World Data Lab

06/02/2026

A recent article published by The Economist highlighted a counterintuitive insight drawn from World Data Lab data: despite widespread belief, global consumption inequality has fallen sharply over the past two decades.

In this blog, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler reflects on what this shift really means, and why consumption tells a very different story about how people live, spend, and progress.

Read here:

A recent article published by The Economist highlighted a counterintuitive insight drawn from World Data Lab data: despite widespread belief, global consumption inequality has fallen sharply over the past two decades. Below, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler reflects on what this shift really mean...

05/02/2026

The global recreation and culture market is entering a period of robust expansion, fuelled by rising incomes, demographic shifts, and the growing importance of leisure in household budgets. By 2030, global spending in this category is projected to rise from $4.6 trillion in 2025 to $5.9 trillion, reflecting the enduring demand for entertainment, sports, cultural activities, and digital leisure experiences.

Key Trends Shaping the Category
✓ Strong Global Growth: Recreation and culture spending is set to expand by more than $1.3 trillion over the next five years, driven by increased participation in sports, entertainment, and digital leisure across both mature and emerging markets.

✓ A Generational Shift Toward Wealthier Consumers: While Baby Boomers currently play a major role in driving category spending, Gen X will see a significant rise in influence by 2030. This shift signals a continued lean toward older, wealthier consumers who prioritise premium experiences, travel, and cultural engagement.

See the full picture: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rvrHl0

03/02/2026

The global economy may feel more unequal, but the data tells a more surprising story.

New analysis published by The Economist, using data from World Data Lab, shows that global consumption inequality has more than halved since 2000.

As spending patterns converge across rich and poor countries, the centre of global demand continues to shift.

On consumption, it’s mostly good news.

Rich and poor consumers are seeing their spending patterns converge

03/02/2026

We track total medical consumption, not just out-of-pocket spending

Baby Boomers will remain healthcare's biggest spenders until 2035, when Gen X takes over as the primary driver of medical spending.

Healthcare is one of the most resilient and steadily expanding sectors in the global economy. Understanding where, when, and by whom this growth will occur is critical for policy makers, providers, investors, and innovators. World Data Lab’s forward-looking models deliver a clear, city-level view of healthcare demand, helping stakeholders target resources and strategies for maximum impact.

Learn more https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rrnv00

02/02/2026

The growth and geographic spending of affluent consumers are reshaping the food and restaurant industry.

Learn more about what this means for your market at https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rp1_R0 and https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rp0-Q0.

30/01/2026

🌍 We are delighted to welcome Michael Viertler as Senior Advisor to World Data Lab.

🏢 Michael brings decades of leadership and advisory experience at the very highest level. As former Head of McKinsey’s Munich office, he has advised leading companies, CEOs, and boards on strategy, transformation, and long-term value creation across industries and all major geographies.

📊 At World Data Lab, Michael will play a key role in further strengthening and expanding our work with companies. His deep understanding of corporate decision-making, global markets, and economic dynamics will be a major asset as we support business leaders with data-driven insights on growth, demographics, and future demand.

🚀 Michael’s perspective will significantly enhance how we translate our data and models into strategic relevance for the private sector, while continuing to inform policy and public-sector decisions.

👍 We are proud to have Michael on board - welcome to World Data Lab, Michael!

29/01/2026

New Data Talks episode is live: How Data Changed the Climate Conversation

Host Wolfgang Fengler is joined by Sir Andrew Steer KCMG, PhD, former President & CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund (2021–2025), former President & CEO of the World Resources Institute, and now Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics’ Global School of Sustainability.

In this conversation, Andrew shares:

How “natural capital” shifted from a niche idea to a core part of how governments and institutions think about development

What’s changed in climate measurement—from satellites tracking deforestation to AI-enabled insights and methane detection from space

Why data is essential, but never sufficient: turning measurement into action requires leadership, institutions, and better communication

The tension we all live with: hope vs. urgency—and how to stay grounded in the numbers while pushing for faster change

If you work in climate, policy, business, data, or development, this is a sharp, optimistic, and practical listen.

https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rkngf0 or https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rknxZ0

28/01/2026

A recent article in Bloomberg titled “Why India Fell Off the Global Middle Class” highlighted the disappearance of the Indian middle class from the global income distribution. Drawing on data from the World Inequality Report 2026, India’s presence in the global 50th-90th income percentile, which the article defines as the “middle class”, has shrunk dramatically between 1980 and 2025.

However, this conclusion rests on income data that is widely acknowledged as being incomplete and unreliable for many developing economies, including India. World Data Lab argues that using consumption expenditure rather than income provides a more robust and internationally comparable measure of living standards. Moreover, correcting for the substantial “missing spending” when reconciling household surveys with national accounts is essential to avoid any systematic underrepresentation.

Using consumption expenditure and correcting for missing spending in household surveys, our estimates present a markedly different picture. India currently accounts for 16% of the global middle class and is projected to reach around 20% in the next 15 years, making it one of the largest middle-class contributors to the global economy.

References:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rjjCN0

https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rjjpq0

27/01/2026

The global communications market is entering a new phase of expansion, shaped by rising incomes, rapid digital adoption, and the continued evolution of mobile ecosystems. By 2030, global spending in the category is projected to increase from $1.88 trillion in 2025 to $2.38 trillion, reflecting both the essential nature of connectivity and the growing stratification of devices and services worldwide.

Key Trends Shaping the Category
✓ A truly Global category: Spending on communications is set to rise by $500 billion over the next five years, driven by increased device pe*******on, higher data consumption, and the growing integration of digital services into everyday life.

✓ APAC as the Global Growth Engine: The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to global communications spending and will continue to lead through 2030. Expanding middle‑income populations, rapid urbanisation, and strong digital infrastructure investment underpin the region’s dominance.

learn more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rgcQL0

26/01/2026

Global alcohol spending infographic done by the Star, using our data.

Learn more about alcohol spending at https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rd_TJ0

23/01/2026

World Data Intelligence was made to provide the comparison and contextual tools our clients have been requesting, built on an entirely new technical foundation designed to grow with your needs.

The same trusted methodology and peer-reviewed forecasting, now with new capabilites:

→ Select multiple countries and cities at once
→ Instant peer comparisons and historical trends
→ Spending patterns (level 1 categories) down to the city level
→ All on a platform built to continuously expand

Because great data deserves great tools.

The same trusted methodology and peer-reviewed forecasting, now with new capabilities: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rbrzc0

22/01/2026

What Makes India a Key Consumer Market?

India is shaping the future of global consumer markets. Here’s why it stands out:
✅ Urban Growth Hotspot: 83% of India’s urban consumer growth over the next 15 years will happen outside the five largest cities​.
✅ Generational Spending Power: Gen Z and Millennials are driving significant consumption, aligning with India’s rapid economic growth​.
✅ Emerging Middle Class: With more cities surpassing the half-million consumer mark, the country’s spending power is expanding rapidly​.
Understanding these trends can guide businesses toward high-potential opportunities in this dynamic market.
Curious about what’s shaping global consumer markets? Explore World Data Intelligence
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0r8bkH0