Statistics: Development of Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential (1976 - 1995)
This table compares evolution of different sections of the Encyclopedia between the lst edition (1976) and the 4th edition (1994-95). The 4th edition was in three volumes, of which the third (Strategies) appeared in 1995. Statistics on subsequent development of the databases for the web are presented separately. The table also reconciles the different ordering systems used in the different editions. See explanatory notes.
 

	ENTRIES					CROSS-REFERENCES					TEXT	INDEXES	BIBLIOG
Year  Edition	1976  1st ed	1986  2nd ed	1991  3rd ed	1994  4th ed	% Change  1991-  1994	1976  1st ed	1986  2nd ed	1991  3rd ed	1994  4th ed	% Change  1991-  1994	% Change  1991-  1994	1994 (4th ed)  Items
WORLD PROBLEMS Section P (Volume 1)
Descriptive entries (Subsection)	P	PP	PB-PF			P	PP	PB-PF
Number of problems	2653	4700	8721	9836	+12.8%		17636	74399	113330	+52.3%	+34.1%		4650
Indexed only (Subsection)	P	PQ	PG / PJ				PQ	PG / PJ
Number of problems	4791	5533	4446  [a]	2367	-46.8%  [a]		-	5995	6875	+14.7%	-46.2%		9
Total WORLD PROBLEMS	7444	10233	13167  [a]	12203	-7.3%  [a]	13574	17636	80394	120205	+49.5%	+32.1%	53825	4659
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Section H (Volume 2)
Concepts:  [HH]	228	628	1292	1407	+8.9%	-	917	4356	4388	+0.7%	+16.6%	5727
Modes  [ HM]	-	968	2459	3049	+10.5%	-	3544	10671	10849	+1.7%	+12.7%	17969
Total Human Development	288	1596	4051	4456	+10.0%	-	4461	15027	15237	+1.4%	+14.4%	23696	2709
VALUES AND WISDOM Section V (Volume 2)
Constructive Values [VC]	704	960	960	987	+2.8%	-	3568	3568	4148	+16.3%		1052
Destructive Values [VD]	-	1040	1040	1992	+91.5%	-	3440	3440	7246	+110.6%		2338
Value Polarities [VP]	-	225	225	230	0%	-	7231	7231	11618	+60.7%		458
Value  Types [VT]	-	45	45	45	0%	-	224	224	225	0%		50
Total Values and Wisdom	704	2270	2270	3254	+43.8%	-	14463	14463	23237	+60.7%		3898	421
Total HUMAN POTENTIAL	992	3866  [b]	6321  [b]	7710  [b]	+22.0%  [b]	-	18924	29490	38474	+30.5%		27594	5992  [d]
Total PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL	8436  [c]	14099  [b]	19488  [b]	19913  [b]	+2.2%  [b]	14506	36560	109884	158679	+44.4%		81419	10651
STRATEGIES Section S (Volume 3)
Descriptive entries (Subsection)		SP,SR,SS,ST	SB-SF, SP				SP,SR,SS,ST	SB-SF,SP
Number of strategies	-	1187	-	9203	+675.3%		7959		61034	+666.9%	+728.6%	1970
Referenced only (Subsection)		SQ	SG, SJ, SK, ST				SQ	SG,SJ,SK,ST
Number of strategies	-	7148	-	20339	+184.5%		0		23856	-	-	-	102
Total STRATEGIES	-	8335	-	29542	+254.4%		7959		84890	+966.6%	+728.6%	27164	2072

Notes from table:
[a] Total problems for 1991 includes 344 entries in subsection PA: Fundamental Abstract Problems, excluded from the 1994 edition.  The more tangible aspects of these problems have been incorporated into entries in the PB and PF sections.  Other aspects are taken up in the values section (Section V) in Volume 2.  It also includes around 1,160 problems which were deemed "unsatisfactory" or "doubtful" and so should not have been included in the total of problems for 1991 (actually around 12,000 rather than 13,167).  Such problems have not been included in 1994 totals.  This explains the apparent reduction in the population of problems, which has in fact remained (numerically) virtually constant (rising fractionally) between 1991 and 1994. Detailed breakdowns for 1994, including cross-references, are presented in a separate table

[b] The 1986 and 1991 editions of the Encyclopedia contained subsections with descriptive entries which have not been modified, and for reasons of space do not appear in the 4th edition.  They are Section K : Integrative Concepts (632 entries), Embodying discontinuity (70) and Patterning disagreement (20); Section M : Patterns of concepts (3491) and Symbols (636); and Section T : Transformative Conferencing (240) and Transformative Policy Cycles (64).  The 1986 edition also contained a section on Strategies, with 7,959 entries of various types.  This material was updated and enlarged to form Volume 3 of the 4th edition of the Encyclopedia.  Refer to the Introductory Note 2.3 Content: modifications, improvements and additions (Vol 1, p.33) and the Statistical commentary on modifications to world problems for more detailed information on changes to the content of the Encyclopedia.

[c] In addition to the entries indicated, the 1976 edition contained the following sections which have not appeared in subsequent editions: International organizations (3300 entries), Traded products and commodities (241), Intellectual disciplines and sciences (1845), Economic and industrial sectors (132), Occupations and jobs (739), Multinational corporations (606), Human diseases (775), International periodicals (1197), Multilateral treaties (931).  It should be noted, however, that international organizations (31,085) are described in the Yearbook of International Organizations (UIA, 1994).  Volume 3 of that series also classifies organizations and treaties by subject (around 3000 categories).

[d] Total includes bibliographic references for Sections K, M and T of Volume 2.