Published 1 day ago on September 9, 2025 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Zack Aboulazm Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Global X Charted: A Slow-Growth Era for the S&P 500? The S&P 500 delivered impressive gains in 2023 and 2024, and is on pace to climb nearly 10% in 2025. But how much longer can this momentum last? In partnership with Global X, this visualization illustrates why the index may be approaching a slower-growth phase. Using data from Goldman Sachs, it highlights how the share of companies able to sustain 10%+ annual growth shrinks dramatically as the number of consecutive years increases. What Is the S&P 500? The S&P 500 is a leading U.S. stock market index that tracks the performance of approximately 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. It is capitalization-weighted, meaning companies with larger market caps have a bigger influence on the index’s movement. As of September, the S&P 500 was up nearly 10% for the year. If this pace holds, it would mark the index’s third straight year of robust gains—and its eighth out of the past 10. Consecutive Years of Growth Bull markets—periods characterized by sustained rising prices—can lose momentum over time. One insightful way to analyze this is by examining the share of companies that consistently achieve high growth over time. It’s remarkably common for companies to achieve 10% or more growth in a single year—Goldman Sachs research shows that up to 91% of firms may reach that threshold at some point (for at least one consecutive year). However, it’s extraordinarily rare for companies to sustain that pace annually over long periods of time. When you extend the window to 10 consecutive years, the share drops sharply to only about 11%. This steep decline underscores how maintaining double-digit growth long-term is exceptionally difficult. Consecutive YearsShare of Companies that Maintain 10%+ Growth (%)Share of Companies that Maintain 20%+ Growth (%) 19172 27743 35623 43915 53111 6269 7217 8186 9144 10113 This trend is also true in the 20%-plus growth category as well. The share of companies able to maintain that for one year sits around 72% and then drops dramatically to 3% after 10 consecutive years. Investing in Covered Calls Investing in a covered call ETF can provide investors with an additional layer of income and diversification. This could be especially valuable if the S&P 500 were to enter a slower growth phase. By writing call options on the stocks it holds, a covered call ETF generates option premiums that are paid out to investors. This helps to cushion returns when equity gains moderate. This strategy not only broadens a portfolio beyond simple price appreciation but also offers a potential buffer against volatility. Learn more about the Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call UCITS ETF (QYLD) and the Global X S&P 500 Covered Call UCITS ETF (XYLU). More from Global X Markets1 day ago Visualised: Magnificent 7 Concentration in the Nasdaq 100 Over Time The Nasdaq 100, a key benchmark for U.S. technology companies, is remarkably concentrated. Just seven stocks make up nearly 40% of the entire index. Markets1 day ago 3 Things to Know About Covered Call Options Covered call option ETFs offer investors a unique way to generate income—but what exactly are they, and when do they tend to perform best? Economy2 months ago Ranked: Which European Sectors Need the Most Investment? European infrastructure is under pressure—but not all sectors are being hit equally. Which ones need the most investment in coming years? 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See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualizing the Biggest Stock Buybacks of 2025 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways U.S. stock buybacks surpassed $1 trillion in August, driven by Big Tech and financial firms. In May, Apple announced a $100 billion buyback, the largest to-date. Nvidia’s $60 billion stock buyback is its highest ever, marking a sign of confidence from management as it sits on $57 billion in cash. Corporate America is repurchasing shares at the fastest rate on record, driven by Trump’s tax cuts and solid earnings. Also driving this trend is an uncertain trade picture, leading companies to stall investment plans and instead direct cash into buybacks. While tech giants have posted the largest stock buybacks, financial firms are buying a larger share relative to their market cap. This graphic shows the largest stock buybacks so far this year, based on data from Birinyi Associates and Bloomberg via Yahoo Finance Stock Buybacks Are Booming Here are the biggest stock buyback announcements as of August 20, 2025: Company2025 Announced Buyback Value Share of Market Cap Apple$100B2.8% Alphabet$70B2.5% Nvidia$60B1.4% JPMorgan Chase$50B6.1% Goldman Sachs$40B18.1% Wells Fargo$40B15.5% Bank of America$40B10.8% Visa$30B4.4% Citigroup$20B11.4% Booking Holdings$20B11.1% Morgan Stanley$20B8.4% Market cap data as of September 3, 2025. Leading the charge is Apple, with a $100 billion buyback—falling close to its record $110 billion in share repurchases last year. Google-parent Alphabet ranks next, with a $70 billion buyback announcement in April, a similar level seen in the past two years. The company also reported roughly $21 billion in cash and cash equivalents. More recently, Nvidia announced a $60 billion stock buyback, representing 1.4% of its market cap. Notably, the company’s buybacks have accelerated from $25 billion in 2023. At the same time, America’s big banks are contributing to the surge, signaling confidence in consumer strength. In total six banks—JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup—rank in the top 10. Going further, Goldman Sachs repurchased $40 billion in shares, equal to 18.1% of its market value, the highest share overall. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the foreign revenue of Magnificent Seven firms.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The Countries Powering Trade Volume Growth (2019-2024) This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Between 2019 and 2024, China’s trade volume expanded by $828 billion, the highest globally. The U.S. followed next in line, with its volume of trade rising by $652 billion. India ranked in third, seeing a $261 billion increase, driven by shifting supply chains and strong domestic growth. In 2024, global trade hit a record $33 trillion, expanding by $1 trillion. Despite geopolitical challenges, trade remained resilient, fueled by strong U.S. consumer demand and a 12% jump in China’s exports. Notably, newer markets like Africa and India are emerging as China’s fastest-growing export destinations in 2025. This graphic shows the countries with the largest absolute trade volume growth since 2019, based on data from the DHL Trade Atlas 2025. The Top 25 Countries by Trade Volume Growth Below, we show how China and the U.S. dominate the rankings, driving a combined $1.5 trillion in trade volume growth since 2019: RankingCountryAbsolute Trade Growth 2019-2024 Annual Trade VolumeGrowth Rate 1 China$828B3% 2 U.S.$652B3% 3 India$261B5% 4 South Korea$244B4% 5 UAE$232B7% 6 Viet Nam$193B6% 7 Poland$163B5% 8 Malaysia$128B5% 9 Taiwan$122B3% 10 Brazil$121B4% 11 Singapore$119B3% 12 Indonesia$115B5% 13 Ireland$115B8% 14 Switzerland$112B3% 15 Italy$112B2% 16 Türkiye$104B4% 17 Mexico$104B2% 18 Netherlands$91B1% 19 Japan$61B1% 20 Denmark$46B4% 21 Australia$45B1% 22 Thailand$45B2% 23 Spain$43B1% 24 Saudi Arabia$38B1% 25 Romania$37B3% In 2024, China’s total trade value stood at $6.3 trillion, the largest globally. Given its manufacturing might, it is the world’s largest exporter, and second-largest importer after America. Overall, trade volumes increased by $828 billion in the five-year period, rising at an average annual rate of 3%. For America, trade volume grew by $652 billion over the period, with its largest trade partners by import value standing as Mexico, China, and Canada. Overall, America’s total trade value stood at $5.4 trillion, trailing China by $900 billion. As we can see, India ranks in third, with volumes rising by 5% on average annually. Not only that, it is projected to increase its total trade volume by 85% between 2024 and 2029 compared to the previous five-year period. Fueling this trend are its rapidly growing economy and trade-flow shifts as companies diversify supply chains from China. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s largest exporters of goods.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The Size of European Economies by GDP (PPP) in 2025 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Western Europe makes up the largest portion of the $43.8 trillion PPP-adjusted European economy, when measured in International dollars. Eastern Europe ($12.8T) outperforms both Northern ($7.8T) and Southern Europe ($8.3T) in PPP terms, helped in large part by the Russian economy ($7.2T). However, by nominal USD terms, Eastern Europe is the smallest ($4.6T), outweighed by just the Germany economy ($4.7T). While many people picture Europe’s prosperity through the lens of its Western powerhouses, a closer look at Europe’s GDP by region reveals a more nuanced regional picture. The visualization breaks down purchasing-power-parity (PPP)-adjusted output in 2025, showing how different parts of Europe contribute to the continent’s collective wealth. The data for this visualization comes from the International Monetary Fund. A PPP-adjusted GDP equalizes price levels across countries to provide a more apples-to-apples view of economic size. It is measured in International dollars, (Int$) which can hypothetically buy in each country what $1 buys in America. Regional classifications are sourced from the United Nations Geoscheme. European Countries by 2025 GDP, Adjusted for Living Costs In PPP terms, the center of gravity shifts markedly eastward in Europe. Russia’s Int$7.2 trillion PPP economy props up an Eastern European total of nearly Int$12.9 trillion, leapfrogging both Northern and Southern Europe. RankCountryISO Code2025 GDP (PPP-Adjusted) 1 RussiaRUSInt$7.2T 2 GermanyDEUInt$6.2T 3 FranceFRAInt$4.5T 4 UKGBRInt$4.4T 5 ItalyITAInt$3.7T 6 SpainESPInt$2.8T 7 PolandPOLInt$2.0T 8 NetherlandsNLDInt$1.5T 9 RomaniaROUInt$926.8B 10 BelgiumBELInt$899.1B 11 SwitzerlandCHEInt$881.1B 12 SwedenSWEInt$799.7B 13 IrelandIRLInt$736.7B 14 UkraineUKRInt$690.1B 15 AustriaAUTInt$682.9B 16 CzechiaCZEInt$647.3B 17 NorwayNORInt$606.6B 18 PortugalPRTInt$536.1B 19 DenmarkDNKInt$533.8B 20 GreeceGRCInt$467.6B 21 HungaryHUNInt$464.4B 22 FinlandFINInt$373.2B 23 BelarusBLRInt$311.8B 24 BulgariaBGRInt$264.7B 25 SlovakiaSVKInt$257.0B 26 SerbiaSRBInt$216.2B 27 CroatiaHRVInt$198.3B 28 LithuaniaLTUInt$165.4B 29 SloveniaSVNInt$123.5B 30 LuxembourgLUXInt$104.8B 31 LatviaLVAInt$83.3B 32 Bosnia & HerzegovinaBIHInt$78.7B 33 EstoniaESTInt$68.2B 34 AlbaniaALBInt$63.1B 35 North MacedoniaMKDInt$53.3B 36 MoldovaMDAInt$46.4B 37 MaltaMLTInt$43.2B 38 IcelandISLInt$31.8B 39 MontenegroMNEInt$21.3B 40 AndorraANDInt$6.4B 41 San MarinoSMRInt$2.9B Here are also the regions in GDP (PPP) terms, also in International dollars. RankRegion2025 GDP (PPP-Adjusted) 1Western EuropeInt$14.8T 2Eastern EuropeInt$12.8T 3Southern EuropeInt$8.3T 4Northern EuropeInt$7.8T n/a EuropeInt$43.8T Lower price levels in countries such as Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic strengthen local purchasing power, magnifying their contribution when adjusted for cost of living. This underscores how traditional dollar-based metrics can understate economic heft in lower-cost regions. European Economic Power in Nominal Terms When measured in U.S. dollars, or nominal terms, Western Europe’s output is unmistakably dominant. Germany alone is on track for a $4.7 trillion economy in 2025, which is larger than Eastern Europe’s collective share in USD ($4.6 trillion). RankCountryISO Code2025 GDP (nominal) 1 GermanyDEU$4.7T 2 UKGBR$3.8T 3 FranceFRA$3.2T 4 ItalyITA$2.4T 5 RussiaRUS$2.1T 6 SpainESP$1.8T 7 NetherlandsNLD$1.3T 8 PolandPOL$980.0B 9 SwitzerlandCHE$947.1B 10 BelgiumBEL$684.9B 11 SwedenSWE$620.3B 12 IrelandIRL$598.8B 13 AustriaAUT$534.3B 14 NorwayNOR$504.3B 15 DenmarkDNK$449.9B 16 RomaniaROU$403.4B 17 CzechiaCZE$360.2B 18 PortugalPRT$321.4B 19 FinlandFIN$303.9B 20 GreeceGRC$267.3B 21 HungaryHUN$237.1B 22 UkraineUKR$205.7B 23 SlovakiaSVK$147.0B 24 BulgariaBGR$117.0B 25 CroatiaHRV$99.0B 26 LuxembourgLUX$96.6B 27 SerbiaSRB$92.5B 28 LithuaniaLTU$89.2B 29 SloveniaSVN$75.2B 30 BelarusBLR$71.6B 31 LatviaLVA$45.5B 32 EstoniaEST$45.0B 33 IcelandISL$35.3B 34 Bosnia & HerzegovinaBIH$28.8B 35 AlbaniaALB$28.4B 36 MaltaMLT$25.8B 37 MoldovaMDA$19.5B 38 North MacedoniaMKD$17.9B 39 MontenegroMNE$8.6B 40 AndorraAND$4.0B 41 San MarinoSMR$2.0B Regions, also in nominal U.S. dollars, are below: RankRegion2025 GDP (Nominal) 1Western Europe$11.5T 2Northern Europe$6.5T 3Southern Europe$5.2T 4Eastern Europe$4.6T n/a Europe$27.8T Together, Western European nations—including UK and France—account for roughly $11.5 trillion, or 41% of Europe’s total nominal GDP. Their advanced manufacturing bases, robust consumer markets, and strong trade networks keep the region at the top of the continent’s economic hierarchy. A Continent of Divergent Growth Paths Regional disparities hint at Europe’s evolving economic story. Northern Europe, driven by resource-rich Norway and highly productive Sweden, punches above its population weight, while Southern Europe continues to recover from a decade of sluggish growth. Meanwhile, several Central and Southeastern states—Poland, Romania, and Hungary among them—show some of the fastest GDP trajectories on the continent, signaling a gradual re-balancing of economic opportunity away from the historic core. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The $115 Trillion World Economy in One Chart on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Published 3 hours ago on September 8, 2025 By Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Zack Aboulazm Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Terzo Ranked: The Fastest Growing Jobs (2024-2034) Key Takeaways The top two fastest growing jobs relate to renewable energy: wind turbine techicians and solar panel installers. Four of the top 10 jobs relate to healthcare. The remaining four jobs are related to computers and math. Over the next decade, all jobs in total are expected to grow by 3%. However, economists expect that the fastest growing jobs will grow much more quickly than this. In this Markets in a Minute graphic, created in partnership with Terzo, we highlight the jobs that experts believe will have the fastest growth rate in the coming years. A Closer Look at the Fastest Growing Jobs Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs below are projected to grow the fastest from 2024 to 2034. Job% Change, 2024–2034PMedian Annual Wage in 2024 Wind Turbine Techs50%$62,580 Solar Panel Installers42%$51,860 Nurse Practitioners40%$129,210 Data Scientists34%$112,590 Cybersecurity Analysts29%$124,910 Healthcare Managers23%$117,960 Physical Therapist Assistants22%$65,510 Actuaries22%$125,770 Operations Analysts22%$91,290 Physician Assistants20%$133,260 Full name of shortened job titles as follows: Wind turbine service technicians, solar photovoltaic installers, information security analysts, medical and health services managers, operations research analysts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects wind turbine service technicians will see the highest growth. This is because demand for electricity fuels the need for wind turbines to be installed and maintained. Also within the realm of renewable energy, solar panel installers could grow quickly given lower costs and leasing options that eliminate upfront installation expenses. Both of these roles pay more than the overall median wage of $49,500 in 2024, but less than other jobs on the list. Growth in Healthcare Four of the fastest growing jobs are related to healthcare, with this change fueled by the rise of chronic diseases and an aging population. In fact, adults over age 65 make up close to a quarter of the population in some states. While three of the four medical roles involve the direct care of patients, healthcare managers are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating health services. Their tasks typically include things like helping develop healthcare goals, ensuring facilities follow regulations, and preparing and monitoring budgets.  Momentum in Math and Computers The remaining fastest growing jobs are in math and computer-related fields. Of these roles, actuaries have the highest median salary. As risks and the amount of data increases, actuaries play a key role in helping companies manage their own risk. They may also work at insurance companies to analyze data and project future risks and costs. Meanwhile, experts predict both data scientists and operations analysts will see strong growth as the amount of data increases and the demand for actionable insights rises.  Data scientists typically collect data, create algorithms and computer models, visualize findings, and make business recommendations. They typically need to be able to write code and develop statistical models, and therefore command a higher salary than operations analysts. Ready to get actionable insights from your company’s data? Explore Terzo’s AI-powered financial platform for a full view of your spending. More from Terzo Investor Education2 weeks ago The $127 Trillion Global Stock Market in One Giant Chart This graphic pieces together the $127T global stock market to reveal which countries and regions dominate—and how much equity they control. 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See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization AI’s Rising Share of U.S. Venture Capital Investment This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Companies in the AI industry are dominating venture capital investment, making up 71% of equity investments in Q1 2025. When breaking down by company type, in 2024 foundational model makers (like OpenAI and Anthropic) received the majority of investment at just over $40 billion. These were followed by AI operations and cloud providers like CoreWeave, which received just over $10 billion in investment in 2024. In the last decade, U.S private investment in AI firms totaled $471 billion, the highest globally. Going further, more than three dozen AI startups have raised over $100 million so far in 2025. As investor enthusiasm surges, AI firms are attracting the majority of venture capital—up from just 14% in 2020. The graphic above shows venture capital investment trends in America, based on analysis from J.P. Morgan. AI Draws Massive Venture Capital Investment Below, we show the share of venture capital investment that went to AI-related firms in the past five years. Figures represent equity investment only. YearAI Share of U.S. Venture Capital Investment 202014% 202116% 202214% 202326% 202445% Q1 202571% As we can see, a striking 71% of funding went to AI firms in Q1 2025, up from 45% in 2024. Most notably, OpenAI secured a $40 billion megadeal, the highest private funding on record. Meanwhile, Anthropic raised $3.5 billion and Lambda, an AI infrastructure firm, secured $480 million. In a similar fashion, companies building foundational models saw the highest investment last year, including major players like OpenAI and xAI. Both companies secured more than $6 billion in investment, more than any other firm in the industry. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic that shows how often people use ChatGPT in 21 countries around the world.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Charted: U.S. Wages vs. Inflation (2021–2025) This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Since January 2021, U.S. consumer prices have risen 22.7%, outpacing wage growth at 21.8%. Real hourly earnings are still down 0.7%, showing workers’ purchasing power has slightly declined over four and a half years. Nominal wage growth has outpaced inflation since May 2023, signaling a positive trend for real wages. The post-pandemic economy has been a story of resilience on paper—low unemployment, strong GDP growth, and record-breaking stock markets. But for many Americans, the lived experience tells a different story. As inflation surged through 2021 and 2022, wages struggled to keep up, leaving households feeling squeezed despite broader economic gains. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and visualized by Statista, average hourly earnings increased by 21.8% from January 2021 to July 2025. Meanwhile, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 22.7% over the same period, leaving real wages—the amount adjusted for inflation—down 0.7% cumulatively. Chart: How Wages Compare to Inflation The above chart visualizes cumulative changes in wages and inflation over the last four and a half years, and is summarized by the data below: IndicatorCumulative Change Since Jan 2021 (as of Jul 2025) Average hourly earnings21.8% Consumer Price Index (CPI)22.7% Average real hourly earnings-0.7% While wage growth appears strong in nominal terms, real earnings are still underwater. The most striking period was between April 2021 and April 2023, when inflation outpaced wage growth for 25 consecutive months, shrinking purchasing power month after month. Since May 2023, there’s been a turnaround—nominal wages have once again outpaced inflation, causing real wages to rise. But that hasn’t been enough to fully recover from the inflation shock that began in 2021. The Lingering Impact of Inflation The -0.7% drop in real hourly earnings since January 2021 highlights a fundamental truth: even small mismatches between wage growth and inflation, when sustained over years, can erode financial stability for everyday Americans. There is reason for optimism, though. If the current trend continues, with inflation stable and wage growth healthy, real wages could soon surpass pre-crisis levels. But that path remains vulnerable to shifts in inflation or labor market conditions. Learn More on the Voronoi App For a longer-term look at how wages and inflation have tracked historically, check out the data from 2007 in this USAFacts visualization on Voronoi.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Europe’s Poverty Rates by Country in 2024 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Many Eastern and Southern European countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Spain, Italy) show higher rates of poverty risk than their Western or Northern counterparts. This likely reflects ongoing economic development challenges and lower wage levels in these regions. Europe may be one of the wealthiest regions on the planet, but living standards still vary widely across the continent. The map above spotlights Europe’s poverty rates in 2024, measured by the share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in each country. The data for this visualization comes from Eurostat. Unlike how the U.S. measures poverty (income to afford food), there are three related indicators that the EU looks for. Individuals are included if they meet any one of the below thresholds (but are only counted once if they meet multiple criteria): Income below 60% of the national median. Material deprivation: where they cannot meet or do not have, seven of 13 key basics: i.e. being able to shoulder an unexpected expense, keeping their home warm, having an internet connection, etc. Low work intensity: Adults (18–64) in the household worked ≤20% of the months they could last year. Ranked: Europe’s Poverty Rates by Country Bulgaria (30.3%), Türkiye (30.4%), and Romania (27.9%) top the ranking, with roughly one in three residents facing economic hardship. These higher rates echo lower average wages, higher income inequality, and weaker social-safety nets compared to the EU core. RankCountryISO Code% at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion 1 TürkiyeTUR30.4% 2 BulgariaBGR30.3% 3 RomaniaROU27.9% 4 GreeceGRC26.9% 5 SpainESP25.8% 6 LithuaniaLTU25.8% 7 LatviaLVA24.3% 8 ItalyITA23.1% 9 EstoniaEST22.2% 10 CroatiaHRV21.7% 11 GermanyDEU21.1% 12 FranceFRA20.5% 13 HungaryHUN20.2% 14 LuxembourgLUX20.0% 15 MaltaMLT19.7% 16 PortugalPRT19.7% 17 SlovakiaSVK18.3% 18 BelgiumBEL18.2% 19 DenmarkDNK18.0% 20 SwedenSWE17.5% 21 CyprusCYP17.1% 22 AustriaAUT16.9% 23 FinlandFIN16.8% 24 IrelandIRL16.7% 25 PolandPOL16.0% 26 NorwayNOR15.7% 27 NetherlandsNLD15.4% 28 SloveniaSVN14.4% 29 CzechiaCZE11.3% EUEUR21.0% Note: Data unavailable for missing countries, including ones not tracked by Eurostat. Greece (26.9%) and Spain (25.8%) also stand out in the south, where unemployment rates climbed after the 2008–2014 sovereign-debt crisis and never fully recovered. Persistent youth unemployment has made it harder for younger generations to accumulate wealth. Lithuania (25.8%) and Latvia (24.3%) lead the Baltic region, highlighting a lingering urban-rural divide. Households in rural areas earn roughly 20% less than those in cities, a gap that widens vulnerability to social exclusion. Northern and Central Europe Show Lowest Poverty Risk Czechia posts the lowest share at 11.3%, followed by Slovenia (14.4%) and the Netherlands (15.4%). These countries pair higher median wages with extensive welfare programs that cushion income shocks. Scandinavian nations cluster near the EU average: Finland (16.8%), Sweden (17.5%), and Denmark (18.0%). Germany (21.1%) sits slightly above the EU average (21.0%), reflecting disparities between industrial southwest regions and lower-income eastern Länder. This is an echo of reunification divides that still influence living standards today. The EU’s 2030 Poverty-Reduction Target Brussels aims to lift at least 15 million residents, including 5 million children, out of poverty or social exclusion by 2030. Progress has stalled since the pandemic, as inflation eroded real wages and increased energy and food bills. Success may hinge on improving access to affordable housing, upskilling workers for higher-productivity jobs, and closing gender pay gaps. Without faster income growth in southern and eastern member states, the bloc risks entrenching a north-south divide. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out America’s Poverty Rates by State on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualizing India’s Imports of Crude Oil by Country This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways India’s imports of Russian crude oil have risen from less than 1% of total imports before the war in Ukraine to 37% in 2024. Iraq stands as the second-largest supplier, at 21% of the total. The U.S. drives just 9% of India’s crude imports. Today, India faces the steepest U.S. tariffs globally, largely due to its oil trade with Russia. Last year, India’s imports of Russian crude surpassed 1.7 million barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of Russia’s biggest buyers. Going further, Reliance Industries, the country’s largest conglomerate by market cap, buys about a third of this total. This graphic shows India’s top suppliers of crude oil by country, based on data from the Energy Institute. India’s Imports in the Crosshairs Below, we show how Russia, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia shipped the highest volume of crude oil to India in 2024: Country / RegionCrude Oil ImportsThousand b/d in 2024 Russia1,754 Iraq1,005 Saudi Arabia622 UAE435 U.S.158 Kuwait120 Mexico62 Canada8 West Africa265 S. & Central America178 Other Middle East68 Europe46 North Africa36 Asia Pacific28 Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India’s imports of its crude oil have surged, causing tensions with the U.S. to escalate. On August 27, a 50% tariff was imposed on Indian exports to America, including a 25% penalty for importing Russian crude oil. (This penalty is set to come into effect 21 days after August 27). Today, India stands as one of Russia’s biggest importers of crude, driven by its favorable prices. Ranking in second is Iraq, of which India buys about 30% of its oil exports, the second largest after China. As we can see, India’s imports of American crude oil were 158,000 barrels per day in 2024, or less than a tenth of the total. However, major Indian refiners recently announced major purchases to help narrow the trade deficit. Indian Oil Corp, for instance, bought five million barrels of U.S. crude in August, while Reliance Industries recently purchased two million barrels amid mounting pressures. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s largest oil producers.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose (1 in 57) than from suicide (1 in 87) or a car crash (1 in 95). Heart disease (1 in 6) and cancer (1 in 7) remain the most common causes of death in the U.S. Despite fears, lifetime odds of dying from gun assault are far lower at 1 in 238—less than overdoses, suicide, or falls. The National Safety Council tracks Americans’ lifetime odds of dying from various causes, offering perspective on everyday risks. The most striking recent shift is the rise of opioid overdoses as a leading cause of death, surpassing car crashes and suicide in likelihood. Lifetime Odds of Dying by Cause (2023) Below are the odds of dying from selected causes in the U.S., as reported by the National Safety Council and visualized by Statista: CauseLifetime Odds Heart Disease1 in 6 Cancer1 in 7 Stroke1 in 26 Opioid Overdose1 in 57 Suicide1 in 87 Fall1 in 91 Motor Vehicle Crash1 in 95 Gun Assault1 in 238 While heart disease and cancer dominate—with lifetime odds of 1 in 6 and 1 in 7, respectively—opioid overdoses now rank alarmingly high, with odds of 1 in 57. For comparison, suicide is 1 in 87, a fall is 1 in 91, and a motor vehicle crash is 1 in 95. Gun assaults, though widely feared, carry far lower odds of 1 in 238. The Opioid Crisis and Fentanyl’s Role Opioid overdose deaths have surged in recent years, driven in part by fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid often mixed with heroin. The U.S. saw an estimated 105,000 overdose deaths in 2023—down slightly from the year before, but still alarmingly high compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2017, the lifetime odds of dying from an overdose were 1 in 96; by 2022 they had worsened to 1 in 55 before easing slightly to today’s 1 in 57. Understanding Everyday Risks While opioid overdoses make headlines, other risks remain far less likely to claim lives. Gun assaults, for instance, are statistically less likely than falls or car crashes. Even rarer are events such as drowning (about 1 in 1,000 odds), choking (1 in 2,500), or dog attacks (1 in 44,499). For perspective, a person in the U.S. is more likely to die in a storm event like a hurricane or tornado (1 in 39,192) than in a dog attack. Learn More on the Voronoi App For a global perspective, explore this Voronoi post showing the top 20 causes of death worldwide in 2021, based on WHO data collected during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Mapped: Where the Air Quality is Best in Each U.S. State This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Waimea, Hawaii has the cleanest air in the U.S., with PM2.5 levels of just 1.7 µg/m³. California’s Seaside and Oregon’s Troutdale both report just 2.5 µg/m³, well below WHO guidelines. Gulfport, Mississippi is the “best” city in its state but still exceeds WHO safety levels at 7.6 µg/m³. Air quality varies dramatically across the U.S., and one way scientists measure this is through PM2.5, or fine particulate matter. Defined as particles less than 2.5 micrometers wide—smaller than 1/30th the width of a human hair—PM2.5 can penetrate deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream. High concentrations have been linked to asthma, heart disease, and reduced life expectancy. HouseFresh, using data from IQAir, identified the cleanest-air cities in each state in 2024, based on yearly averages for cities with populations above 10,000. Here are the U.S. cities with the best air quality in each state: CityStateYearly Average PM2.5 Concentration (2024)Equivalent Cigarettes Smoked in 2024 WaimeaHawaii1.728 SeasideCalifornia2.541 TroutdaleOregon2.541 MasonWashington2.745 North KingstownRhode Island2.846 WinnemuccaNevada2.948 AnchorageAlaska3.151 GuilfordConnecticut3.151 AcushnetMassachusetts3.355 Silver CityNew Mexico3.456 SilverthorneColorado3.761 PriceUtah3.761 Beech GroveIndiana3.863 New RiverArizona3.965 ElyMinnesota4.066 PierreSouth Dakota4.168 Safety HarborFlorida4.270 SuperiorWisconsin4.270 CharlestonSouth Carolina4.575 RiverheadNew York4.676 BenningtonVermont4.676 La GrangeIllinois4.778 LewistonMaine4.778 MillingtonMaryland4.778 BataviaOhio4.880 CliveIowa4.981 BryanTexas4.981 EvanstonWyoming4.981 KearneyMissouri5.083 HavreMontana5.185 OkemosMichigan5.286 Wake ForestNorth Carolina5.286 CentrevilleVirginia5.286 Idaho FallsIdaho5.388 BrentwoodNew Hampshire5.388 SlidellLouisiana5.591 WyckoffNew Jersey5.591 MorristownTennessee5.591 CantonGeorgia5.693 ArdmoreOklahoma5.693 IndianaPennsylvania5.795 Dodge CityKansas5.896 BeatriceNebraska5.998 BearDelaware6.0100 FargoNorth Dakota6.1101 MadisonAlabama6.4106 SomersetKentucky6.6110 FayettevilleArkansas6.9114 HuntingtonWest Virginia7.5124 GulfportMississippi7.6126 At a glance, Waimea, Hawaii stands out at just 1.7 µg/m³—equivalent to inhaling only 28 cigarettes in a year—making it the cleanest air in America. Hawaii, Oregon, and California Lead the Pack Waimea’s clean air benefits from trade winds that disperse pollution, despite occasional volcanic smog, or “vog.” Meanwhile, Oregon’s Troutdale and California’s Seaside also post ultra-low PM2.5 averages of 2.5 µg/m³, underscoring the relative strength of West Coast air quality compared to other parts of the country. In contrast, states like Mississippi and West Virginia see their cleanest cities—Gulfport (7.6 µg/m³) and Huntington (7.5 µg/m³)—still fall above the World Health Organization’s recommended safe threshold of 5 µg/m³. A Mixed Map of Clean Air While many Northeastern states such as Maine (Lewiston, 4.7 µg/m³) and Vermont (Bennington, 4.6 µg/m³) report relatively clean air, industrial and agricultural regions in the Midwest often post higher averages. Fargo, North Dakota (6.1 µg/m³) and Dodge City, Kansas (5.8 µg/m³) illustrate this trend. Still, the fact that more than half of the listed cities come in under WHO guidelines is encouraging, highlighting regional success in curbing emissions and maintaining cleaner skies. The Other Side of the Story The cleanest and dirtiest U.S. cities also illustrate the huge gap in air quality nationwide. Waimea, Hawaii records just 1.7 µg/m³ of PM2.5, while Shafter, California reaches 16.1 µg/m³—almost 10 times higher. This contrast shows how local industries, environmental policies, and geography can dramatically shape the air people breathe. Learn More on the Voronoi App See the flip side in this map of the worst place for air quality in each U.S. state.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Mapping the Minimum Wage of Each U.S. State This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. 30 states and Washington D.C. have set minimum wages above the federal rate of $7.25/hour. California, Washington, and Hawaii lead the nation with wages above $16/hour. 20 states still rely on the federal minimum wage, which has not increased since 2009. The U.S. has a patchwork of minimum wage laws across its 50 states, as shown in a new visualization from Statista using data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. As of September 2025, wages range from just $7.25 in many southern states to more than $16 in places like California, Washington, and Hawaii. Here’s a breakdown of the state-level minimum wage rates in 2025: Minimum Wage RangeStates >$16.00CA, WA, HI $13.01 - $16.00OR, AZ, CO, NM, NY, NJ, CT, MA, RI, VT, ME, DC, MD, DE $10.01 - $13.00AK, MT, SD, NE, KS, MO, AR, MI, OH, WV, FL, IL $7.26 - $10.00ID, NV, UT, WY, ND, MN, IA, KY, VA $7.25OK, TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, TN, SC, NC, WI, IN, PA, NH At a glance, the map highlights the sharp divide: while states along the West Coast and Northeast offer significantly higher minimum wages, much of the South remains at the federal baseline of $7.25 per hour. A Divided Wage Landscape Today, 30 states and Washington D.C. mandate wages above the federal minimum. California’s $16.50 rate is among the highest nationwide, while Washington D.C. surpasses all with $17.50. Meanwhile, states like New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York City also set higher-than-average floors, reflecting stronger urban labor protections. In contrast, 20 states including Texas, Florida, and North Carolina still pay at or near the federal minimum, which has remained unchanged since 2009. States Without a Minimum Wage Five states—Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee—have not enacted their own minimum wage laws. Alongside Georgia and Wyoming, which set minimum wages below $7.25, the federal standard applies instead. That means in these seven states, workers’ pay is tied directly to federal law. Combined with 13 states pegged exactly to $7.25, a full 20 states currently sit at the national minimum. The Growing Gap As some states push ahead with higher wages to counter inflation and support low-income workers, others have stayed still, widening the gap across the country. For example, West Virginia’s $8.75 wage is still much closer to the federal minimum than to California’s $16.50. Meanwhile, political debates continue to shape the future. In 2024, California voters narrowly rejected a ballot measure to raise the state’s wage to $18, signaling that even in high-cost states, the issue remains contentious. Learn More on the Voronoi App For a global comparison, explore our chart of Europe’s national minimum wages in 2025.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: AI Chatbot Market Share in 2025 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways ChatGPT leads the market with a dominant 82.7% share, making it by far the most visited AI chatbot platform. Perplexity ranks second with 8.2%, though its market share has declined from a peak of 14.1% in March 2025. Other competitors, including Microsoft Copilot (4.5%), Google Gemini (2.2%), DeepSeek (1.5%), and Claude (0.9%), round out a fragmented industry. In 1955, the term “artificial intelligence” was coined and defined by Claude Shannon and three other colleagues. Nearly 70 years later, AI has taken its most prevalent form in chatbots, dominated by ChatGPT. While multiple competitors have entered the market, it’s clear that it holds a moat—despite a lukewarm response to its recent model update. This chart illustrates the AI chatbot market share as of July 2025, based on website visit data from Statcounter. ChatGPT Leads the Way Below, we show how OpenAI’s ChatGPT reigns supreme in AI chatbot market share in 2025: AI ChatbotMarket Share(Based Off July 2025 Website Visits) ChatGPT82.7% Perplexity8.2% Microsoft Copilot4.5% Google Gemini2.2% Deepseek1.5% Claude0.9% As adoption booms—both across individual and enterprise users—revenue stands at an estimated $1 billion per month. Since August 2024, global ChatGPT users have ballooned by more than double. By one estimate, it receives 2.5 billion prompts per day. Of these, about 330 million are from American users. As we can see, Perplexity ranks in a distant second, but beats out Big Tech chatbots like Microsoft’s Copilot and Gemini’s Google. Today, the San Francisco-based startup has a $18 billion valuation, up from $1 billion in less than a year. Meanwhile, China’s DeepSeek makes up a 1.5% share and Claude—named after the industry’s forefather—stands at 0.9%. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic that shows the countries where ChatGPT is banned around the world.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Which Countries Believe in Life After Death? This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Indonesia has the largest number of believers at 182 million adults, with 85% of its population affirming belief in an afterlife. More secular countries with rationalist traditions like Germany (50%) and Sweden (38%) show significantly lower levels of belief. Today, 70% of Americans believe in life after death, with a similar share having a religious affiliation. Europeans, by contrast, tend to have a lower belief in the afterlife. In the Netherlands, this drops to 51% of adults and 47% in Spain. Meanwhile, virtually all adults in India have a religion, but just 43% hold afterlife beliefs. This graphic shows the percentage of adults in 36 countries who say there is “definitely” or “probably” life after death, based on data from the Pew Research Center. Where Belief in Life After Death is Most Prevalent Below, we compare how adults view the afterlife based on surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024, with these countries covering a combined population of four billion: CountryShare of AdultsEstimated Number of Adults Indonesia85%181,692,723 Türkiye84%56,427,708 Kenya80%28,516,218 Philippines78%65,177,017 Bangladesh77%96,237,768 Ghana74%16,351,157 Malaysia74%20,580,095 Nigeria71%97,446,560 U.S.70%196,831,739 Mexico69%68,163,470 Peru68%17,690,670 Singapore68%3,625,340 Chile67%10,995,669 Colombia67%28,250,671 Sri Lanka67%11,448,854 Brazil66%112,403,780 Argentina65%23,285,592 Poland64%19,931,198 Israel61%4,416,700 South Africa59%27,989,435 Canada56%19,627,634 Greece56%5,048,661 Italy56%29,103,886 France55%31,464,364 UK53%30,384,624 South Korea52%24,066,612 Netherlands51%7,798,148 Germany50%35,947,222 Thailand50%30,548,675 Australia49%10,951,974 Japan47%51,604,788 Spain47%19,975,190 Hungary45%3,683,344 India43%470,273,273 Sweden38%3,334,257 In Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country, 85% of adults believe in the afterlife—the highest share across countries surveyed. Almost million people living in the Toraja region in eastern Indonesia, families may keep the dead in the home for years before a lavish and costly funeral. However, this represents a small subset of the approximately 182 million who hold afterlife beliefs in the country. In Türkiye, where Islam is the most common religion, 84% believe in life after death. Meanwhile, 80% in Kenya hold this belief, where the predominant faith is Christianity. Falling in the top third of the list is America, with about 197 million adults saying they definitely or probably believe in life after death. This stands as the highest absolute number only after India, at 470 million. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries with the highest number of Christians in the world.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Mapped: Where the Air Quality is Worst in Each U.S. State This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Shafter, California has the worst air quality in the U.S., with PM2.5 levels averaging 16.1 µg/m³. Mission, Texas and Nampa, Idaho also rank among the most polluted cities by PM2.5 concentration. Kalaoa, Hawaii has the best “worst” air quality at just 4.7 µg/m³, below WHO guidelines. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is one of the most harmful forms of air pollution. Defined as particles less than 2.5 micrometers wide, they are small enough to penetrate deep into lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Exposure can lead to asthma, bronchitis, and long-term cardiovascular and respiratory issues. According to HouseFresh, which analyzed data from IQAir, many U.S. towns continue to face levels far above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Here are the cities with the worst recorded air quality in each U.S. state in 2024: CityStateYearly Average PM2.5 Concentration (2024)Equivalent Cigarettes Smoked in 2024 ShafterCalifornia16.1267 MissionTexas12.4206 NampaIdaho11.7194 North Little RockArkansas11.3187 Three RiversOregon11.3187 AdrianMichigan10.5174 MiamiOklahoma10.5174 NogalesArizona10.4173 GainesvilleGeorgia10.3171 LancasterPennsylvania10.1168 SyracuseUtah9.9164 Panama CityFlorida9.8163 Baton RougeLouisiana9.8163 Great FallsMontana9.8163 SpartanburgSouth Carolina9.8163 ShawneeKansas9.2153 GilletteWyoming9.2153 Grove CityOhio9.0149 LeedsAlabama8.9148 LawrenceIndiana8.9148 AlbemarleNorth Carolina8.9148 ColumbusMississippi8.8146 North Las VegasNevada8.8146 KetchikanAlaska8.7144 AuroraIllinois8.7144 MemphisTennessee8.7144 Las VegasNew Mexico8.6143 HastingsMinnesota8.5141 GrandviewWashington8.5141 AttleboroMassachusetts8.4139 CamdenNew Jersey8.4139 WaterlooIowa8.1134 ParkvilleMaryland8.1134 Kansas CityMissouri8.0133 OmahaNebraska8.0133 WatertownSouth Dakota8.0133 Falls ChurchVirginia7.9131 WilmingtonDelaware7.8129 Grand ForksNorth Dakota7.6126 CharlestonWest Virginia7.6126 ErieColorado7.5124 LouisvilleKentucky7.5124 New York CityNew York7.5124 BrookfieldWisconsin7.5124 East HavenConnecticut7.3121 RutlandVermont6.8113 KeeneNew Hampshire6.2103 PortlandMaine5.693 ProvidenceRhode Island5.490 KalaoaHawaii4.778 At a glance, the range is stark: from Shafter, California at 16.1 µg/m³, equivalent to smoking 267 cigarettes a year, to Kalaoa, Hawaii, which comes in under the WHO safety threshold. California and Texas Lead the Pollution Rankings Shafter, California stands out as the nation’s worst location for fine particulate matter, with levels over three times higher than Hawaii’s worst city. Much of this pollution comes from agricultural activity, particularly almond farming, which kicks up significant dust during harvest season. Subsidy programs for cleaner farm equipment are in place, but the challenge remains ongoing. Mission, Texas follows with a yearly PM2.5 average of 12.4 µg/m³, while cities like Nampa, Idaho and North Little Rock, Arkansas also report double-digit pollution levels. The Geography of Poor Air Quality Western states like California, Oregon, and Idaho dominate the higher end of the spectrum, but polluted hotspots also appear in the Midwest and South. Lancaster, Pennsylvania (10.1 µg/m³) highlights the issue in the Northeast, while Spartanburg, South Carolina (9.8 µg/m³) represents the Southeast’s worst case. By contrast, states like Maine (5.6 µg/m³) and Rhode Island (5.4 µg/m³) show much lower pollution levels. Hawaii’s Kalaoa, at 4.7 µg/m³, remains the only city that meets WHO’s stricter guideline of 5 µg/m³. The Hidden Cost of Breathing The health impact is easier to visualize when expressed in cigarette equivalents. In Shafter, living with 16.1 µg/m³ of PM2.5 is like smoking 267 cigarettes in a year. Even moderately polluted cities like Syracuse, Utah (9.9 µg/m³) equate to more than 160 cigarettes annually. These numbers underscore why air quality remains a pressing public health concern—and why local and state-level policies will play a critical role in addressing it. Learn More on the Voronoi App See the flip side in the map of the best place for air quality in each U.S. state.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualizing Trust in Self-Driving Cars Across 21 Countries This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Trust in self-driving cars is highest in emerging markets like India, Pakistan, Brazil, and China, where larger shares express “a lot” or “a great deal” of trust. Advanced economies like the U.S. show higher skepticism, with 51% of respondents saying they would not trust self‑driving cars at all. Self-driving cars are often touted as the future of mobility, but how much does the public trust them? This visualization compares levels of trust across 21 countries, showing significant differences in the perception of autonomous driving. Data & Discussion The data for this visualization comes from the 2024 Global Public Opinion on Artificial Intelligence (GPO-AI). It surveyed respondents across emerging and advanced economies, asking how much they trust self-driving cars, from “a great deal” to “not at all.” CountryA great dealA lotA littleNot at all India22%29%35%14% Pakistan13%23%43%22% Brazil9%18%46%26% China8%47%35%10% Kenya7%24%53%16% Mexico7%25%48%20% South Africa7%15%40%39% Argentina6%22%48%24% Global6%19%44%31% Indonesia6%23%54%16% U.S.6%13%30%51% Australia5%13%33%49% Spain5%17%44%33% Canada4%12%40%44% Chile4%23%49%23% France4%14%41%41% Germany4%15%40%41% Italy4%14%44%39% U.K.4%10%34%52% Portugal3%10%46%40% Japan2%12%65%21% Poland2%9%49%40% Emerging Markets Show More Optimism Countries such as India, Pakistan, Brazil, and China showed the highest level of faith in autonomous driving. In India, over 50% of respondents said they trusted the technology either “a lot” or “a great deal.” Similarly, 60% of respondents in China expressed significant trust. This optimism may reflect rapid innovation and fewer entrenched legacy systems in mobility. For example, China dominates the robotaxi landscape, with eight companies currently offering services to the public. Western Economies Remain Skeptical By contrast, advanced economies show high levels of distrust. In the U.S., 51% of respondents said they would not trust self-driving cars at all. Skepticism was similarly high in the UK (52%) and Australia (49%). Factors such as high-profile accidents, regulatory debates, and concerns over liability may explain these levels of hesitation. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The AI Boom is Creating New Billionaires on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Why is America Feeling So Negative? This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways YouGov’s weekly tracker shows a growing divergence between positive and negative feelings throughout the year. Frustration among Americans has climbed 15 percentage points (p.p.) since January 2025, while optimism has dropped 5 points. Economic anxiety is now the top issue for Americans, correlating with rising negative sentiment. Each week, YouGov’s ongoing sentiment tracker asks Americans how they’ve felt over the past seven days. Respondents can select multiple emotions, and the results provide a real-time snapshot of collective mood. Emotions are split between positive (e.g. happy, optimistic, inspired) and negative (e.g. sad, frustrated, stressed) categories. While emotional data can be highly subjective, long-term patterns are valuable in identifying shifts in public sentiment—and 2025 is seeing a decisive move toward the negative. WeekHappyOptimisticInspiredSadFrustratedStressed 02/01/202563%35%23%23%25%35% 09/01/202557%33%23%20%26%35% 16/01/202556%33%21%24%27%35% 23/01/202557%32%26%21%28%35% 30/01/202552%33%23%28%34%42% 06/02/202551%32%23%24%32%39% 13/02/202553%33%22%23%34%41% 20/02/202552%31%22%20%31%37% 27/02/202553%33%20%24%32%39% 06/03/202552%31%22%26%35%43% 13/03/202551%29%21%25%37%41% 20/03/202550%31%19%25%35%41% 27/03/202550%29%19%23%34%42% 03/04/202553%26%19%23%31%38% 10/04/202551%29%22%23%35%43% 17/04/202551%28%19%21%31%40% 24/04/202551%31%20%24%34%41% 01/05/202551%28%18%22%35%42% 08/05/202556%33%22%24%34%42% 15/05/202554%31%21%22%31%38% 22/05/202555%29%18%25%35%42% 29/05/202555%31%20%24%38%42% 05/06/202556%29%19%24%34%41% 12/06/202554%31%22%24%34%39% 19/06/202556%27%19%25%35%39% 26/06/202552%27%19%27%38%48% 03/07/202551%29%19%25%41%46% 10/07/202554%29%17%31%40%46% 17/07/202552%26%17%27%39%45% 24/07/202556%29%22%27%39%45% 31/07/202555%32%20%26%38%44% 07/08/202554%30%18%28%36%45% 14/08/202555%29%16%24%35%42% 21/08/202555%30%19%27%40%46% The most obvious takeaway? Frustration has jumped from 25% to 40% of respondents, while optimism fell from 35% to 30%, showing a clear 10-point divergence over eight months. What’s Fueling America’s Bad Vibes? While emotions are complex, the economy likely plays a starring role in this shift. In a recent CBS News poll, 70% of Americans said they view the economy as “bad,” and personal financial outlooks have dimmed even further compared to earlier in the year. In fact, Statista data from July 2025 shows that “inflation and the high cost of living” now top the list of personal challenges, ahead of healthcare, housing, and crime. At the same time, YouGov’s own consumer confidence index dropped for the second consecutive month in July, reflecting anxiety about both household budgets and the broader economy. Emotions Moving in Opposite Directions The biggest emotional driver on the positive side, feeling “happy”, has declined 6 percentage points since January. Meanwhile, the negative feeling of “stressed” is now affecting more than one-third of the population each week, surpassing levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. This diverging emotional trajectory reveals a public mood increasingly dominated by worry and weariness—one that may continue unless economic pressures ease or confidence rebounds.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Where the World’s Ocean Plastic Waste Comes From This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Five countries account for the vast majority of cumulative plastic waste that escapes and washes up on other countries’ beaches. Seven of the top 10 countries on the list are in Asia. In the past decade, plastic pollution has become one of the most visible environmental issues worldwide. Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic enter the ocean, affecting marine life, coastal communities, and ecosystems. This visualization ranks the countries responsible for the highest cumulative leakage of mismanaged plastic waste that escaped and washed up on other countries’ beaches from 2010 to 2019. The data for this visualization comes from the Global Plastic Hub. Asia Leads in Ocean Plastic Leakage China is the largest contributor, responsible for over 2.6 million tonnes of plastic waste that ended up on foreign beaches. It’s followed by the Philippines (1.7 million tonnes), and India (966,000 tonnes). Rapid economic growth, urbanization, and inadequate waste management systems contribute to these high figures. Seven of the top 10 countries on the list are in Asia, underlining the region’s central role in the global ocean plastic crisis. RankCountryTonnes (2010-2019) 1 China2,683,631 2 Philippines1,695,260 3 India966,447 4 Brazil639,665 5 Indonesia599,020 6 Nigeria496,841 7 Viet Nam484,457 8 Turkey354,441 9 Thailand338,685 10 Malaysia332,756 11 Bangladesh315,755 12 Venezuela231,132 13 Bird Island231,132 14 Myanmar209,495 15 Egypt208,321 16 Algeria157,952 17 Tanzania114,737 18 Ghana107,907 19 Taiwan, Province of China97,418 20 Uruguay94,544 21 Tunisia89,176 22 Haiti84,238 23 Dominican Republic83,121 24 Libya73,477 25 Mozambique72,578 26 Cameroon67,709 27 Côte d'Ivoire57,394 28 Pakistan53,641 29 Angola52,877 30 Colombia47,506 31 Morocco44,087 32 Sri Lanka41,648 33 Peru39,863 34 Papua New Guinea36,165 35 Yemen35,625 36 Trinidad and Tobago35,244 37 Benin32,298 38 Togo31,773 39 Mexico31,004 40 South Africa30,352 41 Ecuador29,678 42 Solomon Islands27,939 43 Honduras26,859 44 Greece25,983 45 Ukraine25,859 46 Guinea25,167 47 Comoros24,691 48 Sierra Leone23,826 49 Hong Kong, China23,471 50 Russian Federation20,770 51 Senegal19,569 52 Lebanon19,420 53 Guatemala19,015 54 Albania18,501 55 U.S.16,910 56 Panama16,346 57 Jamaica16,260 58 Belize15,383 59 Guyana15,235 60 Nicaragua15,199 61 Liberia14,220 62 Kuwait12,740 63 Gambia12,178 64 Suriname11,589 65 Sudan11,308 66 Guinea-Bissau10,819 67 Iran10,750 68 Congo9,476 69 Democratic People's Republic of Korea8,873 70 Kenya7,941 71 El Salvador7,504 72 Netherlands6,488 73 UK6,242 74 Timor-Leste6,238 75 Italy5,930 76 Spain5,708 77 Canary Islands (Sp.)5,708 78 Eritrea5,677 79 Equatorial Guinea5,328 80 Argentina4,847 81 Costa Rica4,384 82 Saudi Arabia4,099 83 Croatia3,964 84 Djibouti3,401 85 Japan3,208 86 Syrian Arab Republic3,019 87 Australia2,920 88 Ashmore & Cartier Is.2,920 89 Republic of Korea2,865 90 Mauritania2,845 91 United Arab Emirates2,659 92 Somalia2,371 93 Israel2,368 94 Fiji2,340 95 Cambodia2,212 96 Gabon2,199 97 Madagascar2,132 98 Germany1,899 99 Romania1,825 100 Montenegro1,804 101 Saint Lucia1,591 102 Chile1,447 103 Sao Tome and Principe1,255 104 France1,105 105 Vanuatu997 106 Cape Verde975 107 Qatar868 108 Samoa809 109 Brunei Darussalam797 110 Portugal702 111 Azores Islands (Port.)702 112 Madeira Islands (Port.)702 113 Grenada553 114 Sweden514 115 Ireland508 116 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines466 117 Poland439 118 Georgia424 119 Canada421 120 Dominica408 121 Finland397 122 Namibia387 123 Barbados302 124 Puerto Rico (USA)287 125 Oman258 126 Tonga246 127 Latvia211 128 Bahrain204 129 Bahamas179 130 Antigua and Barbuda172 131 Micronesia 167 132 DRC149 133 Norway130 Plastic Waste Doesn’t Stay Local Plastic debris often travel thousands of kilometers across oceans, carried solely by currents, wind, tides, and time. For example, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—a massive swirling zone between California and Hawaii—accumulates plastic from as far as Asia, North America, and South America. The patch spans around 1.6 million km², comparable to twice the size of Texas. The annual economic costs due to marine plastic pollution are estimated to be between $6-19 billion. According to the OECD, preventing land-based plastic leakage into the ocean across 38 member countries and 10 major plastic waste emitters in Asia and Africa could cost more than $86 billion. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: The Most Expensive U.S. Wildfires, So Far on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Canada’s Gen Z Workforce Hit Hardest by Economic Uncertainty This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Teen unemployment in Canada is 1.1 percentage points higher than expected, despite no formal recession since 2020. Recent immigration growth, AI disruption, and public sector cuts have uniquely burdened young workers. Older workers (30+) are experiencing lower-than-expected unemployment, highlighting an intergenerational divide. Canada’s overall job market may appear stable on the surface, but a closer look at age-specific data reveals an alarming trend: younger Canadians are facing a labor market significantly more hostile than what economic fundamentals would suggest. According to a recent report from Desjardins, unemployment among teens (ages 15–19) is especially high, exceeding model-based expectations by over 1 percentage point—a gap not seen for any other age group. Here’s the difference between expected and actual unemployment rates by age group, based on Desjardins’ output gap estimates and Statistics Canada data: Age GroupUnemployment Rate Difference (p.p.) 15 to 191.1 20 to 240.1 25 to 29-0.2 30 to 34-0.5 35 to 39-0.6 40 to 44-0.8 45 to 49-0.7 50 to 54-0.4 55 to 59-0.8 60 to 64-0.5 65 and over-0.7 Notably, all age cohorts above 30 are outperforming expectations, while youth under 25, especially teenagers, are seeing higher-than-expected joblessness. This intergenerational divergence has sparked what some are calling a “youth-cession.” Why Are Young Workers Struggling More? Several structural and cyclical factors are contributing to this imbalance. First, youth unemployment is historically more sensitive to economic downturns. However, what makes the current moment unusual is that youth unemployment has been rising steadily since 2022—even though Canada hasn’t experienced a recession since 2020. Second, population dynamics are playing a major role. The post-pandemic relaxation of work restrictions for non-permanent residents, such as international students, has led to a surge in the 20–24 age group entering the labor force. But demand hasn’t kept pace with supply. Technology and Sectoral Shifts Are Raising the Bar Sectors that traditionally employed youth (“mall jobs”, for example) are shrinking their hiring footprints, while others are investing in automation. Younger workers are often the first displaced by these shifts. Additionally, AI disruption is starting to reshape entry-level jobs, further limiting opportunities for those just entering the workforce. Even seasonal opportunities are drying up: the unemployment rate for returning students in summer 2025 surpassed 20%, the highest non-pandemic level in over 25 years. Policy Responses May Help, But Are They Enough? Governments have launched targeted programs like the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, but youth are still facing high levels of involuntary part-time work and underemployment. Cuts to public sector jobs, once a reliable entry point for young workers, have only added to the challenge. Learn More on the Voronoi App For a broader look at how recent graduates are faring, check out our post on rising unemployment among college graduates.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualizing the Magnificent Seven’s Foreign Revenue This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Meta earns the largest share of its revenue abroad at 62%, followed by Apple, at 57%. Alphabet and Tesla each generate 51% of their income from foreign markets, showing more balanced domestic-international splits. With $198 billion in foreign revenue, Amazon has the smallest share at 31%, yet in dollar terms this exceeds the total annual revenue of Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla. America’s tech giants earn huge sums of money from foreign revenue, underscoring their ubiquity in global markets. From Nvidia to Microsoft, the Magnificent Seven companies earn 31% to 62% of revenues abroad. Not only does this expose them to shifting trade policy, but the enforcement of new digital rules across Europe, Canada, and Australia. This chart compares foreign and U.S. revenue for the Magnificent Seven, based on their latest annual 10-K filings. Ranked: Foreign Revenue Exposure by Company In the table below, we show the foreign revenue breakdown of each company. While most companies report U.S. revenue separately, Apple combines it with other countries in the Americas. For Meta, U.S. revenue is reported together with Canada. CompanyShare of Foreign RevenueTotal Annual RevenueForeign Annual RevenueU.S./ Americas Revenue Meta62%$165B$102B$63B Apple57%$391B$223B$168B Nvidia53%$131B$69B$62B Alphabet51%$350B$179B$172B Tesla51%$98B$50B$48B Microsoft49%$282B$137B$145B Amazon31%$638B$198B$440B Among the group, Meta earns the highest proportion of revenue overseas, equal to $102 billion—a 62% share. The Asia-Pacific region generates the highest share of Meta’s international revenue, with Europe close behind. Driving the vast majority of revenue is advertising sales, particularly across its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Ranking in second is Apple, with foreign revenues comprising a 57% share of total sales. Going further, it generates more revenue abroad in absolute terms than the rest of the pack. Meanwhile, Nvidia rakes in more than half of all revenues from countries outside of the U.S., with the largest share coming from Singapore, Taiwan, and China. Recently, the U.S. government announced it will take a 15% cut from sales on H20 chips to China after lifting export bans. On the other hand, Amazon generates the lowest share of revenue from overseas, at just 31% of its annual total. Overall, its largest international markets include Germany and Japan, each driving 6% of total sales in 2024. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the largest companies outside America by market capitalization.