In 2003 there were around 713 million internet users worldwide. In 2004 there will be about 840m, and in 2005 about 965m.
The average oil price in 2002 was $25. In 2003 it was $27. In 2004 the average price is predicted to be $19 (due in part to increased production in West Africa, Venezuela and Iraq).
In 2001, Mexico and other countries in the Caribbean supplied 47% of brassieres in the US market. China supplied 5%. In 2004, the Mexico/Caribbean share will be 6% and the Chinese share will be 67%.
In 2004 South Africa will see around 750,000 new cases of infections with HIV and around 400,000 deaths from HIV/Aids. By 2010 the number of new infections is predicted to be around 600,000, and the number of deaths nearly 800,000.
A $12 billion upgrading of Indias Golden Quadrilateral, the road network linking Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta (Kolkata) and Madras (Chennai), will be completed in 2004.
The population of Egypt is 73m; its GDP per head $951. The population of Israel: 6.9m; its GDP per head $17,590.
During 2004 the Chinese economy, measured in dollar terms, will draw level with the UK (currently the worlds fourth largest). By 2005 it will be larger (China $1,724bn, UK $1,688bn), but GDP per head in China will still only be about a twentieth of that in the UK. Britains share of world trade will exceed all of south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa combined.
In 2004 one third of the Afghan economy $25bn will be based on illegal drugs. 90% of the heroin in Europe will come from Afghanistan.
Economic growth in South America is predicted to average 4%. Argentinas GDP will grow by around 4.9% (following 10.9% contraction in 2002 and 5% growth in 2003).
The top five recipients of foreign direct investment in 2004 will be: the US ($153bn), China ($65bn), Belgium ($55bn), France ($47bn) and the UK ($46bn).
Italy will have 110,000 new octogenarians (people over 80) in 2004. Its government will give parents Euro 1,000 on the birth of a second child. But Italys population is forecast to decline by more than 20% within a generation.
The US will spend $399bn on the military. Its allies will spend $219bn. Russia will spend $65bn and China $47bn.