"The Joy of Stats: 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes"

Check out this YouTube video:
http://www.flixxy.com/200-countries-200-years-4-minutes.htm
Statistics come to life when Swedish academic superstar Hans Rosling graphically illustrates global development over the last 200 years.
Take note of China's sudden dip in the late 1950s. That's due to a famine and the Cultural Revolution.