Is this a convincing argument? Despite the doubters, rising levels of health, literacy and renewable energy suggest that things have never been better.
Now is the best EVER time to be alive
Is this a convincing argument? Despite the doubters, rising levels of health, literacy and renewable energy suggest that things have never been better.
The year 2025 is not going well. It began with massive wildfires in Southern California, destroying thousands of homes. Then, when Donald Trump became president, he immediately withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreementAn international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance.. Even the one bit of good news - the ceasefire in Gaza - is looking fragile.1
But if you step back and take a deep breath, things start to look different. Behind the frightening headlines, there are many reasons for optimismHaving a hopeful and positive outlook. . According to one respected American columnist, now is the "best time ever to be alive".2
So, here are four reasons for hope:
Child survival. Last year, a UN report found that child mortality - infants dying before reaching the age of five - had reached record lows.3 According to estimates, 2024 was the best year yet, with 96.4% of children surviving their first years of infancy.4
Solar success. Last year, the EU generated nearly half its energy from renewableEnergy sources, such as wind and solar power. sources.5 Meanwhile, China broke records for installing renewable energy sources.6 Much of this energy comes from solar power, which, according to one expert, is "accelerating faster than anyone thought possible".7
Slimming planet. In the past 50 years, the percentage of Americans who qualify as obeseFor adults, obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. A BMI of 25 or more is classed as overweight. has nearly tripled from 14.5% to 40.3%. But reports suggest the country has reached "peak obesity," as this number levels off and even goes into reverse.8 With the development of new weight-loss drugs, obesity rates should begin falling around the world.
Record readers. Across the globe, the number of people who can read and write has reached new highs of nearly 90%.9 This comes with increasing levels of education, especially for women, in the developing world.
There are many more encouraging long-term trends, from medical breakthroughs against diseases such as cancer, to a possible end to extreme poverty. But why, despite this good news, does it often feel like the world is becoming a worse place?
According to the late Swedish statisticianAn expert in the preparation and analysis of statistics. Hans Rosling, people are too pessimisticTending to believe that the worst will happen.. The "vast majority" of humans think the world is poorer, unhealthier, and more dangerous than is actually the case.10
This is partly due to the media, with its focus on negative stories. But it is also due to human biases and the difficulty of understanding data, with people giving too much weight to one-off examples. When you look at all the numbers, a more positive picture emerges.
Critics call Rosling's worldview "Pollyanna-ish". This means having an optimistic outlook in the face of bad news, or even ignoring inconvenient facts to stay cheerful. Because there is plenty of data that suggests the world is getting worse, like global carbon emissions, growing levels of inequality, and the possibility of population collapse.
Maybe the truth lies somewhere in between. Maybe the world is getting better and worse at the same time. Focus on the negative, and it is easy to feel defeated. But, when you focus on the positive, there is no better time than the present.
Is this a convincing argument?
Yes: Now is a great time to be alive. Rising levels of literacy, falling rates of obesity - when you ignore the news and look at the numbers, there are numerous reasons for hope.
No: From economic inequality to environmental damage, plenty of data suggests that the world is getting worse. Focusing on our problems is not pessimism but realism.
Or... The world is getting better and worse, depending on which numbers you pay attention to. But this is the only world we have, meaning people should make the most of the present moment.
Paris climate agreement - An international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
Optimism - Having a hopeful and positive outlook.
Renewable - Energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
Obese - For adults, obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. A BMI of 25 or more is classed as overweight.
Statistician - An expert in the preparation and analysis of statistics.
Pessimistic - Tending to believe that the worst will happen.
Now is the best EVER time to be alive

Glossary
Paris climate agreement - An international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
Optimism - Having a hopeful and positive outlook.
Renewable - Energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
Obese - For adults, obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. A BMI of 25 or more is classed as overweight.
Statistician - An expert in the preparation and analysis of statistics.
Pessimistic - Tending to believe that the worst will happen.