In South Africa, racial divisions and pessimism about democracy loom over elections
Many South Africans are dissatisfied with the state of their democracy. Confidence in some civic institutions declined from 1990 to 2013.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Global Migration and Demography
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Historic highs in 2018 voter turnout extended across racial and ethnic groups
More than half of U.S. eligible voters voted in 2018, the highest midterm turnout rate in recent history. Increased turnout was particularly pronounced among Hispanics and Asians.
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The gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking
Blacks have long outnumbered whites in U.S. prisons. But a significant decline in the number of black prisoners has narrowed the gap.
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Indonesians optimistic about their country’s democracy and economy as elections near
Many Indonesians are satisfied with the state of their democracy, and more describe the country’s current and future economic situation as good.
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Immigrants sent a record amount of money home to sub-Saharan African countries in 2017
Money sent by immigrants to their home countries in sub-Saharan Africa reached a record $41 billion in 2017.
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Many Nigerians, Tunisians and Kenyans say they plan to leave their countries in the next five years
Many Nigerians, Tunisians and Kenyans say they plan to leave their countries in the next five years. Some who plan to migrate say they have taken steps to do so, such as gathering information about a destination country and saving money.
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The share of women in legislatures around the world is growing, but they are still underrepresented
No world region has reached gender parity in the share of legislative seats held by women. Only three nations individually have reached or surpassed parity.
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California is one of 11 states that have the death penalty but haven’t used it in more than a decade
More than a third of the states that allow executions haven’t carried one out in at least 10 years or, in some cases, much longer.
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Around the World, More Say Immigrants Are a Strength Than a Burden
Majorities in top migrant destination countries say immigrants strengthen their countries. Yet publics are divided on immigrants’ willingness to adopt their host country’s customs.
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20 metro areas are home to six-in-ten unauthorized immigrants in U.S.
In 2016, the 20 U.S. metro areas with the most unauthorized immigrants were home to 6.5 million of them, or 61% of the estimated total.
