Predictions for 2050 | Future timeline
Read 3 predictions for 2050, 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.
Fast forecasts for 2050
Fast Forecast
- Most of the fish stocks that existed in 2015 are now extinct. 1
- 6 million people now die per year from complications with air pollution. 1
- Nearly 2 billion people now live in countries with absolute water scarcity, mostly in the Middle East and North African regions. 1
- 5 billion of the world's projected 9.7 billion people now live in water-stressed areas. 1
- Neurotechnologies enable users to interact with their environment and other people by thought alone. 1
- 6.3 billion people will live in cities. 1
- Half of the world's population will be short-sighted 1
- Toyota stops selling gasoline cars 1
- Coffee becomes a luxury due to climate change and the loss of suitable farming land 1
- Skyscrapers (an arcology) that function as cities are built to address growing populations 1
- Athabasca Glacier disappears by losing 5 metres per year since 2015 1
- China's "South-to-North Water Transfer Project" is fully built 1
- World population forecasted to reach 9,725,147,000 1
- Share of global car sales taken by autonomous vehicles equals 90 per cent 1
- World sales of electric vehicles reaches 26,366,667 1
- (Moore's Law) Calculations per second, per $1,000, equals 10^23 (equal to all human brain power globally) 1
- Average number of connected devices, per person, is 25 1
- Global number of Internet connected devices reaches 237,500,000,000 1
- Worst case forecasted rise in global temperatures, above pre-industrial levels, is 2.5 degrees Celsius 1
- Forecasted rise in global temperatures, above pre-industrial levels, is 2 degrees Celsius 1
- Optimistic forecasted rise in global temperatures, above pre-industrial levels, is 1.89 degrees Celsius 1
- Largest age cohort for the Brazilian population is 45-49 1
- Largest age cohort for the Mexican population is 50-54 1
- Largest age cohort for the Middle East population is 35-44 1
- Largest age cohort for the African population is 0-4 1
- Largest age cohort for the European population is 60-64 1
- Largest age cohort for the Indian population is 35-39 1
- Largest age cohort for the Chinese population is 60-64 1
- Largest age cohort for the United States population is 20-34 1
Country forecasts for 2050
Read forecasts about 2050 specific to a range of countries, including:
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Technology forecasts for 2050
Technology related predictions due to make an impact in 2050 include:
- Virtual reality and the global hive mind: Future of the Internet P7
- Humans not allowed. The AI-only web: Future of the Internet P8
- Will humans live peacefully in a future dominated by artificial intelligences? - Future of artificial intelligence P6
- How humans will defend against an Artificial Superintelligence: Future of artificial intelligence P5
Related technology articles for 2050:
Hydrogen could become a $130 billion U.S. industry by 2050. Could it also cut emissions?. Vote on this forecast
Cyborg warriors could be here by 2050, DoD study group says. Vote on this forecast
Five superpowers ruling the world in 2050. Vote on this forecast
Business news for 2050
Related business articles for 2050:
Hydrogen could become a $130 billion U.S. industry by 2050. Could it also cut emissions?. Vote on this forecast
Global heating. London to have climate similar to Barcelona by 2050. Vote on this forecast
Call to raise retirement age to at least 70. Vote on this forecast
Call to raise retirement age to at least 70. Vote on this forecast
Call to raise retirement age to at least 70. Vote on this forecast
Culture forecasts for 2050
Culture related predictions due to make an impact in 2050 include:
- After the age of mass unemployment: Future of Work P7
- List of future legal precedents tomorrow's courts will judge: Future of law P5
- Future of growing old: Future of Human Population P5
- Future of death: Future of human population P7
- How Generation Z will change the world: Future of Human Population P3
Related culture articles for 2050:
Australia’s population set to reach 25 million, 33 years early. Vote on this forecast
Call to raise retirement age to at least 70. Vote on this forecast
Call to raise retirement age to at least 70. Vote on this forecast
Call to raise retirement age to at least 70. Vote on this forecast
Science forecasts for 2050
Science related predictions due to make an impact in 2050 include:
Related science articles for 2050:
Health forecasts for 2050
Health related predictions due to make an impact in 2050 include:
Related health articles for 2050:
U.S. sets a nationwide goal to end traffic deaths by 2050. Vote on this forecast
UK launches global fund to help end ‘period poverty’ by 2050. Vote on this forecast
UK could have smoked its last cigarette by 2051, research suggests. Vote on this forecast