While some regions of the world are grappling with the social and economic challenges of a “youth bulge,” other regions are facing the challenges of an aging population. We wonder: What is the median age of all the people alive on earth today?
A. 19.4
B. 29.6
C. 37.0
D. 41.6
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While some countries experience an increasingly steep population decline, the overall global population continues to climb. This year, the world’s total population stands at about 7.5 billion. We wonder: How much does the world’s population grow per minute?
A. 4.8
B. 49.5
C. 82.6
D. 157.2
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On July 7 and 8, world leaders will gather in Hamburg, Germany, for this year’s “Group of 20” (G20) summit. Their task is to find points of agreement on complex global issues that cannot be solved without cooperation between countries. We wonder: Which of the following statements are true about the G20 countries collectively?
A. They represent more than 20% of the world’s countries.
B. They account for more than 60% of the world population.
C. They produce more than 80% of the world’s GDP.
D. They release more than 80% of CO2 emissions.
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California is not only the most populous U.S. state, but also has the largest economy of any of the 50 U.S. states. We wonder: How many countries around the world, excluding the United States itself, have a GDP larger than the size of California’s economy?
A. Twenty-five
B. Fourteen
C. Nine
D. Four
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China, India and the United States currently are the world’s three most populous nations. By 2060, they will rank in second, first and fourth place, respectively. We wonder: Which country will have taken the current place of the United States to have the world’s third-largest population in 2060?
A. Indonesia
B. Pakistan
C. Bangladesh
D. Nigeria
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Immigration has returned once again as a hot-button issue around the world. We wonder: In absolute numbers, which country is home to more foreign-born residents than any other?
A. Germany
B. Russia
C. Saudi Arabia
D. United States
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International migration flows are a topic of hot debate, especially in Europe and the United States, the major receiving countries. But what about the perspective of the emigration countries? Specifically, we wonder: In absolute numbers, which country has more of its native-born citizens living abroad than any other?
A. Syria
B. United Kingdom
C. India
D. Russia
E. Mexico
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Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country by far. It has nearly double the population size of the second-largest country. Its 182 million people in 2015 make it the world’s seventh most populous nation. We wonder: After Nigeria, which is Africa’s next most populous country?
A. South Africa
B. The Democratic Republic of Congo
C. Kenya
D. Ethiopia
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Hispanics have been the largest minority group in the United States since 2001. We wonder: Of the following four statements, which is the one that is not true?
A. U.S. Hispanics are a growing demographic force.
B. U.S. Hispanics do not yet fully use their political power.
C. Unemployment among Hispanics is significantly higher than among the overall U.S. population.
D. The Hispanic birth rate has dropped significantly in recent years.
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Bangladesh was the smallest of the four countries to emerge out of British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent. Formerly known as East Pakistan, it has more people than either Russia or Japan. We wonder: Which of the following statements about today’s Bangladesh are true?
A. Its fertility rate is below the global average.
B. It is an integral part of global supply chains.
C. Media freedom is a big challenge.
D. It faces an imminent existential threat from climate change.
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