Bridging the Digital Divide: The Journey to Universal Smartphone Access

Not as many people in the world have smartphones as we might think. Accurate data is hard to find, and different sources provide varying statistics. It’s relatively safe to generalize that around two-thirds of the global population use smartphones. Some estimates go as high as 85%, while others suggest as low as 60-75%.

Other gaps in the data remain. Although it is reported that there are over 7 billions phones being used, some individuals and businesses own multiple phones. Without clear data on multi-phone usage, it’s challenging to pinpoint the exact number of users.

In 2023, 1.17 billion phones were sold, a decline from the peak of 1.156 billion units sold in 2017. While this number is substantial, it highlights the gap that still exists. Ensuring that everyone has access to smartphones will require not just technological advancements but also substantial improvements in infrastructure and accessibility worldwide.

Achieving 100% smartphone penetration remains a distant goal. Network coverage is still incomplete, and there are significant barriers, such as the approximately 800 million people who still don’t have access to electricity. Until these fundamental issues are addressed, universal smartphone ownership will remain out of reach.

The business to consumer e-commerce market is on a remarkable growth trajectory!

According to the US Government’s International Trade Administration, global business-to-consumer e-commerce revenue is expected to grow to a staggering USD $5.5 trillion by 2027. This growth is driven by a steady 14.4% compound annual growth rate since 2017.

The leading B2C e-commerce segments are consumer electronics, fashion, furniture, toys/hobby, biohealth pharmaceuticals, media & entertainment, beverages, and food.

Media is the fastest-growing segment within this group, which can be attributed to the rapidly evolving technology in the sector. Meanwhile, areas like electronics show more steady growth, as the market is relatively more mature.

Some sources have this number higher in 2023, up to at least $5.5 trillion in 2024.

Remarkably, business-to-business e-commerce is tiny in comparison. Projected to skyrocket from $9.8 billion in 2017 to an impressive $36.2 billion in 2026, the B2B sector is growing rapidly. Yet, it remains a fraction of the consumer market.

The Great Wall of China is How Long?

True or false: the Great Wall of China is 13,000 miles long? When I attended a recent trivia night, I was amazed to learn that the Great Wall stretches around 13,000 miles (almost 21,000 kilometers). That left me puzzled. How can it be 13,000 miles long when Beijing is about 13,000 miles from South America? 🤔

For centuries, China’s northern borders were vulnerable to attacks from nomadic tribes. The Great Wall was a massive defensive project to protect the empire from these invasions.

While it might seem unbelievable, this incredible length is no exaggeration. The Great Wall of China isn’t your typical straight-line barrier

The challenge of constructing the Great Wall was as much about the terrain as it was about the wall itself. China spans roughly 3,100 miles from west to east, but the Great Wall’s path winds far beyond these coordinates. Its twisting course along China’s northern boundary defies a simple east-west axis. Instead, it follows the natural contours of mountains, hills, and valleys, crafting a complex tapestry of construction that stretches to a jaw-dropping 13,000 miles. 🌄

And The Great Wall isn’t just one continuous wall—it’s a series of fortifications spread across northern China. These fortifications, built by different dynasties, each boast unique features, construction techniques, and materials. Every section tells a story of adaptation and evolution, reflecting the specific challenges and needs faced by the builders. This diversity adds layers of complexity and intrigue to the wall’s already captivating narrative.

To put the wall’s length into perspective: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is approximately 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) long, stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Southern Ocean; the Earth’s circumference around the equator is about 24,901 miles (40,075 kilometers); and the straight-line distance from London to Beijing is around 5,059 miles (8,142 kilometers).

I grew up thinking the wall was one long stretch. I won’t be caught out by that one again at trivia! 🏰

How is Greenland a desert?

I recently discovered readng some random facts that Greenland is, in fact, one of the largest, if not the largest, desert islands! It’s quite unexpected, isn’t it? No palm trees, tropical waters, or sandy beaches here!

Greenland is like an icy wonderland, with most of its land covered by a massive ice sheet that’s as thick as 3 km. The part that’s not covered in ice is just a narrow strip along the coast, about 50-300 km wide. As you go south, closer to the edge of the ice, the weather gets a bit milder, more like sub-Arctic, with temperatures going above 10°C in July. In the southwest, where most people live, it’s low-Arctic, meaning winters are pretty mild with lots of snow and occasional thaws. Summers are wet and not too warm, with temperatures below 10°C on average during the warmest month.

Winter precipitation is pretty scarce, and some areas up north are like desert lands, getting less than 25 mm of rain in a whole year. That’s only 1% of what the southern tip of Greenland gets!

Here is how the average rainfall in Greenland is changing (average rainfall per season in mm):

But hey, if you head up north and northeast, brace yourself for the high-Arctic zone! It’s a whole different ball game there, with super cold winters that can drop to minus 50 degrees Celsius in some parts of northern Greenland. And get this, from September to May, it’s freezing most of the time!

Speaking of temperature, let’s take a closer look at how the average temperature is shifting. Brace yourself for some chilling numbers as we delve into the realm of sub-zero Celsius readings…

The high-Arctic Greenland has a continental climate, and it’s hugely influenced by the sea ice from the Arctic Ocean. This ice forms a big belt that drifts southwards along the east coast of Greenland. And you won’t believe it, but in recent times, the Polar Ice has been shrinking, causing all sorts of crazy stuff like coastal wave erosion. That’s something they’ve never seen before because the open sea wasn’t really exposed. The climate up there is heavily affected by how much sea ice there is and where it’s distributed.

Have you ever been to Greenland? Let us know via the comments below!

Shout out to the World Bank for the data and, as usual, Flourish for the visuals!

Coffee production and pricing since 1960s

For many people, coffee is more than just a beverage. It represents a daily ritual, a way to connect with others, and for some, a necessary fuel for work. However, for those who feel the impact of rising living costs around the world, it serves as a daily reminder of the economic pressures as they purchase their morning cup.

The price of coffee resembles a captivating dance, constantly shifting and influenced by global economics, intricate supply chains, and evolving consumer trends. Delving into historical coffee pricing data reveals remarkable fluctuations that have unfolded over the years.

From surges in the 1970s to dips in the early 2000s, it has been a mesmerizing rollercoaster ride. Yet, this rollercoaster extends beyond mere lines on a graph; its real-world implications touch the lives of everyone, from small-scale farmers to beloved local coffee shops. The chart below tracks the prices of Robusta and Arabica beans ($ per kg) since 1960.

When it comes to coffee, the true battle lies in flavor and origin. Robusta beans bravely offer twice the caffeine kick, while Arabica beans seduce with their mild, aromatic charm. It’s a showdown of boldness versus subtlety, where taste buds crave the bolder, more distinct notes. Choose wisely, caffeine enthusiasts!

And here’s the thing – their prices? They’re actually moving in opposite directions lately. Check out the downward trend in Arabica, and the upward trend in the Robusta prices in the chart below which zooms in on the prices between 2021 and 2024. Pretty interesting, right?

Examining the relationship between price movement and total production is fascinating. However, we were unable to find a detailed breakdown of global production between Robusta and Arabica so it is difficult to tell how supply has affected the price.

Production growth has remained relatively consistent since the 1970s. When analyzing the relationship between pricing and production trends, a visual examination of the chart below reveals several intriguing price spikes that don’t seem to be directly influenced by changes in production.

Vietnam, the emerging powerhouse in coffee production, has quickly become a major player in the industry. Remarkably, 93% of Vietnam’s coffee production is Robusta. This remarkable rise is shown in the accompanying YouTube video and chart below.

So what does this mean for your the price of your morning latte? Less than you might think.  You have to factor in milk, barista costs and business expenses.  Consider also that a shot of espresso is only, say, 10 grams.  By my calculation, the cost of the coffee bean (where I live) accounts for only 7% of the total cost of my brew.

Anything surprising in that analysis for you?

Shoutout to these awesome sources for providing the data for this post: World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Our World in Data. And a big thank you to Canva and Flourish for the awesome visuals!

And now some AI-generated (through Canva) coffee cups just to make you thirsty.  

Some Don Bradman stats that may surprise you

When it comes to cricketing legends, one name stands head and shoulders above the rest: Sir Donald Bradman. His mere mention invokes images of impeccable technique, unfathomable runs, and a batting average that seems plucked from a fairy tale. Cricket enthusiasts the world over know the Australian’s story well — or so they think. Don Bradman’s career is a well-trodden path for many lovers of the game, but there are intriguing statistics that often escape the spotlight.

Don Bradman’s Test batting average of 99.94 is cricket’s north star, a figure that has never been matched and thus serves as an unrivalled benchmark in the sport.

Checkout the comparison below of Bradman to Steven Smith – arguably Australia’s second best in terms of career batting average.

Note how Smith took almost 40 innings to reach an average of 40, while Bradman had an average around 110 runs after 28 innings.  This chart also highlights a bad run Bradman had between innings 30 and 40 where, shock horror, his average dipped below 100!

The video above also seeks to highlight just how far Bradman was from his peers. It shows the accumulation of runs over 80 innings of 10 of the top 20 batters in tests.  All those players included in this chart played at least 80 innings and finished with career averages in the top 20 or so players.

And here is another point of comparison demonstrated visually – a comparison of every batter who has scored over 5000 test runs:

Bradman is that lonely dot down the bottom on only 52 matches played. Sachin Tendulkar is that lonely dot up the top right. Players like Steven Smith and Kumar Sangakkara are sitting below the trend line with great averages. It begs the question about what could have been had the war not interrupted his career.

However, it’s not just about runs and averages. Many cricket aficionados are quick to attribute Bradman as a groundswell kind of player, focusing on orthodox strokes that rarely saw the ball sail over the boundary. Yet, records show that Bradman hit sixes with surprising frequency. In the 52 Tests he played, The Don despatched the ball over the boundary 6 times.

Another unexpected fact is his tendency to be dismissed through catches. For a batsman whose legend includes keeping the ball grounded, it’s intriguing to note that Bradman was mostly out caught – 39 times from 70 dismissals – which accounts for a staggering 55% of his dismissals, busting the myth that he always kept it on the ground!

For cricket enthusiasts and data lovers alike, exploring these lesser-known figures is akin to discovering new constellations in a starlit sky.

Do you have a favourite Bradman stat?

 

WHO Tobacco Trends Report 2024: an industry in decline

In a world where health outcomes are more and more connected to lifestyle choices, the use of tobacco is a major issue with wide-ranging effects. A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates a significant drop in global tobacco consumption. According to WHO’s data, now only one in five people aged over 15 use tobacco, compared to one in three back in 2000.

We’re super curious about this headline at Goblin Data – what’s the deal with the reduction in tobacco prices, tax revenue, and overall production? And is it really a big deal that it dropped from “1 in 3” to “1 in 5”?

The comparison from 2000 to 2024 paints an intriguing picture. In 2000, there were approximately 1.362 billion tobacco users worldwide. By 2023, this number has dropped to 1.245 billion—a decline of 117 million. This data shows a positive trajectory of public health education and anti-tobacco policies.

Despite the decrease in tobacco users, the prices of tobacco commodities have remained relatively stable. The index for tobacco commodity prices has shown only a slight increase. This stability, in contrast to the declining demand for tobacco, suggests that the industry is adapting to a world where governments heavily tax tobacco products and promote strong anti-smoking messages in their health marketing campaigns.

The chart below illustrates the remarkable price stability of tobacco (orange line) compared to other agricultural commodities such as wheat and sugar, as well as the broader measure of changes in agricultural commodity prices (brown line) estimated by the World Bank.

Governments worldwide are really putting the pricing pressure on consumers as they rake in more tax revenues from tobacco. Getting comprehensive and reliable data on global tobacco excise revenues is a real challenge. But here’s the interesting part: despite that, some country-specific info shows that the total excise collected is actually growing faster than smoking rates. Take the UK and US governments, for example. They’ve seen a whopping tax ecise revenue surge of 16.7% and 21.4% respectively in the past couple of years.

The decline in the tobacco industry does not seem to be a total collapse, but rather an adaptation to a changing landscape where health concerns and shifting attitudes are just some of the factors at play.

For example, production is going down. From 2000 to 2021, global tobacco production has dropped by 11.9%, noting the peak around 2014:

The production decline matches the decrease in the number of smokers. But here’s the thing: even though each smoker consumes a bit less tobacco, it’s only about 4% less per person than before. It seems like smokers aren’t really cutting back on tobacco use, despite higher prices and all the health concerns. Instead, it’s just that fewer people are smoking.

We had a blast putting this analysis together. The headline of “1 in 3 people, not 1 in 5 people” really grabbed our attention, and we thought it deserved a deeper understanding.  There is a lot to ponder from the data around price, production and usage.

Shoutout to these awesome sources for providing the data for this post: World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Our World in Data. And a big thank you to Canva and Flourish for the awesome visuals!