Latest

February 22

Article

Technology over the long run: zoom out to see how dramatically the world can change within a lifetime

It is easy to underestimate the magnitude of this change. Understanding this can help us see how different the world could be in the future.

Max Roser

February 20

Article

What does it mean for a species to be at risk of extinction?

We need to focus on the most threatened species to protect them from extinction. But what does it mean for a species to be at risk, and how is it measured?

Hannah Ritchie

February 07

Article

AI timelines: What do experts in artificial intelligence expect for the future?

Many believe there is a real chance that human-level AI will be developed within the next decades, and some believe that it will exist much sooner.

Max Roser

January 19

Article

Engel's Law: Richer people spend more money on food, but it makes up a smaller share of their income

How does spending on food change as incomes rise?

Hannah Ritchie

January 05

Article

How many people die and how many are born each year?

Changes in the world population are determined by two metrics: the number of babies born and the number of people dying.

Hannah Ritchie and Edouard Mathieu

December 15

Article

Artificial intelligence is transforming our world — it is on all of us to make sure that it goes well

How AI gets built is currently decided by a small group of technologists. It should be in all of our interest to become informed and engaged.

Max Roser

December 06

Article

The brief history of artificial intelligence: the world has changed fast — what might be next?

Little is as important for the world’s future and our own lives as how this history continues.

Max Roser

November 30

Article

There have been five mass extinctions in Earth's history

When did the "Big Five" mass extinctions happen, and what were their causes?

Hannah Ritchie

November 30

Article

How many species are there?

How many species do we share our planet with? How many of these species have we found and identified?

Hannah Ritchie

November 30

Article

Did humans cause the Quaternary megafauna extinction?

10,000 to 50,000 years ago, hundreds of the largest mammals went extinct. It's likely that humans were the key driver of this.

Hannah Ritchie

November 30

Article

Global whaling peaked in the 1960s

Intense whaling drove many of the world’s whale species close to extinction. But a dramatic decline in whale hunting since then has given them hopes of recovery.

Hannah Ritchie

November 30

Article

The state of the world's rhino populations

How have rhino populations changed over time? What species are at risk of extinction today?

Hannah Ritchie

October 26

Article

From $1.90 to $2.15 a day: the updated International Poverty Line

The World Bank has updated the methods it uses to measure incomes and poverty around the world. What does this mean for our understanding of global poverty?

Joe Hasell and Pablo Arriagada

October 20

Article

How many people die from the flu?

The risk of death from influenza has declined over time, but globally, hundreds of thousands of people still die from the disease each year.

Saloni Dattani and Fiona Spooner

October 18

Article

Introducing our updated work on Poverty: a new design for our content

We’ve just published a major redesign of our topic pages. Explore this redesign with our new work on poverty.

Joe Hasell and Matthew Conlen

October 14

Article

Which countries have put a price on carbon?

Putting a price on carbon helps us account for the real costs of fossil fuels in the market. Which countries have a carbon tax or trading system?

Hannah Ritchie and Pablo Rosado

October 13

Article

FAQs on the Living Planet Index

The Living Planet Index is one of the most common measures used in biodiversity monitoring. But what is it, and where does this data come from?

Hannah Ritchie and Fiona Spooner

October 13

Article

How does the Living Planet Index vary by region?

The Living Planet Index shows an average decline of 73% across studied animal populations globally. But how does this vary by region?

Hannah Ritchie

October 13

Article

Living Planet Index: what does it really mean?

The Living Planet Index is the biodiversity metric that always claims the headlines. It’s often misinterpreted. How should we understand it?

Hannah Ritchie

October 11

Article

Ocean plastics: How much do rich countries contribute by shipping their waste overseas?

Many countries ship plastic waste overseas. How much of the world’s waste is traded, and how big is its role in the pollution of our oceans?

Hannah Ritchie

September 27

Article

Wild mammals are making a comeback in Europe thanks to conservation efforts

Hunting and habitat loss drove many large mammals in Europe close to extinction. New data shows us that many of the continent’s mammal populations are flourishing again.

Hannah Ritchie