Even in the age of global democracy, kings and queens are still a part of the political scene. In some countries, monarchs continue to wield executive powers. In others, they hold a more ceremonial position. We wonder: What is the longest reign of any monarch who is still alive today?
March 2010
The World’s Oldest Countries in 2050
Population aging has direct consequences for almost all aspects of public life — from the viability of retirement and healthcare systems to shrinking workforces and overall population levels. Japan is currently the world's oldest country, with a median age of 44.7 years — and is projected to retain this title for the next four decades. We wonder: After Japan, which country in the world will have the highest median age by 2050?
Sizing Up China’s Income
China's economy has made big strides in recent decades. And yet, with a population of 1.3 billion people, it is a vast undertaking to improve the lot of so many people after several decades of mismanagement. We wonder: Where does China's per person income rank globally?
Ranking American Health Care
In the contentious U.S. debate about healthcare reform, there are a great many perspectives on the real performance of the U.S. healthcare system. We wonder: Where does the United States rank in the world when it comes to health care?