Predictions for 2021 | Future timeline

Read 358 predictions for 2021, a year that will see the world transform in big and small ways; this includes disruptions throughout our culture, technology, science, health and business sectors. It’s your future, discover what you’re in for.

Quantumrun Foresight prepared this list; A trend intelligence consulting firm that uses strategic foresight to help companies thrive from future trends in foresight. This is just one of many possible futures society may experience.

Fast forecasts for 2021

Sweden's southern city of Malmö, along with the Danish capital, Copenhagen, will host the world's largest pride festival this year (assuming COVID-19 restrictions ease later this year). Likelihood: 50 Percent1
Japan’s new supercomputer, Fugaku, begins operations this year with the world’s fastest computer, replacing supercomputer, K. Likelihood: 100%1
The Japanese company, Honda Motor Co Ltd, will phase out all diesel cars by this year in favor of models with electric propulsion systems. Likelihood: 100%1
Brood X, the largest brood of North American seventeen-year cicadas, will emerge. 1
Mass production of self-driving cars commences in China. 1
Over 80% of web traffic is now video. 1
The first robotic pharmacist will arrive in the US. 1
New Zealand hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum this year, with leaders from 21 countries and economies converging on Auckland, including the US, Russia, China, and Japan. Likelihood: 100%1
Ethereum's Casper and Sharding protocols are fully implemented. 1
Cyberattacks are now the world's fastest-growing crime and now costs the world roughly $6 trillion annually, through direct and indirect damages. (Likelihood 70%)1
The internet now accounts for half of global ad spend. (Likelihood 80%)1
Household appliances become easier to repair thanks to the new 'right to repair' standards adopted across the European Union. This also means manufacturers now have to make longer-lasting appliances and supply spare machine parts for up to 10 years. (Likelihood 100%)1
Banks worldwide retire LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate), the interest rate used as a benchmark for trillions of pounds worth of loans globally, and replacing it with a better benchmark that more closely corresponds to the lending markets. (Likelihood 100%)1
The Indian Navy gets its first aircraft carrier made in India, joining its other aircraft carrier built in Russia. Likelihood: 90%1
Merkel leaves her post as a German Chancellor. Likelihood: 100%1
China has installed 40 percent of all worldwide wind energy and 36 percent of all solar energy by this year. Likelihood: 80%1
International sporting events resume this year, in most cases operating within a pandemic-free bubble. Click on the link for the schedule. 1
Blockbuster movies will return to a relatively normal release schedule, albeit with more flexibility around the delivery medium these films are debuted on. Click on the link for the schedule. 1
Music artists will release a larger quantity of albums this year, as 2020 gave many such artists more time to work within pandemic-free studios. Click on the link for the schedule. 1

Ethereum's Casper and Sharding protocols are fully implemented. 1
The first robotic pharmacist will arrive in the US. 1
Over 80% of web traffic is now video. 1
Mass production of self-driving cars commences in China. 1
The end of cables, wireless power becomes common in homeholds 1
Translation earbuds allow instantaneous translation, making foreign travel much easier 1
Cost of solar panels, per watt, equals 1.1 US dollars 1
World population forecasted to reach 7,837,028,000 1
World sales of electric vehicles reaches 7,226,667 1
Predicted global mobile web traffic equals 36 exabytes 1
Global Internet traffic grows to 222 exabytes 1