The State of the World Atlas [ff]. Dan Smith

      

      Praise for previous editions:

      “The State of the World Atlas is something else – an occasion

      of wit and an act of subversion…These are the bad dreams

      of the modern world, given color and shape and submitted

      to a grid that can be grasped instantaneously.”

      New York Times

      “Unique and uniquely beautiful...a discerning eye for

      data and a flair for the most sophisticated techniques of

      stylized graphic design; the atlas succeeds in displaying the

      geopolitical subtleties of global affairs in a series of dazzling

      color plates…tells us more about the world today than a

      dozen statistical abstracts or scholarly tomes.”

      Los Angeles Times

      “Coupled with an unusual non-distorting map projection and

      a series of brilliant cartographic devices, this gives a positively

      dazzling set of maps. It deserves to be widely used.”

      New Society

      “A super book that will not only sit on your shelf begging

      to be used, but will also be a good read. To call this book an

      atlas is like calling Calvados, applejack – it may be roughly

      accurate but it conveys nothing of the richness and flavour of

      the thing. Its inventive brilliance deserves enormous rewards.”

      New Scientist

      “A striking new approach to cartography...no-one wishing

      to keep a grip on the reality of the world should be without

      these books.”

      International Herald Tribune

      “Outspoken cataloguing of global oppressions and inequities,

      painstakingly sourced.”

      Independent on Sunday

      “Packed with fascinating facts and figures on everything from

      the international drugs industry to climate change.”

      Evening Standard

      “A political reference book which manages to translate hard,

      boring statistics into often shocking visual statements...

      required reading.”

      NME

      NINTH EDITION

      Completely revised & updated

      DAN SMITH

      New Internationalist

       www.newint.org

      This State of the World ninth edition first published in 2013

      by New Internationalist

      New Internationalist

      55 Rectory Road, Oxford, OX4 1BW

      www.newint.org

      Copyright © Myriad Editions

      Myriad Editions

      59 Lansdowne Place, Brighton BN3 1FL

      www.MyriadEditions.com

      1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

      The moral right of the author has been asserted.

      Edited and co-ordinated for Myriad Editions by

      Jannet King and Candida Lacey

      Designed by Isabelle Lewis and Corinne Pearlman

      Maps and graphics by Isabelle Lewis

      Cover by New Internationalist/Myriad Editions

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

      stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any

      means without the written permission of the publisher, nor be

      otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than

      that in which it is published and without a similar condition being

      imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

      A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the

      British Library.

      ISBN: 978-1-78026-121-8

      Printed and bound in Hong Kong on paper produced from sustainable sources

      by Lion Production under the supervision of Bob Cassels, The Hanway Press, London

      Contents

       8 9 16 17

       About the author INTRODUCTION The problem with maps Acknowledgements

       18

       PART ONE

      Who We Are

       36

       PART TWO

      Wealth & Poverty

       20

      THE STATES OF THE WORLD Most states are relatively recent creations.

       22

      POPULATION Global population continues to grow but the rate of increase is slowing.

       24

      LIFE EXPECTANCY Average life expectancy is higher than ever before and rising.

       26