Healthcare
Life Expectancy by Region (1950-2050F)
See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.
Mapped: Life Expectancy by Region (1950-2050F)
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Average life expectancy at birth is projected to surpass 80 years in most global regions by 2050, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2022.
This infographic illustrates the trajectory of life expectancy at birth for both sexes, comparing data from 1950 and 2000 with the organization’s projections for the year 2050.
Life Expectancy to See Substantial Growth
At the beginning of the 19th century, no country had a life expectancy exceeding 40 years, with much of the global population enduring extreme poverty, limited access to medical care, and a lack of sanitation.
By 1950, newborns in Europe, North America, Oceania, Japan, and parts of South America were seeing life expectancies surpassing 60 years, while in other regions, newborns could only anticipate a lifespan of around 30 years.
For instance, individuals in Norway had a life expectancy of 72 years, while in Mali, it was merely 26 years. On average, Africa had a life expectancy of only 38 years.
Since then, life expectancies have substantially grown worldwide. Notably, between 1950 and 2000, significant progress was observed in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Region | 1950 | 2000 | 2050F |
---|---|---|---|
North America | 68 | 77 | 84 |
Latin America & the Caribbean | 49 | 71 | 81 |
Europe | 63 | 74 | 84 |
Asia | 42 | 68 | 80 |
Africa | 38 | 53 | 68 |
Australia & Oceania | 61 | 75 | 82 |
The improvement in life expectancy can be attributed to various factors such as advancements in medical technology, better healthcare infrastructure, improved sanitation, access to clean water, and increased awareness about health and nutrition.
In Perspective With History
Although today it seems like rising life expectancy is a given, for much of history it’s worth noting that the situation was much more static.
As shown in the above chart, for most of human history life expectancy at birth actually sat in the 20-30 year range. It’s only since the mid-19th century that the aforementioned improvements (sanitation, clean water, etc.) allowed for the exponential and regular progress we see today.
Cannabis
Mapped: Countries Where Recreational Cannabis is Legal
In total, only nine countries have fully legalized recreational cannabis use.
Countries Where Recreational Cannabis is Legal
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
In 2024, Germany became the third European Union country to legalize cannabis for personal use, following Malta and Luxembourg.
Here, we map the countries where recreational cannabis use is allowed as of April 2024, based on data from Wikipedia.
Limited to Few Countries
In total, only nine countries have legalized recreational cannabis use nationwide. However, just a few of them have licensed sales.
Country | Effective date | Licensed sales since |
---|---|---|
🇺🇾 Uruguay | December 2013 | July 2017 |
🇬🇪 Georgia | 30 July 2018 | Never authorized |
🇿🇦 South Africa | 18 September 2018 | Never authorized |
🇨🇦 Canada | 17 October 2018 | 17 October 2018 |
🇲🇽 Mexico | 28 June 2021 | Never authorized |
🇲🇹 Malta | 14 December 2021 | Never authorized |
🇹🇭 Thailand | 9 June 2022 | 9 June 2022 |
🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 21 July 2023 | Never authorized |
🇩🇪 Germany | 1 April 2024 | Never authorized |
🇺🇸 U.S. | Varies by state | Varies by state |
🇦🇺 Australia | Varies by jurisdiction | Never authorized |
At the federal level, cannabis is still considered an illegal substance in the United States. That said, individual states do have the right to determine their laws around cannabis sales and usage. Currently, cannabis is allowed in 24 states, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia.
Interestingly, the oldest legal text concerning cannabis dates back to the 1600s—when the colony of Virginia required every farm to grow and produce hemp.
Since then, cannabis use was fairly widespread until the 1930s when the Marihuana Tax Act was enforced, prohibiting marijuana federally but still technically allowing for medical use.
Today, the U.S. cannabis market is a $30 billion business. By the end of the decade, that number is expected to be anywhere from $58 billion to as much as $72 billion.
Similar to the U.S., Australia does not allow the use at the national level, but cannabis can be used legally in the Australian Capital Territory, which includes the capital Canberra.
-
Cannabis5 days ago
Mapped: Countries Where Recreational Cannabis is Legal
-
Technology2 weeks ago
Mapped: The Number of AI Startups By Country
-
Markets2 weeks ago
The Growth of a $1,000 Equity Investment, by Stock Market
-
Markets2 weeks ago
Mapped: Europe’s GDP Per Capita, by Country
-
Money1 week ago
Charted: What Frustrates Americans About the Tax System
-
Technology1 week ago
Countries With the Highest Rates of Crypto Ownership
-
Mining1 week ago
Where the World’s Aluminum is Smelted, by Country
-
Personal Finance1 week ago
Visualizing the Tax Burden of Every U.S. State