This has got to be the best presentation of UN population data that's every been given. Hans Rosling, professor of global health at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute shows how the third world is developing in health and wealth by using an animated graph that spans from 1962-2003 using fertility and mortality rates in countries around the world and health and wealth data from the same time span. The animation of the data points demonstrates dramatically how the world overall is becoming more healthy and prosperous which is surprising when you take into account the aids epidemic, famine and political unrest in Africa.
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It's twenty minutes long but it's really fascinating and worth the time it takes to view it.
You can play with the graph here. And you can view other lectures here.
