International Labour Organization

Built World

Primary international body regulating night work standards

For most of human history, nightfall meant the end of productive labor. The industrial revolution and the electric lightbulb reversed that arrangement, turning overnight factory shifts into a pillar of modern manufacturing. But a quieter reversal has been underway for decades: the share of workers toiling through the night has been falling steadily across wealthy nations, driven by labor regulations, mounting health evidence, and machines that can run in the dark without human hands.

Updated Feb 28

Rule Changes

Global authority tracking social protection coverage and setting standards

For the first time in history, more than half the world's population has access to some form of social protection. The figure hit 52.4% in 2024—up from 42.8% when the UN adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. That's 4.7 billion people now covered by pensions, disability benefits, healthcare, or cash transfers that help them survive economic shocks and escape poverty.

Updated Jan 9