Data

The World in Numbers

Interactive charts that explain important trends. Every chart identifies its data source, time period, units, last update and limitations. We do not publish numbers without an identifiable source; synthetic demonstration series are labeled on the chart itself.

Data stories

The World in NumbersIllustrative

Fifty Years of Transistors on a Chip

From 2,300 transistors on the first microprocessor to more than a hundred billion on a modern system. The curve that defined computing, and the reasons it is bending.

2 min read

The World in NumbersIllustrative

The Grid Queue, in Numbers

A synthetic series showing how a backlog of generation projects could grow even as approvals rise. Demonstration data, clearly labeled, standing in for the real figures the production edition would draw from Berkeley Lab.

1 min read

Sourced data

Series compiled from published figures.

The World in Numbers

Transistors per processor, selected chips, 1971–2022

Transistor counts for selected microprocessors and systems-on-chip, as published by their manufacturers. Logarithmic scale.

Source: Manufacturer specifications (Intel, Apple); compiled by The Daily Edition
Period: 1971–2022
Units: Transistors per chip
Last updated: Oct 1, 2026
Limitations: Selection is illustrative, not exhaustive; counting conventions differ between manufacturers (for example whether cache is included). Figures are as published and rounded.

Synthetic demonstrations

These charts show the behavior of the component with invented values. They exist to demonstrate the product and must not be cited.

The World in Numbers

Interconnection queue dynamics (synthetic demonstration)

A synthetic series illustrating how a backlog can grow while approvals increase. Not a measurement. The production chart would use Berkeley Lab's Queued Up data.

Synthetic demonstration data. These values illustrate a shape and must not be cited. The production chart would use (The Daily Edition).

Capacity approved (synthetic)
Capacity in queue (synthetic)

Synthetic demonstration data

Source: Synthetic demonstration data (The Daily Edition)
Period: 2019–2026 (synthetic)
Units: Gigawatts (synthetic)
Last updated: Oct 15, 2026
Limitations: Entirely synthetic. Values are invented to show a shape and must not be cited. Berkeley Lab's Queued Up reports are the real source.

The World in Numbers

Cost to sequence a human genome (synthetic demonstration)

A synthetic, smoothed series modeled on the shape of the trend published by the National Human Genome Research Institute. Not the actual figures.

Synthetic demonstration data. These values illustrate a shape and must not be cited. The production chart would use NHGRI trend.

Synthetic demonstration data

Source: Synthetic demonstration data modeled on NHGRI trend
Period: 2001–2022 (synthetic)
Units: US dollars per genome (synthetic, log scale)
Last updated: Oct 15, 2026
Limitations: Synthetic. The real NHGRI series should replace this before publication. Values are illustrative of a steep decline followed by a plateau.

The World in Numbers

Ocean heat content anomaly (synthetic demonstration)

A synthetic series illustrating a rising ocean heat content anomaly. The production chart would use NOAA's global ocean heat content data.

Synthetic demonstration data. These values illustrate a shape and must not be cited. The production chart would use NOAA NCEI trend.

Synthetic demonstration data

Source: Synthetic demonstration data modeled on NOAA NCEI trend
Period: 1990–2024 (synthetic)
Units: Zettajoules, anomaly vs. 1990 (synthetic)
Last updated: Oct 15, 2026
Limitations: Synthetic. Shape only. Replace with NOAA NCEI 0–2000 m series before publication.