If the World Was Only 100 People

Summary

Imagine if the world were a village of just 100 people. In this global village, you'd see stark contrasts in gender, age, geography, religion, and language. While some enjoy access to education, healthcare, and technology, many others face scarcity in resources like clean water, shelter, and basic medical care. The script challenges us to reflect on the inequalities that define our world today, urging us to think about how we can shape the future for a more equitable and connected global community.

Takeaways

• 😀 50% of the global village would be women, and 50% would be men.
• 👶 25% of the villagers would be children under the age of 14, while 9% would be over 65 years old.
• 🌍 The majority of the villagers (60%) would come from Asia, followed by Africa (16%) and Europe (10%).
• 🙏 The religious makeup of the village would be diverse, with 31 Christians, 23 Muslims, and 15 Hindus.
• 🗣️ 12 villagers would speak Mandarin, followed by 6 who speak Spanish, and 5 who speak English.
• 💧 9 villagers would lack access to clean drinking water, and 14 wouldn't have access to toilets.
• 🏠 22 villagers would have no shelter, and one villager would be dying of starvation.
• 📚 86 villagers would be able to read and write, leaving 14 illiterate, with two-thirds of them being women.
• 🎓 Only 7 villagers would have a college degree, and 66 would finish high school.
• 📱 While 95% of villagers would have access to a cellphone network, 53 would never use the Internet.

Q & A

What does the concept of the global village mean in this context?

The global village is a simplified representation of the entire world as a village of just 100 people, designed to give a clearer perspective on global demographics, resources, and inequalities.

How many people in the global village would be under the age of 14?

In the global village, 25 people would be children under the age of 14.

What percentage of the global village's population would be over 65 years old?

9 out of 100 people, or 9%, would be over the age of 65 in the global village.

How are the world's continents represented in the global village?

In the global village, 5 people would come from North America, 9 from Latin America and the Caribbean, 10 from Europe, 16 from Africa, and 60 from Asia. Australia's population would not even add up to one person.

What religious diversity would be present in the global village?

The religious diversity would include 31 Christians, 23 Muslims, 15 Hindus, 7 Buddhists, 8 people practicing other religions, and 16 people who would not identify with any particular religion.

Which language would be most commonly spoken in the global village?

Mandarin would be the most spoken language, with 12 villagers speaking it. Other significant languages include Spanish, English, Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, and Portuguese.

What is the access to education like in the global village?

Out of the 100 villagers, 86 would be able to read and write, while 14 would be illiterate. Only 66 would finish high school, and only 7 would hold a college degree.

How many people in the global village would lack access to basic needs like clean water and shelter?

In the global village, 9 people wouldn't have access to clean, safe drinking water, and 14 would lack access to toilets. 22 would have no shelter from the wind and rain.

What are some of the major challenges facing people in the global village?

Major challenges include lack of access to healthcare (66 people would not have access to safe, affordable surgery), limited access to medicine (33 people), undernourishment (11 people), and overnutrition (22 people).

What role does technology play in the global village?

Technology plays a significant role, with 47 villagers being active internet users. However, 53 people would have no access to the internet and would not be able to post photos or research online.