Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. As of 2025, the country counted over 237.5 million individuals, whereas Ethiopia, which ranked second, has around 135.5 million inhabitants. Egypt registered the largest population in North Africa, reaching nearly 118.4 million people. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Nigeria only ranked seventh, while Mauritius had the highest population density on the whole African continent in 2023. The fastest-growing world region Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. Nevertheless, Africa records the highest growth rate worldwide, with figures rising by over two percent every year. In some countries, such as Chad, South Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic, the population increase peaks at over 3.4 percent. With so many births, Africa is also the youngest continent in the world. However, this coincides with a low life expectancy. African cities on the rise The last decades have seen high urbanization rates in Asia, mainly in China and India. African cities are also growing at large rates. Indeed, the continent has three megacities and is expected to add four more by 2050. Furthermore, Africa's fastest-growing cities are forecast to be Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Zinder, Nigeria, by 2035.

As of February 2025, El Salvador had the highest prisoner rate worldwide, with over 1,600 prisoners per 100,000 of the national population. Cuba, Rwanda, Turkmenistan, and the United States, rounded out the top five countries with the highest rate of incarceration. Homicides in El Salvador Interestingly, El Salvador, which long had the highest global homicide rates, has dropped out of the top 20 after a high number of gang members have been incarcerated. A high number of the countries with the highest homicide rate are located in Latin America. Prisoners in the United StatesThe United States is home to the largest number of prisoners worldwide. More than 1.8 million people were incarcerated in the U.S. at the beginning of 2025. In China, the estimated prison population totaled 1.69 million people that year. Other nations had far fewer prisoners. The largest share of the U.S. prisoners in federal correctional facilities were of African-American origin. As of 2020, there were 345,500 black, non-Hispanic prisoners, compared to 327,300 white, non-Hispanic inmates. The U.S. states with the largest number of prisoners in 2022 were Texas, California, and Florida. Over 160,000 prisoners in state facilities were sentenced for rape or sexual assault, which was the most common cause of imprisonment. The second most common was murder, followed by aggravated or simple assault.

In 2024, Monaco was the European country estimated to have the highest fertility rate. The country had a fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman. Other small countries such as Gibraltar or Montenegro also came towards the top of the list for 2024, while the large country with the highest fertility rate was France, with 1.64 children per woman. On the other hand, Ukraine had the lowest fertility rate, averaging around one child per woman.

In 2024, the median age in Maine, the nation’s oldest state, reached 44.9 years. The U.S. state with the lowest median age was Utah, at 32.1 years. Nationwide, the median age has been increasing in recent decades, marking the nation’s aging population. The United States aging population The post-war baby boom, marked by robust birth rates, gave way to lower fertility and mortality rates in subsequent decades. This has shifted the country’s demographic profile. The United States is not alone in this. Aging is now a global trend, reshaping economies and societies alike. Retirement’s uncertain promise Retirement once promised leisure after years of work and saving. That promise is looking less certain as fewer Americans now believe their savings will last them through retirement. Roughly 30 percent of retirees still work for pay, a proportion that has held steady even as optimism has faded. An aging America will force policymakers and citizens alike to confront uncomfortable trade-offs between work, retirement, and the promise of security.

As of October 2025, India had the largest offline population worldwide, with more than 440 million people lacking internet access. Pakistan ranked second, with approximately 139.39 million people not connected to the internet. Despite these figures, both countries also ranked among those with the highest numbers of internet users globally. Internet access in Africa In 2023, Africa lagged behind other global regions regarding internet penetration rate, as only 37 percent of the continent’s population accessed the web. In contrast, around 91 percent of Europe’s population were internet users. This is heavily influenced by the infrastructure development in the region. However, some improvements are forecasted, as by 2028, the internet penetration rate in Africa will be at an estimated 48.15 percent. Global internet access challenges: disruptions and restrictions Government internet shutdowns around the world are another challenge for internet access. Between 2015 and the first half of 2023, 172 local internet connection disruptions occurred due to protests globally. Moreover, according to a 2023report on internet freedom, almost four out of ten global internet users were deprived of essential freedoms on online platforms. In 2023, 76 new restrictions on internet usage were implemented worldwide. Asia led in imposing these restrictions, accounting for approximately 55 cases across various countries in the region.

In 2024, Denmark ranked first by penetration rate in the e-commerce market among the 27 countries presented in the ranking. Denmark's penetration rate amounted to ***** percent, while Sweden and Belgium, the second and third countries, had records amounting to ***** percent and ***** percent, respectively.Further information about the methodology, more market segments, and metrics can be found on the dedicated Market Insights page on eCommerce.

In 2024, the average life expectancy in the world was 71 years for men and 76 years for women. The lowest life expectancies were found in Africa, while Oceania and Europe had the highest. What is life expectancy?Life expectancy is defined as a statistical measure of how long a person may live, based on demographic factors such as gender, current age, and most importantly the year of their birth. The most commonly used measure of life expectancy is life expectancy at birth or at age zero. The calculation is based on the assumption that mortality rates at each age were to remain constant in the future. Life expectancy has changed drastically over time, especially during the past 200 years. In the early 20th century, the average life expectancy at birth in the developed world stood at 31 years. It has grown to an average of 70 and 75 years for males and females respectively, and is expected to keep on growing with advances in medical treatment and living standards continuing. Highest and lowest life expectancy worldwide Life expectancy still varies greatly between different regions and countries of the world. The biggest impact on life expectancy is the quality of public health, medical care, and diet. As of 2022, the countries with the highest life expectancy were Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Australia, all at 84–83 years. Most of the countries with the lowest life expectancy are mostly African countries. The ranking was led by the Chad, Nigeria, and Lesotho with 53–54 years.

As of 2024, South Africa was the country with the highest number of people living with HIV in Africa. At that time, around 7.8 million people in South Africa were HIV positive. In Mozambique, the country with the second-highest number of HIV-positive people in Africa, around 2.5 million people were living with HIV. Which country in Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV? Although South Africa has the highest total number of people living with HIV in Africa, it does not have the highest prevalence of HIV on the continent. Eswatini currently has the highest prevalence of HIV in Africa and worldwide, with almost 26 percent of the population living with HIV. South Africa has the third-highest prevalence, with around 18 percent of the population HIV positive. Eswatini also has the highest rate of new HIV infections per 1,000 population worldwide, followed by South Africa and Mozambique. However, South Africa had the highest total number of new HIV infections in 2024, with around 170,000 people newly infected with HIV that year. Deaths from HIV in Africa Thanks to advances in treatment and awareness, HIV/AIDS no longer contributes to a significant amount of death in many countries. However, the disease is still the eighth leading cause of death in Africa, accounting for around 4.6 percent of all deaths. In 2024, South Africa and Mozambique were the countries with the highest number of AIDS-related deaths worldwide, with 53,000 and 44,000 such deaths, respectively. Although not every country in the leading 25 for AIDS-related deaths is found in Africa, African countries account for the majority of countries on the list. Fortunately, HIV treatment has become more accessible in Africa over the years, and now up to 94 percent of people living with HIV in Eswatini are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Access to ART does vary from country to country, however, with around 81 percent of people who are HIV positive in South Africa receiving ART and only 34 percent in the Congo.

The statistic shows the 20 countries with the lowest fertility rates in 2024. All figures are estimates. In 2024, the fertility rate in Taiwan was estimated to be at 1.11 children per woman, making it the lowest fertility rate worldwide. Fertility rate The fertility rate is the average number of children born per woman of child-bearing age in a country. Usually, a woman aged between 15 and 45 is considered to be in her child-bearing years. The fertility rate of a country provides an insight into its economic state, as well as the level of health and education of its population. Developing countries usually have a higher fertility rate due to lack of access to birth control and contraception, and to women usually foregoing a higher education, or even any education at all, in favor of taking care of housework. Many families in poorer countries also need their children to help provide for the family by starting to work early and/or as caretakers for their parents in old age. In developed countries, fertility rates and birth rates are usually much lower, as birth control is easier to obtain and women often choose a career before becoming a mother. Additionally, if the number of women of child-bearing age declines, so does the fertility rate of a country. As can be seen above, countries like Hong Kong are a good example for women leaving the patriarchal structures and focusing on their own career instead of becoming a mother at a young age, causing a decline of the country’s fertility rate. A look at the fertility rate per woman worldwide by income group also shows that women with a low income tend to have more children than those with a high income. The United States are neither among the countries with the lowest, nor among those with the highest fertility rate, by the way. At 2.08 children per woman, the fertility rate in the US has been continuously slightly below the global average of about 2.4 children per woman over the last decade.

Rice is one of the most widely consumed grains in the world. As the most populous country in the world, China also consumes more rice than any other country, with about *** million metric tons consumed in 2024/2025. Following China, India is ranked second with *** million metric tons of rice consumed in the same period. Rice production Rice requires very specific conditions in order to flourish. It must be grown in a field flooded with several inches of water, known as a paddy field. Unsurprisingly, China and India also top the list as the biggest producers of rice worldwide. Rice has such a neutral flavor that it can be integrated into almost any kind of dish, paired with virtually any flavor. In China, rice is often steamed and served alongside stir-fried meat and vegetables. Rice varieties Though there are dozens of varieties of rice grown and consumed across globe, the three most prominent types of rice are indica, japonica, and aromatic. The price index of all rice, however, has increased by over ** points since 2016.

According to the Global Hunger Index 2024, which was adopted by the International Food Policy Research Institute, Somalia was the most affected by hunger and malnutrition, with an index of 44.1. Yemen and Chad followed behind. The World Hunger Index combines three indicators: undernourishment, child underweight, and child mortality. Sub-Saharan Africa most affected The index is dominated by countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the region, more than one fifth of the population is undernourished . In terms of individuals, however, South Asia has the highest number of undernourished people. Globally, there are 735 million people that are considered undernourished or starving. A lack of food is increasing in over 20 countries worldwide. Undernourishment worldwide The term malnutrition includes both undernutrition and overnutrition. Undernutrition occurs when an individual cannot maintain normal bodily functions such as growth, recovering from disease, and both learning and physical work. Some conditions such as diarrhea, malaria, and HIV/AIDS can all have a negative impact on undernutrition. Rural and agricultural communities can be especially susceptible to hunger during certain seasons. The annual hunger gap occurs when a family’s food supply may run out before the next season’s harvest is available and can result in malnutrition. Nevertheless, the prevalence of people worldwide that are undernourished has decreased over the last decades, from 18.7 percent in 1990-92 to 9.2 percent in 2022, but it has slightly increased since the outbreak of COVID-19. According to the Global Hunger Index, the reduction of global hunger has stagnated over the past decade.

In 2024, the United States ranked first by combined revenue in the 'Soft Drinks' segment of the non-alcoholic drinks market among the 25 countries presented in the ranking. United States' combined revenue amounted to 223.24 billion U.S. dollars, while Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the second and third countries, had records amounting to 38.49 billion U.S. dollars and 34.62 billion U.S. dollars, respectively.Further information about the methodology, more market segments, and metrics can be found on the dedicated Market Insights page on Soft Drinks.

Among all countries worldwide those in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest rates of HIV. The countries with the highest rates of HIV include Eswatini, South Africa, and Lesotho. In 2024, Eswatini had the highest prevalence of HIV with a rate of around ** percent. Other countries, such as Zimbabwe, have significantly decreased their HIV prevalence. Community-based HIV services are considered crucial to the prevention and treatment of HIV. HIV Worldwide The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that is transmitted via exposure to infected semen, blood, vaginal and anal fluids, and breast milk. HIV destroys the human immune system, rendering the host unable to fight off secondary infections. Globally, the number of people living with HIV has generally increased over the past two decades. However, the number of HIV-related deaths has decreased significantly in recent years. Despite being a serious illness that affects millions of people, medication exists that effectively manages the progression of the virus in the body. These medications are called antiretroviral drugs. HIV Treatment Generally, global access to antiretroviral treatment has increased. However, despite being available worldwide, not all adults have access to antiretroviral drugs. There are many different antiretroviral drugs available on the market. As of 2024, ********, an antiretroviral marketed by Gilead, was the leading HIV treatment based on revenue.

This statistic shows the average life expectancy in Europe for those born in 2024, by gender and region. The average life expectancy in Western Europe was 79 years for males and 84 years for females in 2024. Additional information on European life expectancy The difference in life expectancy seen between men and women across all European regions is in line with the global trends of women outliving men, on average. The average life expectancy at birth worldwide by income group shows that the gender life expectancy gap is not only a consistent trend across countries, but also income groups. Moreover, the higher life expectancy for those in high income groups may help to explain the lower average life expectancy for those born in Eastern Europe where average incomes are generally lower than other European regions. Although income and length of life are not directly correlated, higher income individuals are generally able to afford access to superior nutrition and healthcare as well as having leisure time for exercise. That said, current trends in the increases in life expectancy worldwide by country between 1970 and 2017 suggest economic growth will lead to larger increases in life expectancy. Those increases are less likely to occur to such a degree in the more developed regions of Europe where Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Iceland and Austria all rank in the top 20 countries with the highest life expectancy.

South Africa is expected to register the highest unemployment rate in Africa in 2024, with around ** percent of the country's labor force being unemployed. Djibouti and Eswatini followed, with unemployment reaching roughly ** percent and ** percent, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest unemployment rates in Africa were in Niger and Burundi. The continent’s average stood at roughly ***** percent in the same year. Large shares of youth among the unemployed Due to several educational, socio-demographic, and economic factors, the young population is more likely to face unemployment in most regions of the world. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Africa was projected at around ** percent. The situation was particularly critical in certain countries. In 2022, Djibouti recorded a youth unemployment rate of almost ** percent, the highest rate on the continent. South Africa followed, with around ** percent of the young labor force being unemployed. Wide disparities in female unemployment Women are another demographic group often facing high unemployment. In Africa, the female unemployment rate stood at roughly ***** percent in 2023, compared to *** percent among men. The average female unemployment on the continent was not particularly high. However, there were significant disparities among African countries. Djibouti and South Africa topped the ranking once again in 2022, with female unemployment rates of around ** percent and ** percent, respectively. In contrast, Niger, Burundi, and Chad were far below Africa’s average, as only roughly *** percent or lower of the women in the labor force were unemployed.

Italy edged ahead of Spain to be the world’s top exporter of wine in 2024. The country shipped **** million hectoliters of the beverage in that year, compared to Spain's ** million and France’s **** million. 2024 saw a dip in wine production worldwide compared to 2023. Overall, *** million hectoliters of wine were produced in 2024 compared to *** million in 2023. Spanish wine Despite having the most area of land utilized for wine production in the world, Spain is the third overall wine producer by volume. In 2024, the country produced ** million hectoliters, compared to production leader Italy’s **. This discrepancy is due, at least in part, to the low yields of Spanish vines which are often planted in relatively dry and infertile soil. Imports Of the top three exporters, only France ranks in the top five of wine importing countries, receiving *** million hectoliters, at a value of *** million euros in 2024.

In 2024, Italy was the leading European producer of wine with an output of approximately ** million hectoliters, followed by France at **** million hectoliters. Together with Spain, the three countries accounted for most of the wine produced in Europe. Wine worldwideThe three European giants are also the world’s top three wine producers, followed by the United States. The U.S. is the leading country for total wine consumption, followed by France, Italy, and Germany. If you want to know more about the worldwide wine market or the market of a specific country, you can visit our consumer market outlook for more information. The alcohol marketWhen it comes to the consumption of all alcoholic beverages by country the U.S. loses its top spot it held in wine consumption and comes in second place to China.

People in Portugal consume more wine than any other country worldwide, according to a study of 2024. In that year, the European country reached an annual per capita consumption of nearly ** liters. Following in the list was Luxembourg, with wine lovers consuming around ** liters of wine on average. Global wine production In addition to having the third highest per capita wine consumption, Italy produces more wine than any other country in the world. In 2024, the production volume of Italian wine amounted to ** million hectoliters. In comparison, the largest non-European wine producer, the United States, occupied the fourth position that year with less than half of that figure. Wine consumption in the United States In terms of total consumption, the United States consumes more wine than any other country, at **** million hectoliters in 2024. Barefoot and Josh Cellars were the leading table wine brands in the country in that year.

In 2025, nearly 11.7 percent of the world population in extreme poverty, with the poverty threshold at 2.15 U.S. dollars a day, lived in Nigeria. Moreover, the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for around 11.7 percent of the global population in extreme poverty. Other African nations with a large poor population were Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar. Poverty levels remain high despite the forecast decline Poverty is a widespread issue across Africa. Around 429 million people on the continent were living below the extreme poverty line of 2.15 U.S. dollars a day in 2024. Since the continent had approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants, roughly a third of Africa’s population was in extreme poverty that year. Mozambique, Malawi, Central African Republic, and Niger had Africa’s highest extreme poverty rates based on the 2.15 U.S. dollars per day extreme poverty indicator (updated from 1.90 U.S. dollars in September 2022). Although the levels of poverty on the continent are forecast to decrease in the coming years, Africa will remain the poorest region compared to the rest of the world. Prevalence of poverty and malnutrition across Africa Multiple factors are linked to increased poverty. Regions with critical situations of employment, education, health, nutrition, war, and conflict usually have larger poor populations. Consequently, poverty tends to be more prevalent in least-developed and developing countries worldwide. For similar reasons, rural households also face higher poverty levels. In 2024, the extreme poverty rate in Africa stood at around 45 percent among the rural population, compared to seven percent in urban areas. Together with poverty, malnutrition is also widespread in Africa. Limited access to food leads to low health conditions, increasing the poverty risk. At the same time, poverty can determine inadequate nutrition. Almost 38.3 percent of the global undernourished population lived in Africa in 2022.

Tunisia had the highest projected life expectancy at birth in Africa as of 2025. A newborn infant was expected to live about 77 years in the country. Algeria, Cabo Verde, Morocco, and Mauritius followed, with a life expectancy between 77 and 75 years. On the other hand, Nigeria registered the lowest average, at 54.8 years. Overall, the life expectancy in Africa was just over 64 years in the same year.