World demographics refer to various identifiable attributes of the world’s population. Statistics associated with world demographics include population, population growth rates, and average age. Other world demographics include statistics related to the population of individual countries, such as average number of retired individuals and life expectancy.
Various organizations and professions utilize world demographics statistics. Economists use them to help predict future economic trends related to wealth and national income. Census statisticians collect data for demographic reports to help governments formulate budgets and identify specific trends related to both local and world growth.
Statistics related to the global population are typically the most commonly discussed world demographic. Population for each country and the global community contribute to this data. Specifically, overall population is used as a foundation for further review of the numbers. When tracked over time, this information can provide information related to the effect of population growth on the global economy.
Population growth rates are calculated by analyzing the change in total population over a specified time period. By comparing the change in population over a set period of time, economists and others can analyze the impact of economic, cultural, or historical changes that also occurred during the same time period. This can also relate to observing the change in specific age groups, such as the young and the elderly.
Another type of world demographic is the average age of the population. The age of a given population can provide an insight into population declines related to health, wealth, and vitality. A population’s age provides a wealth of information, such as average birth rate and average life expectancy. Global and regional life expectancy can be analyzed to determine the underlying cause of longer life, such as diet or cultural practices.
The sex of the current world population is another example of a world demographic. This statistic provides information related to the percentage of males and females in the total world population. Sex can also be used in combination with average age and life expectancy to deduce further statistical evidence related to which sex lives the longest.
A number of other statistics related to world demographics can be found. Economists review trends related to retirement age when talking about the future wealth of a country or the overall global population. Other breakdowns of the global population provide demographics such as percentage of various races and religions that exist worldwide.