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# Globofacts ‘04
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/article-1621jsp/
- Published: 2003-12-04T00:12:00.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:48:36.000Z
- Author: Caspar Henderson
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 19:08

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 India’s “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 world’s 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. Britain’s 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%. Argentina’s 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 Italy’s 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.