Predictions for 2024 | Future timeline

Read 419 predictions for 2024, 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 2024

The aviation industry fully recovers from the COVID-19 downturn. Likelihood: 85 percent.1
A total solar eclipse event is scheduled from April 3-9, 2024 across North America. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
The COVID-19 endemic phase begins. Likelihood: 70 percent.1
Gold prices reach record highs due to decreasing interest rates. Likelihood: 65 percent.1
Bitcoin gathers bullish momentum at the end of the year. Likelihood: 60 percent.1
El Niño continues through spring. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
OPEC expects a global oil demand growth of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd). Likelihood: 65 percent.1
IEA anticipates slowing global demand for oil at 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 990,000 in 2023. Likelihood: 65 percent.1
Generative AI growth slows down due to global regulations and high data training costs. Likelihood: 60 percent.1
Winter in North America experiences below-average snowfall due to El Niño. Likelihood: 75 percent.1
Up to 110 million people globally need food assistance due to El Niño. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
The USD $300-million Asia Link Cable (ALC) subsea network begins construction. Likelihood: 65 percent.1
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a lunar lander is launched to conduct 10 science and technology experiments. Likelihood: 65 percent.1
NATO conducts its largest military drill since the Cold War across the Baltics, Poland, and Germany. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
Global production of farmed shrimp grows 4.8 percent. Likelihood: 65 percent.1
Global computer chip sales rebounds to a 12 percent growth. Likelihood: 70 percent.1
Volcanic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks makes its closest approach to Earth and may be seen by the naked eye on the sky. Likelihood: 75 percent.1
R21, the second malaria vaccine approved by the WHO, starts rolling out. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
Meta releases its celebrity AI chatbot service. Likelihood: 85 percent.1
People aged 65 and older outnumber the youth in Europe. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
Half of successful companies in Asia-Pacific meaningfully reports their carbon footprint. Likelihood: 70 percent.1
NATO finalizes its strategy to collaborate with its "Southern neighborhood," like the Middle East and North Africa. Likelihood: 70 percent.1
Global imports of LNG increases by 16%. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
Renewable energy becomes the major global electricity source, surpassing coal. Likelihood: 70 percent.1
Global solar PV manufacturing capacity doubles, reaching nearly 1 terrawatt. Likelihood: 70 percent.1
Middle East airlines rebound to pre-pandemic levels. Likelihood: 80 percent.1
Swedish truck maker Scania and H2 Green Steel start producing trucks with fossil-free steel before moving the entire production to green steel in 2027–2028. Likelihood: 70 percent1
The H2 Green Steel consortium's fossil-free plant makes its first green steel. Likelihood: 70 percent1
The global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% takes effect. Likelihood: 60 percent1
NASA launches the lunar program “Artemis" with a two-person crew spacecraft. Likelihood: 80 percent1
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launches the Psyche mission, aiming to study the unique metal-rich asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Likelihood: 50 percent1
Space Entertainment Enterprise launches a film production studio 250 miles above Earth. Likelihood: 70 percent1
The first commercial hydrogen-electric flights between London and Rotterdam start operating. Likelihood: 60 percent1
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union pass and implement new asylum and migration laws. Likelihood: 75 percent1
All new devices on the European Union market is required to include a USB-C charging port to reduce electronic waste, affecting Apple devices. Likelihood: 80 percent1
The Digital Services Act, which ensures the safety of users online and establishes governance of the protection of fundamental digital rights, takes affect across the European Union. Likelihood: 80 percent1
Since 2022, about 57% of companies globally have invested more in information communication technology, particularly among the biotechnology, retail, finance, food and beverage, and public administration sectors. Likelihood: 70 percent1
COVID-19 becomes endemic like the flu or the common cold. Likelihood: 80 percent1
The European Space Agency launches an initial satellite, the Lunar Pathfinder, to the moon to study orbits and communication capabilities. Likelihood: 70 percent1
After India launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with France in 2015, India spends $1 billion in solar energy projects across the Asia region. Likelihood: 70%1
After India and China formed a partnership in 2017 to collaborate on two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, the gateways for linking genuine buyers and sellers, as well as making digital payments by scanning QR codes, China becomes the dominant force in the Asia region for the global digital economy. Likelihood: 50%1
India partners with France and builds six reactors of a 10,000 MW nuclear power plant project in Maharashtra. Likelihood: 70%1
The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), the world's largest optical and infrared telescope, is completed. 1
More than 50 percent of Internet traffic to homes will be from appliances and other home devices. 1
The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link between Denmark and Germany is expected to open. 1
New prosthetic models convey sensations of feeling. 1
First manned mission to Mars. 1
More than 50% of Internet traffic to homes will be from appliances and other home devices. 1
Artificial muscles used in robots can lift more weight and generate more mechanical power than human muscles 1
New prosthetic models convey sensations of feeling 1
First manned mission to Mars 1
Global reserves of Indium is fully mined and depleted1
Saudi Arabia's "Jubail II" is fully built1

The global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% takes effect. 1
NASA launches the lunar program “Artemis" with a two-person crew spacecraft. 1
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launches the Psyche mission, aiming to study the unique metal-rich asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. 1
Space Entertainment Enterprise launches a film production studio 250 miles above Earth. 1
The first commercial hydrogen-electric flights between London and Rotterdam start operating. 1
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union pass and implement new asylum and migration laws. 1
All new devices on the European Union market is required to include a USB-C charging port to reduce electronic waste, affecting Apple devices. 1
The Digital Services Act, which ensures the safety of users online and establishes governance of the protection of fundamental digital rights, takes affect across the European Union. 1
Since 2022, about 57% of companies globally have invested more in information communication technology, particularly among the biotechnology, retail, finance, food and beverage, and public administration sectors. 1
COVID-19 becomes endemic like the flu or the common cold. 1
The H2 Green Steel consortium's fossil-free plant makes its first green steel. 1
Swedish truck maker Scania and H2 Green Steel start producing trucks with fossil-free steel before moving the entire production to green steel in 2027–2028. 1
More than 50% of Internet traffic to homes will be from appliances and other home devices. 1
Artificial muscles used in robots can lift more weight and generate more mechanical power than human muscles 1
New prosthetic models convey sensations of feeling 1
First manned mission to Mars 1
Cost of solar panels, per watt, equals 0.9 US dollars 1
Global reserves of Indium is fully mined and depleted 1
Saudi Arabia's "Jubail II" is fully built 1
World population forecasted to reach 8,067,008,000 1
World sales of electric vehicles reaches 9,206,667 1
Predicted global mobile web traffic equals 84 exabytes 1
Global Internet traffic grows to 348 exabytes 1