are changing in other countries →

Which type of cancer kills the most women in each country?

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. In several countries, it is the most common cause of death.
But which cancer types cause the most deaths?
The map presents the most common type of cancer death among women. This is based on the cause listed on death certificates, compiled by the WHO Mortality Database. Unfortunately, many countries are not shown as they lack sufficient death registration.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in many countries.
However, lung cancer leads in parts of North America, Europe, and Australia. It is largely driven by smoking.
In other countries, stomach, liver, or cervical cancers lead. Many cases are preventable: most stomach cancer cases are caused by H. pylori infections; most liver cancers by chronic inflammation from alcohol or hepatitis infections; and almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections, which are preventable through HPV vaccination.

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death. But which cancer types cause the most deaths?

The map presents the most common type of cancer that kills women in each country. This is based on the cause listed on death certificates, compiled by the WHO Mortality Database. Unfortunately, many countries are not shown as they lack sufficient death registration.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in many countries.

However, lung cancer leads in parts of North America, Europe, and Australia. It is primarily driven by smoking.

In other countries, stomach, liver, or cervical cancers are at the top. Many of these cases are preventable: most stomach cancer cases are caused by H. pylori infections; many liver cancer cases by chronic inflammation from alcohol or hepatitis infections; and almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections, which are preventable through HPV vaccination.

Explore the interactive map with a more detailed breakdown

The US military spends much more per service member than other major powers

Military spending per armed forces personnel, 2020," showing military expenditure per person in various countries, expressed in US dollars. The chart ranks countries by spending, with the United States at the top, spending $630,957 per armed forces personnel. Other countries listed, in descending order of spending, include the United Kingdom ($405,653), Germany ($296,130), Saudi Arabia ($241,781), France ($171,229), China ($107,499), Russia ($53,332), South Africa ($40,909), Brazil ($30,364), and India ($25,126). The data is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries. The data sources are the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and multiple additional sources compiled by the World Bank.

Relative to its personnel, the United States spends much more on its military than other major countries.

The chart shows data on military spending per service member, sometimes called a military’s “capital intensity”.

We calculated this metric by dividing spending data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) by data on personnel from multiple sources via the World Bank.

This indicator reflects differences in salaries and benefits for military personnel and more advanced and costly weaponry.

In 2020, the United States spent well over half a million dollars per service member. This was 50% more than the United Kingdom, more than double Germany’s spending per personnel, about six times China’s, and more than twenty times that of Brazil or India.

Explore the capital intensity of militaries worldwide →

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