Numbers That Hide Destinies: The True Image of the World.
We are 8 billion people.
For most, it’s just a massive number. You hear it, see it in the news, nod… and forget.
But what if we imagined this vast world in percentages? What if we viewed our planet not as an abstract figure, but as a community where each person has their place?
Where do people live?
If we represent the entire world population as 100%, we get:
- 11% live in Europe
- 5% in North America
- 9% in South America
- 15% in Africa
- 60% in Asia
In other words, Asia is a true giant — more than half of the global population lives there.
Also:
- 49% live in rural areas
- 51% live in urban areas
Cities are growing, but nearly half of humanity still lives close to the land.
What languages are spoken around the world?
Despite the dominance of English, the global linguistic landscape is much more diverse:
- 12% speak Chinese
- 5% Spanish
- 5% English
- 3% Arabic
- 3% Hindi
- 3% Bengali
- 3% Portuguese
- 2% Russian
- 2% Japanese
- 62% speak other languages not listed above
The world is far more multilingual than it seems.
Who lives in comfort and who in need?
Housing:
- 77% have a place to live
- 23% do not own a home
Food:
- 21% overeat
- 63% eat adequately
- 15% go hungry
Finances:
- 48% live on less than 2 euros a day
Clean water:
- 87% have access to clean water
- 13% drink contaminated or dirty water
Technology & communication:
- 75% have mobile phones
- 25% live without any connection
- 30% have internet access
- 70% have never been online
Education:
- 7% have completed higher education
- 93% have never attended university
- 83% are literate
- 17% are illiterate
Religions of the world
Global faiths are divided as follows:
- 33% Christian
- 22% Muslim
- 14% Hindu
- 7% Buddhist
- 12% other religions
- 12% atheist or agnostic
How many people reach old age?
- 26% die before age 14
- 66% die between ages 15 and 64
- Only 8% of the global population lives past 65
If you’re over 65, you’re already part of the small group that has outlived 92% of the world.
Age is not the end — it’s the beginning
There’s a myth that the peak of human productivity is in youth. But research tells a different story:
- The most productive age range is 60 to 70 years
- The second most productive is 70 to 80
- The third is 50 to 60
Average age in major achievements:
- Nobel Prize winners — 62 years
- CEOs of major companies — 63 years
- Religious leaders — 71 years
- Popes — 76 years
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that emotional and intellectual peak occurs around age 60 and continues through age 80.
So if you’re 60, 70, or even 80 — these are the best years of your life.
What truly matters
With time, you realize that the little things don’t matter.
You stop feeling guilty for that extra slice of cake.
You read late, or sleep in as much as you like.
You sing, dance, take walks, and enjoy life — because you no longer have to prove anything to anyone.
You’ve learned what matters… and what doesn’t.
You’ve said goodbye to friends.
You know that life is short.
And you no longer waste time on regrets.
Old age is not a punishment. It’s freedom.
I don’t want to go back to my youth.
I like the person I’ve become.
I don’t regret the past or worry about the future.
I’ll enjoy each day as long as I can.
And if I feel like it… I’ll eat dessert every day.
Life is not about how long you live.
Life is about how fully you live it.
