© Markus Spiske via Unsplash
The news is circulating that there are more Lego figurines than people in the world: this is not really the case, but the numbers are still impressive.
In 2020, the popular Danish toy company reported that it had made more than 4 billion pieces. Considering that by 2022 the world population would reach 8 billion, there is no doubt: we have more than one minifigure for every two people in the world.
As reported by the European Union's Intellectual Property Office, Lego launched its first figurines on August 25, 1978. Those smiling little yellow people are iconic to the Danish brand and is one of more than 120 EU trademarks the company owns to date.
After launching a precursor a few years earlier (with torsos without separate movable arms and heads without shape features), the final version was chosen only after nearly 50 different prototypes were designed.
And since then, production has not only increased dramatically but also diversified. On August 1, 2020, the company wrote a post with some interesting facts about the now famous minifigures: "Since 1978, more than 4 billion minifigures have been produced: if they were people, they would represent the largest population on earth, more than twice the current population of China."
Almost two years later, in November 2022, the UN estimates that the world's population has reached eight billion, just 11 years after passing the seven billion mark.
So there's not much doubt now: we will definitely have more than one figurine for every two people in the world.
Sources: Legoland Discovery Centre / European Union Intellectual Property Office/Facebook / Lego/Youtube
(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction /Picture: Markus Spiske via Unsplash)