The World Ahead 2024 The Economist Cover. Almost half of the world’s population goes to the polls in 2024 with global ramifications. Let's decode the economist's cover, revealing the hints and mysteries.

The year ahead will be a major test of democratic rule as an estimated 4 billion people in more than 50. Every year, the economist takes a stab at analyzing and predicting the key challenges facing the planet in an overview called “the world ahead” piloted by tom.