Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
This is a pivotal year in U.S.-Japan relations. As the two nations mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in August, it is a moment for both the American and Japanese publics to reflect on the past — but also to take the temperature of the current bilateral relationship and to consider its future.
The number of Christians in Europe is forecast to drop by about 100 million by 2050, while the share of Muslims and smaller religious minorities will increase.
In a few short years, the proliferation of mobile phone networks has transformed communications in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also allowed Africans to skip the landline stage of development and jump right to the digital age.
The U.S. dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki has long divided Americans and Japanese: 56% of Americans say it was justified, versus 14% of Japanese.
54% of Americans say it would be difficult to find the tools and strategies that would enhance their privacy online and when using cellphones, according to a Pew Research Center report.
Many supporters of marijuana legalization cite its perceived health benefits, while opponents say the drug hurts people and society.
If current demographic trends hold, by 2050, Muslims are projected to be more numerous in the U.S. than people who identify as Jewish on the basis of religion.
Americans are turning to their mobile devices to help them get from one place to another; navigation while driving is especially popular.
