World statistics

May 9, 2005 5:49 AM

World statistics as they happen.
Fascinating info. Be sure to check out lightning strikes and CO2 emissions. How many more people are there in the world today? (it surprised me). Nice to know bicycle production outpaces automobile production.
posted by zardoz (12 comments total)

I wanted to hyperlink to the individual stats in the FPP but--guess what?--I don't know how. And I already used up my AskMefi question for the week.
posted by zardoz at 5:51 AM on May 9, 2005

zardoz: "I wanted to hyperlink to the individual stats in the FPP but--guess what?--I don't know how."

Well, I know how, but it's not possible on that page. Hooray for shortsighted web development!
posted by Plutor at 5:55 AM on May 9, 2005

"The data is somewhat correct for 2003-2004 years"

The stats aren't realtime anyway. It's just an accumulator that iterates each field at a predetermined interval. Also, this is 2005, so the inaccuracy is even greater.
posted by mischief at 6:02 AM on May 9, 2005

I'm sure I've seen a real-time version elsewhere. I anticipated visiting this link with that hope.
posted by sjvilla79 at 6:06 AM on May 9, 2005

Great link, thanks.

I note that the age of the earth in years seems to be pretty stable.
posted by sour cream at 6:28 AM on May 9, 2005

That topsoil erosion stat. 'seems' awful big not to mention growing amazingly fast.
And I just got hungry and it didn't count me. *sigh*
posted by peacay at 6:38 AM on May 9, 2005

Mischief is right. This site just takes the 2003 statistics and extrapolates from there, so it is hardly world statistics "as they happen" (not that it would be possible to actually have such a site). Still pretty neat.

Try setting your computer's clock to 1985.
posted by googly at 6:57 AM on May 9, 2005

Some figures from the site.
Global energy consumption this year (oil, coal etc.): equivalent to 11.2 billion tons of coal

That's a problem? It doesn't have to be, because:
Solar energy striking the Earth's surface this year: equivalent to 2,700 billion tons of coal

This is what we should be thinking about. Are there any governments that plan 50 or 100 years into the future instead of just planning for the next election?
posted by Termite at 8:26 AM on May 9, 2005

not elected governments, Termite, sadly.

interesting site--happy bday all 170k-ish new earthlings : >
posted by amberglow at 8:34 AM on May 9, 2005

Isn't it fascinating that the destruction of the earth is so well documented?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:45 AM on May 9, 2005

It would be nice if the site provided sources for the numbers. The numbers seem to be accurate, at least compared to what the CIA has to say about the population of the world
posted by miguelbar at 9:16 AM on May 9, 2005

When did we become so efficient...

Produced energy this year: 4.2 billion units
Consumed energy this year: 4.0 billion units
posted by Chuckles at 11:08 AM on May 9, 2005