Humanity as 100 people
The world, or any country, as 100 people: by age, by where they live, and by internet use, electricity and literacy.
If the world were 100 people in 2026, 24 would be under 15, 65 aged 15 to 64 and 11 65 or older.
UN World Population Prospects 2024, 1 January 2026, a projection. Whole people by the largest-remainder method.
- 24 under 15
- 65 aged 15 to 64
- 11 65 and over
See the numbers
| Of 100 people | People | Year |
|---|---|---|
| under 15 | 24 | 2026 |
| aged 15 to 64 | 65 | 2026 |
| 65 and over | 11 | 2026 |
| live in cities | 45 | 2025 |
| live in towns and semi-dense areas | 36 | 2025 |
| live in rural areas | 19 | 2025 |
| use the internet | 74 | 2025 |
| have electricity | 92 | 2024 |
| cook mainly with clean fuels | 75 | 2024 |
| have at least basic drinking water | 91 | 2024 |
| have at least basic sanitation | 82 | 2024 |
How to use this tool
- 1Choose the World or a country.
- 2Pick what to show: age, where people live, internet, electricity or literacy.
- 3Read the figures and the list beside them, with the year and source of each.
How it works
Each figure stands for one hundredth of the population. Shares are turned into whole people by the largest-remainder method: every group gets the whole part of its share, and the people still missing go to the groups with the largest fractions left over. The groups always add up to 100.
Ages come from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (1 January of this year, a projection), where people live from the UN World Urbanization Prospects 2025 (its latest estimate), and internet use, electricity and literacy from the World Bank, each for the latest year observed.
Literacy is counted among 100 adults aged 15 and over, because that is how it is measured. The figures are neutral dots: they stand for shares, not for anyone in particular.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the numbers not match the exact percentages?
People come in wholes: 24.6% becomes 25 people or 24 people. The largest-remainder method keeps every group within one person of its exact share and the total at 100.
Why are the years different?
Each source measures in its own years. The year and source are shown under every view.
