The fertility rate in the developing world (excluding China) is currently 2.98 children per woman, more than a child above the rate in the developed world (1.67). This difference is due in part to women in the developing world having less access to effective birth control. We wonder: How many women in the developing world have an unmet need for contraception?
A. 877 million
B. 225 million
C. 74 million
D. 290,000
In many countries around the world, owning a home is a cherished dream and life goal. In some places, it is easier to realize than in others. Which major economy has the highest homeownership rate?
A. Germany
B. United States
C. Italy
D. China
Among wealthy countries, there are big differences with regard to paid time off from work. In most countries, vacation time is required by national law. We wonder: Which of these countries has the highest number of legally guaranteed vacation days?
A. United States
B. Germany
C. France
D. United Kingdom
Back in 1900, international migrants — people living in a country other than the one they were born in — accounted for approximately 3% of the world’s population. What is the percentage today?
A. 13%
B. 10%
C. 3%
D. 1%
Since its founding in 1998, Google’s rise has been meteoric. But has the company grown too big? There are those who argue that its dominance of key aspects of the Internet warrants antitrust action, whether by authorities in Europe, the United States or elsewhere. Do you know what Google’s current market share is?
A. 92%
B. 79%
C. 71%
D. 44%
The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 — along with recent accidents involving Malaysian and Indonesian jetliners — has focused the world’s attention on airline safety. We wonder: During which phase of flight do most fatal commercial aviation accidents occur?
A. While taxiing on the runway
B. During takeoff and climb
C. While cruising
D. During descent and landing
The term “millionaire” has long been a synonym for wealth and success. Nowadays, billionaires — of whom there are just over 2,000 worldwide — get all the attention, given that millionaires are not quite as rare as they used to be. We wonder: How many millionaires (measured in terms of U.S. dollars) are there worldwide?
A. 128,300
B. 758,000
C. Four million
D. Close to 14 million
Crossing an ocean from one continent to another used to be an act of incredible adventure. Now it can it be done in a matter of hours and requires little more than the purchase of an airline ticket. We wonder: What is longest non-stop flight in the world today?
A. Washington, DC to Beijing, China
B. Johannesburg, South Africa to Atlanta, Georgia
C. Sydney, Australia to Dallas, Texas
D. Singapore to Newark, New Jersey
One of the surprising bestsellers in 2014 was a dense academic tome by the French economist Thomas Piketty. In “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” Piketty focused on the age-old question of why the rich seem to get richer. We wonder: Which of the following statements about the world’s billionaires is true?
A. Billionaires make up 0.00003% of the world’s population.
B. The number of billionaires has increased by 70% since 2009.
C. Billionaires’ total wealth is $7.3 trillion.
D. Only 286 of the world’s billionaires are women.
The freedom to practice religion without fear of persecution is widely regarded as a fundamental human right. In practice, this right is sometimes abused — especially against religious minorities. We wonder: What percentage of the world’s population lives in a country in which they are a religious minority?
A. 3%
B. 13%
C. 27%
D. 72%