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public health
Culture / 10 weeks ago
The global language of honking: How drivers talk without words
Car horns aren’t just about safety but part of culture. A recent visualization from The World in Maps highlights how honking habits differ drastically across the globe. In some regions, a honk is a polite nudge or a normal part of traffic rhythm, while in others it’s rare and often considered rude.
World / 13 weeks ago
Women live longer than men and this is why
Women live longer than men nearly everywhere in the world. According to data compiled by Worldometer, the average life expectancy at birth in 2025 is 70.9 years for men and 76.2 years for women, leaving a gap of over five years. When both sexes are combined, global life expectancy stands at about 73.5 years.
Environment / 13 weeks ago
Why a handful of islands have the world’s cleanest air
The air quality ranking isn’t led by vast industrial economies but by tiny island territories with clean skies and windswept coastlines. The IQAir 2024 World Air Quality Report reveals that the Bahamas, Bermuda and French Polynesia recorded average fine‑particulate (PM₂.₅) concentrations of 2.3–2.6 µg/m³, well below the World Health Organisation’s guideline of 5.0 µg/m³.
Environment / 19 weeks ago
Where mosquitoes are deadlier than people
Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) presented in a map reveals that several countries, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa, face a grim reality of mosquitoes killing more people each year than armed violence and road traffic accidents combined. The data highlights the persistent and deadly burden of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and yellow fever, which continue to claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually.
World / 19 weeks ago
Sweden tops list of countries with most dentists, but global shortage looms
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Sweden ranks highest globally in the number of dentists per 10,000 people, boasting 17.7 dentists. Trailing closely behind are Chile (15.8), Bulgaria (15.6), and Lithuania (14.2), reflecting a concentration of oral healthcare professionals primarily in Europe and parts of Latin America. Despite these strong national showings, WHO data reveals a concerning global shortfall in dental professionals. The world currently has just over 2.5 million dentists, while the estimated global need is more than 4.1 million, indicating a deficit of over 1.5 million.
Environment / 22 weeks ago
Why hundreds of U.S. counties have lower life expectancy than North Korea
A new analysis from the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlights that hundreds of U.S. counties have a lower life expectancy than North Korea, a nation long criticised for its poor living standards. According to WHO’s 2021 estimates, North Korea’s life expectancy was 72.6 years, a benchmark that many American communities shockingly fail to meet The map from The World in Maps visually underscores the extent of the problem: counties shaded in red across vast swathes of the South, Midwest, and even parts of the West all fall below the 72.6-year mark. These findings stand in stark contrast to the popular perception of the U.S. as a global leader in health and longevity.
World / 24 weeks ago
Global gun deaths: Mexico leads in homicides, U.S. tops overall fatalities
In 2025, firearm-related deaths pose a significant public health challenge worldwide. According to the latest data from World Population Review, Mexico recorded the highest number of gun homicides, with 22,355 deaths, while the United States reported the highest total number of gun-related fatalities, encompassing homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings, totalling 15,186 deaths.
