Estimated world population, according to research by Euro RSCG Worldwide: 7 billion
Estimated percentage of the world's population that is age 65 or older -- around 483 million people -- or more than the populations of the U.S., Mexico and Canada combined: 6.9
Average life expectancy globally: 67
A century ago, most people around the globe didn't make it to age 40. Today, age at which respondents to the survey believe middle age begins: 48
Source: Euro RSCG.
Percentage of adults who say they don't believe Americans are experiencing enough play in their lives, according to the 2012 Beneficial State of Play survey: 82
Percentage of respondents who say that having more energy and more free time would encourage them to play more: 49
Percentage who say that play triggers many positive emotional and physical benefits, and leaves them feeling happy: 66
Source: Cone.
Year that the first 18-hole golf course in the United States, the Chicago Golf Club, was laid out by Charles MacDonald, who was greatly influenced by courses in Scotland, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1893
Today, estimated number of golf courses and country clubs in the U.S.: 12,000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Percentage of residents in 24 countries who plan to watch at least some part of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, according to a survey by global research company Ipsos, on behalf of Reuters News: 72
Ranks of track and field (20 percent), soccer (20 percent), swimming (16 percent), gymnastics (14 percent), volleyball (5 percent) and tennis (5 percent) on the list of sports that global citizens appear especially interested in following: 1 (tie), 3, 4, 5 (tie)
Source: Ipsos Global Public Affairs.
Percentage of U.S. adults who spend more money on their friends than their friends spend on them in a given year, according to a survey from CouponCabin.com: 31
Percentage of U.S. adults who have said "no" to being in a bridal party because they couldn't afford it: 22
Percentage of respondents who have felt pressured to keep up with friends in terms of how much they spend on dining out, fashion, homes and more: 21
Source: CouponCabin.
Percentage of workers who said they typically drive to work, according to a study from CareerBuilder: 83
Of those, percentage who reported they took a job with a longer commute during the recession or post-recession: 12
Percentage who said they sometimes experience road rage while traveling to and from the office, similar to findings in 2006, when the study was last conducted: 58
Source: CareerBuilder.com.
Rank of the TV coverage of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the list of CBS' Top 20 memorable television moments, according to a study by Sony Electronics and Nielsen that ranked TV moments based on their impact -- viewers' recollection of the TV moment, their memory of where they were when they watched it and if they talked to others about it: 1
Rank of 2005's Hurricane Katrina, which killed more than 1,836 people -- Katrina was named one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the U.S. as well as the costliest natural disaster, with total property damage estimated at $81 billion: 2
Rank of the coverage of the O.J. Simpson "not guilty" verdict: 3
Source: Nielsen Analytics.
While the majority of American homeowners have insurance, percentage of renters who buy renters insurance, according to an Insurance Information Institute survey: 31
Ranks of New York City (69 percent), Los Angeles (61.8 percent) and Chicago (55.1 percent) on the list of U.S. cities where renters significantly outnumber homeowners, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1, 2, 3
Source: Insurance Information Institute.
Percentage of U.S. travelers who say healthy eating and exercise play an integral role while they are on vacation, according to a survey by TripAdvisor: 69
Among those who exercise on vacation, percentage who say their primary motivation is to maintain their fitness regimen: 31
Percentage who do so in order to avoid gaining weight: 28
Source: TripAdvisor.
Percentage of corporate directors who reported having shareholders approach the company within the last three years about increasing race and/or gender diversity on the board, according to a survey of corporate directors by Corporate Board Member magazine and Spencer Stuart: 11
Percentage who agreed that diversity efforts are better served through voluntary actions, but conceded that mandates may eventually be necessary to effect real change in the United States: 32
Source: Spencer Stuart.
Idle Thought
"If you write to impress it will always be bad, but if you write to express it will be good." -- Thornton Wilder, writer
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)