From 100 People.org via CEO Blog (Jim Estill) and Wikinomics (Thusenth Dhavaloganathan)
Understanding the world population is
hindered by the sheer size of the task. We can measure numbers and
statistics, but the reality of 6.5 billion people is infinitely more
difficult to comprehend. While no project could accurately portray the
life experiences of each one of us, looking at a representative sample
of 100 is a more manageable place to begin, and is a figure we can
actually visualize. It is our hope that this work will inspire others
to see the world in a new way. Who are the people each of us shares our
neighborhood, community, town, school, and country with? Where does
each of us fit in?
...
The project will find and capture in film, photography, music and text
100 individuals who represent the global population, proportionate to
annual global surveys and statistics. This World Portrait will be used
to make an introduction between the peoples of the earth and to
facilitate a greater understanding of the diversity and the
commonalities among us.
Gender
- 50 would be female
- 50 would be male
First Languages
- 17 would speak Chinese
- 8 would speak Hindustani
- 8 would speak English
- 7 would speak Spanish
- 4 would speak Arabic
- 4 would speak Russian
- 3 would speak Bengali
- 2 would speak Malay-Indonesian
- 2 would speak French
- 45 would speak other languages (this one suprised me)
Drinking Water
- 83 would have access to safe drinking water
- 17 would use unimproved water
- 50 would live in poverty
Religion
- 31 would be Christian
- 21 would be Muslim
- 14 would be Hindu
- 6 would be Buddhist
- 12 would believe in other religions
- 16 would not be religious or identify themselves as being aligned with a particular faith
Technology
- 34 would be cell phone subscribers
- 17 would be active internet users
- 1 would own a computer
More here
