Statistics

I don't normally read Nicholas Kristoff unless I choose to start my day with a downer, but he recently pointed out some facts that made me pause. In 1960 19% of all children in the world died before reaching the age of 5. Today that figure is 4%. 81% of all children have been vaccinated, despite what some parents fear in the  far western reaches of Sonoma County. 

Here is a basic question. Are human cultures around the world gradually evolving in a positive way? How would I measure that? I'm guessing there is evidence for no and for yes.