Global Election Year Ahead Lays Bare Strife Between East and West
Voice of America
In 2024, national elections will be held in more than 60 countries representing half the world’s population. Capital: Washington, D.C. ... Population: 340.8 million ... 2022 GDP: $25.46 trillion Capital: Taipei ... Population: 23.9 million ... 2022 GDP: $760.4 billion Capital: Moscow ... Population: 144 million ... 2022 GDP: $2.24 trillion Capital: Brussels ... Population: 448 million ... 2022 GDP: $17.458 trillion Capital: New Delhi ... Population: 1.43 billion ... 2022 GDP: $3.385 trillion Capital*: Cape Town ... Population: 62 million ... 2022 GDP: $405.8 billion *South Africa has three capitals: Cape Town (legislative); Pretoria (executive); and Bloemfontein (judicial).
2024 will go down as one of the most politically consequential years in history, with national elections in more than 60 countries representing half of the world’s population. That means more people will be eligible to vote in 2024 than in any previous year.
Israeli Ofer Kalderon, who has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, waves before being handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas fighters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Feb. 1, 2025. Israeli Yarden Bibas, 34, who has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, is escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Feb. 1, 2025.
A rescued pug plays in the home of Cheryl Gaw in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 14, 2025. Cheryl Gaw plays with some of the 2,500 pugs she has rescued in South Africa at her home in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 14, 2025. Pugs pause for a photograph at the home of Cheryl Gaw in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 14, 2025.
The homepage of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine's website on Jan. 31, 2025. Sergiy Tomilenko, president of the organization, says many Ukrainian media outlets face the threat of closure after the United States froze all foreign aid for 90 days. The homepage of Frontier Myanmar's website, Jan. 31, 2025. Ben Dunant, editor-in-chief of the magazine, says, “It is difficult — or even impossible — for many [media outlets] to make commercial revenue” in war-torn Myanmar.