Honey bees, or bees as a whole? That number can't possible be true for honey bees, in fact the opposite is true. I can't seem to find the date but a few years ago the UN reported a 45% INCREASE in managed honey bee hives globally. For bees as a whole, I'd imagine that number would be extremely difficult to calculate, as in many, many parts of the world the current populations of native bees are not known, including in much of US.
Now if we broaden our scope even wider, to flying insects in general, then the numbers are terrifying, with many places reporting a 45% reduction in insects over the past 40 years or worse. Germany reports a decline of 75% in 26 years!
