Sep 8, 2022, 2:09 PM ET

Queen Elizabeth II: her reign in numbers

The EconomistQueen Elizabeth II

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Queen Elizabeth II held the longest reign of any British monarch, spanning seven decades from her coronation on June 2, 1953, until her death.
At her accession in 1953, she was 27 years old; she formally devoted her life to the crown that day.
She was the first person in the UK to make a long-distance phone call without an operator, the first monarch globally to send an email, and one of the first to tweet.
Her popularity remained remarkably stable throughout her reign, with British satisfaction averaging close to 80% and never dipping below 60%.
During her coronation, she wore a crown that she reportedly practiced wearing for hours, eventually symbolically never taking it off again.
Demographic shifts under her reign included the percentage of Britons over age 65 rising from 11% in 1953 to 19% in 2020.
Female labor participation in Britain increased from 26% in the 1950s to 72% in 2021, contrasting with the traditional societal structure she initially oversaw.
Societal views liberalized significantly regarding same-sex marriage, race relations, and women's rights, despite her reign beginning with a whiter, more conservative England.
Her work ethic remained consistent to the end; in 2017 at age 91, she attended 292 public engagements.
Following the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, after 73 years of marriage, she took only four days off her duties.
She reviewed government "red box" papers daily throughout her reign, taking time off solely for Christmas and Easter.
Prime Ministers noted her profound grasp of state affairs, emphasizing that such knowledge required constant, dedicated work.
Upon ascending, she ruled over an empire including 55 overseas territories, a number that had dwindled to 14 by 2021 as nations like Singapore gained independence.
As the empire dissolved, the Commonwealth expanded into a voluntary organization of 54 member states representing 2.4 billion people across five continents by 2021.
It was widely perceived that her personal presence and diplomacy were the primary forces holding the Commonwealth together.
Between November 1953 and May 1954, she embarked on a five-month global tour visiting 14 countries, including Africa, Ceylon, Australia, and New Zealand.
In 1960, she visited Ghana amidst political turmoil and bomb threats, receiving a "roaring reception" despite the security risks.
She is considered the most well-travelled monarch in history, having visited over 100 countries.
Her diplomatic engagements included meetings with 13 US presidents and five popes.
One specific photograph of her is considered the most reproduced in history and appeared on British stamps for decades.
Her face appeared on more coins than any other living monarch.
She was featured in 100 films and TV shows, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.
A Gallup poll ranked her among the world's top 10 most admired women 52 times, a total exceeding the combined tally of Mother Teresa and Oprah Winfrey.
Her status as the longest-reigning monarch in history was surpassed only by Louis XIV of France.