Evidence of human progress

The world is much better than daily news headlines suggest.

Baseline presents the positive progress humanity has consistently made – in a clear and easily understandable format, based on data from leading international universities and organisations.

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32 → 73 Global life expectancy in years has more than doubled, 1900 vs. 2023. Source: Our World in Data

~14× higher average real income per person worldwide, 1820 vs. 2024, adjusted for inflation. Source: Maddison Project, World Bank via OWID

12 % → 88 % Share of adults worldwide who can read and write, 1820 vs. 2024. Source: Our World in Data

43 % → 10 % Share of people in extreme poverty, 1990 vs. 2023. Source: World Bank

Topics

Health & MedicineChild mortality, life expectancy ProsperityIncome, poverty, globalisation EducationLiteracy, universities worldwide Peace & SecurityConflicts in long-term context Mobility & ConnectivityPhones, internet, studying abroad Democracy & FreedomDemocracies, the right to vote

Honest about the challenges

Climate change, inequality and democratic backsliding are real. We show where they stand – and the evidence that progress on them is possible.

See the challenges