The world's population today: 6,034,867,134; Just over four babies are born every second;
That's 250 babies a minute, 360,000 a day, 131 million a year;
Republic of Ireland's population: 3,632,944 (July, 1999, est.);
The world's richest 200 people are worth more than $1 trillion;
The world's top three billionaires are richer than all least developed countries and their 600 million people.
1 per cent of the richest 200's wealth would pay for access to primary education for all;
Ireland's billionaires: John Dorrance (Campbell soups) £1.52 billion; Tony O'Reilly (Heinz/Independent newspapers)/Chryss Goulandris £1.1 billion;
The top one-fifth of the world's people control 86 per cent of world GDP, 82 per cent of export markets, 74 per cent of phone lines. The bottom fifth control just one per cent;
The richest one-fifth is 74 times wealthier than the poorest fifth;
Americans spend $8 billion a year on cosmetics;
Europeans spend $11 billion a year on ice cream;
Annual spending on pet foods in Europe and the US: $17 billion;
Europeans spend $50 billion a year on cigarettes;
The five most developed countries: Canada, Norway, the US, Japan, Belgium. Ireland ranks 20th;
The five least corrupt countries: Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada. Ireland ranks 15th;
In 1900, a house on Dublin's Merrion Square cost £500. In 1999, one fetched £1.77m;
There are 300 million mobile phone users; by 2003 there will be one billion;
The Internet: 140 million users in mid-1998, 700 million forecast by 2001;
Three words for those not on the Net: Internot, the Digital Homeless, Offliners;
Military spending in the world: $780 billion a year;
Organised crime grosses $1.5 trillion a year;
The illegal drugs trade accounts for eight per cent of world trade, or $400 billion a year;