Hans Rosling shows the best stats you've ever seen

Tags: demography/population, globalization, child mortality, infant mortality, child survival, data visualization, income, global development, subtitles/CC, 11 to 20 mins
Year: 2006
Length: 19:50
Access: Ted Talks

Summary: This clip is taken from the TED Talks, a non-profit which hosts presentations related to ideas of technology, entertainment, and design. In this clip, Hans Rosling uses innovative data visualization tools to illustrate global changes since the 1960s related to fertility, life expectancy, child survival and poverty by nation (and region). Specifically, Rosling underscores the difference between popular perceptions of the so-called third world and evidence from census data. The clip would be useful for a demography or an introductory sociology class, as it demonstrates how statistical data often provides insights about the world which contradict common sense. An updated and visually interesting demonstration of the relationship between life expectancy and wealth by nation can be found in a newly released preview for Rosling's upcoming documentary, The Joy of Stats.

Note, this clip might work well with Danah Boyd's talk at Gov. 2.0 Expo 2010, where she notes that data is not enough in itself but must be appropriately analyzed.

Submitted By: Lester Andrist

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