Charted: The Explosive Growth of Critical Minerals Key Takeaways Global production of key minerals has surged since 1960, with lithium, rare earths, and nickel seeing especially sharp growth. The rise of EVs, batteries, renewable energy, and AI infrastructure is accelerating demand for critical minerals worldwide. Copper and iron ore still dominate by scale, highlighting how traditional industrial materials remain essential to global growth. Global mineral production has climbed dramatically over the last six decades as industrialization, urbanization, and electrification reshape the global economy. The fastest growth is now occurring in minerals tied to the energy transition. Lithium production, for example, has surged from almost nothing in 1960 to 240,000 tonnes in 2024, while rare earth output has also accelerated sharply amid rising demand for EVs, batteries, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. The visualization above, created by DataCanvas using data from Our World in Data, tracks global mine production across major minerals from 1960 through 2024. Growth in Critical Minerals Since 1960 Copper, iron ore, and phosphate rock dominate global output by volume, while lithium and rare earth production have accelerated rapidly in recent years as clean energy demand rises. At the same time, traditional industrial minerals continue to underpin infrastructure growth across emerging economies. MineralUnit1960198020002024 Aluminum (bauxite)million tonnes3188180410 Coppermillion tonnes481323 Goldtonnes1,0001,2002,6003,300 Iron oremillion tonnes2309001,1002,700 Leadmillion tonnes23.53.14.5 Lithiumthousand tonnes0013240 Nickelmillion tonnes0.40.81.13.7 Phosphate rockmillion tonnes40140130240 Rare earth elementsthousand tonnes52580390 Silverthousand tonnes791926 Tinthousand tonnes200250200370 Uraniumthousand tonnes20703558 Zincmillion tonnes35.5912 The Long Boom in Mineral Production Since 1960, global mine production has climbed alongside population growth, industrialization, and rising living standards. China’s rapid economic expansion in the 2000s played an especially important role, fueling massive demand for iron ore, coal, copper, and cement-related minerals. Today, another structural shift is underway: the global energy transition. Technologies like electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage require far larger quantities of minerals than fossil fuel-based energy systems. Electric vehicles require large amounts of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite. Power grids and renewable infrastructure are heavily copper-intensive. Rare earth elements are essential for high-performance magnets used in wind turbines and electronics. This growing demand has elevated “critical minerals” into a strategic priority for governments worldwide, with supply chains increasingly viewed through both economic and national security lenses. Access to these materials is becoming a defining issue for both industrial competitiveness and energy security. Mining’s Economic and Environmental Tradeoffs Mining remains a major economic engine. Nations rich in mineral resources, including, but not limited to, Australia, Chile, Peru, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have become deeply integrated into global supply chains. At the same time, the industry faces mounting environmental scrutiny. Mining operations can consume vast amounts of energy and water while generating emissions, waste, and land disturbance. According to the World Resources Institute, scaling mineral extraction responsibly will require stronger environmental safeguards and more sustainable production methods. Most analysts do not believe the world is “running out” of key minerals. Instead, the challenge is that many of the highest-grade and easiest-to-access deposits have already been developed. As a result, producers increasingly need more energy, capital, and processing to extract the same amount of material. What the Future of Mining Could Look Like Looking ahead, global mineral production is expected to keep rising as electrification, AI infrastructure, and urban development continue to expand. The U.S. Geological Survey and other institutions have highlighted growing competition to secure stable supplies of critical minerals amid geopolitical tensions. Innovation could reshape the industry. Ultimately, the future of mining will likely hinge on balancing three competing priorities: Meeting rapidly growing material demand Reducing environmental impacts Building resilient and diversified supply chains As the global economy becomes increasingly electrified, digitized, and AI-driven, critical minerals may become as strategically important as oil was in previous decades.

Published 27 minutes ago on May 20, 2026 By Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Howard Zack Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email Most Crypto Hacks Don’t Start With Stolen Wallets—They Start in the Code Early crypto hacks often focused on stealing wallet credentials. Today, many of the industry’s biggest losses stem from vulnerabilities hidden in platform software. This graphic, created in partnership with Inigo, breaks down the top 10 ways hackers steal crypto.  Ranking the Top 10 Crypto Hacking Methods From May 2025 to April 2026, the most costly method was a type of infrastructure attack known as cross-chain data manipulation.  These attacks target systems that move assets between different blockchains. Hackers take advantage of weaknesses in how chains communicate, allowing them to manipulate transactions or steal funds during transfers.  TechniquePrimary Risk Category% of Crypto Losses Cross-Chain Data ManipulationInfrastructure19% Admin Compromise + Token Manipulation*Smart Contract18% Spoof Token ExploitSmart Contract14% Private Key CompromisedCustody11% Liquidity Pool ExploitSmart Contract8% Hot Wallet HackCustody6% Re-Entrancy ExploitSmart Contract3% Third-Party API CompromiseInfrastructure3% Bonding Curve ExploitSmart Contract2% Price Oracle ManipulationSmart Contract2% OtherN/A14% * Involves both custody and smart contract risks. Source: DeFiLlama based on losses from hacks between May 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026. Attacks on code within smart contracts make up five of the top 10 most costly methods. In these cases, hackers are exploiting flaws in the rules that automatically move, price, or manage assets.  To make the ranking easier to understand, here’s what each remaining hacking method means in plain English. Admin Compromise + Token Manipulation Hackers gain access to privileged admin controls where they can then exploit the code to approve fake assets as collateral from the inside. Spoof Token Exploit Attackers use code to create fake or misleading tokens that trick users or platforms into treating them as real. This can be used to trigger fraudulent trades or drain funds. Private Key Compromised A private key functions like the password to a crypto wallet. If hackers steal it, they can gain full access to the wallet and transfer funds out instantly. Often, hackers use phishing or other forms of social engineering to trick victims into handing over sensitive credentials. Liquidity Pool Exploit Hackers target the pools of assets that power decentralized trading platforms. These code attacks often exploit flaws in pricing, trading, or withdrawal logic. Hot Wallet Hack Hot wallets are connected to the internet, making them convenient but more exposed. If attackers gain access, they can quickly transfer funds out. Re-Entrancy Exploit These attacks trick a smart contract into sending funds repeatedly before it updates its balance. It is one of the best-known examples of a bug hidden in crypto code. Third-Party API Compromise Crypto platforms often rely on outside software connections to send or receive data. If those connections are compromised, attackers may be able to manipulate transactions or platform behavior. Bonding Curve Exploit Some crypto projects use automated formulas to set token prices. Hackers exploit weaknesses in those formulas to manipulate prices for profit. Price Oracle Manipulation Price oracles feed market prices into apps. If hackers manipulate that price data, they can trigger profitable trades, loans, or liquidations. 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See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s 20 Most Valuable Oil Companies See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Saudi Aramco is the world’s most valuable publicly traded oil company at $1.8 trillion. The top 20 listed oil and gas companies are worth a combined $5.1 trillion. U.S. firms dominate by number, while Saudi Aramco dominates by scale. Saudi Aramco towers over every publicly traded oil company in the world. With a market capitalization of $1.8 trillion, the Saudi state-owned giant is worth more than the next five largest publicly traded oil and gas companies combined, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell, and PetroChina. This graphic ranks the world’s 20 most valuable oil and gas companies by market capitalization using data from CompaniesMarketCap as of May 5, 2026. Saudi Aramco vs. U.S. Energy Giants The top of the oil and gas industry is shaped by two very different forces: a single state-controlled producer in the Gulf and a fleet of publicly listed major firms in America. The data table below shows how the top 20 oil and gas companies stack up by market capitalization and country: RankCompanyMarket Capitalization (billions, USD)Country 1Saudi Aramco$1,800 Saudi Arabia 2Exxon Mobil$637 United States 3Chevron$380 United States 4PetroChina$273 China 5Shell$249 United Kingdom 6TotalEnergies$206 France 7CNOOC$173 China 8ConocoPhillips$152 United States 9Petrobras$142 Brazil 10BP$121 United Kingdom 11Enbridge$119 Canada 12Southern Company$108 United States 13Equinor$103 Norway 14Canadian Natural Resources$99 Canada 15Duke Energy$99 United States 16Sinopec$95 China 17Williams Companies$92 United States 18Enterprise Products$84 United States 19SLB (Schlumberger)$83 United States 20ENI$83 Italy At the top sits Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-controlled oil giant, with a $1.8 trillion market cap, accounting for just over one-third of the entire top 20. That is more than the next five companies combined: Exxon Mobil, Chevron, PetroChina, Shell, and TotalEnergies, which together are worth $1.7 trillion. Three of the world’s top 10 oil and gas companies are based in the U.S., worth a combined $1.2 trillion and led by Exxon Mobil ($637B) and Chevron ($380B). ConocoPhillips ranks as the eighth largest oil and gas company in the world with a market cap of $152 billion. The remainder of the top 10 features two Chinese state-owned giants (PetroChina, CNOOC), three European majors (Shell, TotalEnergies, BP), and Brazil’s Petrobras. For perspective, the combined market value of the world’s 20 largest oil and gas companies exceeds the entire GDP of Japan and is approaching Germany’s economic output. Together, these firms represent one of the world’s largest concentrations of corporate value. Regional Concentration in Oil and Gas Companies North America has the broadest presence in the ranking, with 10 companies worth a combined $1.9 trillion, driven by eight U.S. firms and two Canadian names. The U.S. dominates the list by number of companies, reflecting the scale of North American capital markets and energy infrastructure. Western Europe also has a wide footprint, with Shell, TotalEnergies, BP, Equinor, and ENI all making the list. However, their combined value of $760.8 billion is still less than half of Saudi Aramco’s market cap. East Asia is represented entirely by China’s “Big Three” state-owned oil companies: PetroChina, CNOOC, and Sinopec, together worth $541.6 billion. What Is Driving Oil and Gas Company Valuations? Oil and gas valuations are being shaped by two powerful forces: supply risk and rising energy demand. On the supply side, the Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most important oil chokepoint, with oil flows averaging around 20 million barrels per day, equal to roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids trade. When that route is threatened, crude prices can move quickly, lifting earnings expectations for major energy firms. At the same time, booming electricity demand from AI data centers, electrification, and industrial growth is increasing the strategic importance of reliable energy producers worldwide. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about global energy supply, check out this graphic which visualizes how global energy supply evolves from 2024 to 2050.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The 30 Highest-Paying Jobs in America See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Specialized medical roles account for 24 of America’s 30 highest-paying jobs. Pediatric surgeons rank first, earning a mean annual wage of about $451,000. Many of the highest-paying jobs are also rare, with several employing fewer than 10,000 people nationwide. Want to earn more than $300,000 a year in America? The clearest path is still a highly specialized medical career. This ranking of America’s highest-paying occupations uses Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data to compare mean annual wages and total U.S. employment across the country’s top-paid roles. The results show how concentrated high pay is in healthcare. They also reveal another important pattern: many of America’s best-paid jobs are held by relatively small workforces, making them some of the rarest careers in the economy. America’s Highest-Paying Jobs The rankings below show the 30 highest-paying occupations in the U.S. based on mean annual wages, alongside total nationwide employment levels. RankOccupationMean Annual Wage 2024Total U.S. EmploymentIndustry 1Pediatric Surgeons$450.8K1KHealthcare 2Cardiologists$432.5K18KHealthcare 3Surgeons, All Other$371.3K24KHealthcare 4Orthopedic Surgeons(except Pediatric)$365.1K14KHealthcare 5Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons$360.2K5KHealthcare 6Radiologists$359.8K26KHealthcare 7Dermatologists$347.8K10KHealthcare 8Anesthesiologists$336.6K42KHealthcare 9Emergency Medicine Physicians$320.7K34KHealthcare 10Ophthalmologists (except Pediatric)$301.5K12KHealthcare 11Neurologists$286.3K8KHealthcare 12Obstetricians and Gynecologists$281.1K20KHealthcare 13Airline Pilots, Copilots,and Flight Engineers$280.6K99KAviation 14Psychiatrists$269.1K25KHealthcare 15Pathologists$266.0K12KHealthcare 16Chief Executives$262.9K212KManagement 17General Internal Medicine Physicians$262.7K67KHealthcare 18Athletes and SportsCompetitors$259.8K14KAthletics 19Prosthodontists$258.7K760Healthcare 20Family Medicine Physicians$256.8K108KHealthcare 21Orthodontists$254.6K5KHealthcare 22Physicians, All Other$253.5K315KHealthcare 23Dentists, AllOther Specialists$246.5K6KHealthcare 24Nurse Anesthetists$231.7K50KHealthcare 25Pediatricians, General$222.3K43KHealthcare 26Dentists, General$196.1K113KHealthcare 27Computer and InformationSystems Managers$188.0K646KManagement 28Lawyers$182.8K748KLegal 29Financial Managers$180.5K819KManagement 30Architectural and Engineering Managers$175.7K210KManagement Why Doctors Dominate America’s Highest-Paying Jobs Healthcare’s dominance reflects a powerful mix of high barriers to entry, limited specialist supply, and steady demand for complex medical care. Most of the highest-paying medical specialties require more than a decade of education and residency training, limiting the pipeline of qualified professionals. At the same time, America’s aging population is increasing demand for specialists in cardiology, radiology, oncology, and surgery. As a result, highly specialized physicians command some of the largest salaries in the economy. Adding to this, the U.S. is projected to face a shortage of more than 141,000 physicians by 2038. America’s Highest-Paying Jobs Are Also Among Its Rarest Many of America’s top-paying professions employ surprisingly small numbers of workers nationwide. For example, there are only about 1,000 pediatric surgeons across the U.S., despite the profession ranking first overall in pay. Several other elite medical specialties, including prosthodontists (760) and oral surgeons (5,000), also have relatively small workforces. This scarcity helps explain why wages remain exceptionally high. Limited supply continues to collide with growing healthcare demand and an aging population with rising rates of chronic illness. The Highest-Paying Jobs Outside Healthcare Outside of healthcare, only a handful of roles break into the upper tier of U.S. pay, led by aviation and executive management. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers ($280.6K) rank among the country’s highest-paid workers as aviation faces persistent pilot shortages. Meanwhile, chief executives ($262.9K), financial managers ($180.5K), and architectural and engineering managers ($175.7K) command high salaries due to their leadership responsibilities and oversight of complex operations. Will America’s Highest-Paying Jobs Change? Despite rapid advances in AI and automation, many of America’s highest-paying jobs remain difficult to replace. Specialized surgeons, anesthesiologists, and pilots operate in highly regulated environments that require years of hands-on training and real-time decision-making. These barriers continue to shield many elite professions from automation pressures reshaping other parts of the workforce. At the same time, healthcare spending is forecast to grow faster than the broader economy through 2033, helping sustain strong demand and high salaries for specialized physicians. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the best places to work in America in 2026.

Mapped: Europe’s Inflation Divide in Early 2026 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Southeastern Europe remains Europe’s inflation hotspot in early 2026. Several southern economies now have lower inflation than parts of Northern Europe. Only four European countries currently sit below the ECB’s 2% inflation target. Inflation pressures across Europe are becoming increasingly uneven in 2026, with major differences emerging between regions. This map shows annual inflation rates across Europe as of April 2026, using the latest available data from Eurostat and the UK Parliament. While Southeastern Europe faces some of the continent’s highest inflation, several southern economies including Italy and Spain now have lower inflation than northern peers like Norway and Iceland. Annual inflation measures how much consumer prices have changed over the previous 12 months, such as between April 2025 and April 2026. Europe’s Inflation Divide One surprise in Europe’s 2026 inflation data is that several southern economies now have lower inflation than parts of Northern Europe. Italy’s inflation rate matches Germany’s, while Spain’s sits below both Norway and Iceland despite longstanding concerns over Southern Europe’s fiscal stability. This data table lists European countries based on their annual inflation rates as of early 2026. RankCountryInflation Rate (%) for Last 12 Months 1 Romania9.0 2 Kosovo6.5 3 Bulgaria6.2 4 Croatia5.4 5 Luxembourg5.2 6 Iceland5.0 7 Lithuania4.9 8 North Macedonia4.9 9 Greece4.6 10 Georgia4.6 11 Belgium4.3 12 Slovakia4.0 13 Ireland3.6 14 Norway3.6 15 Spain3.5 16 Slovenia3.4 17 Estonia3.3 18 Austria3.3 19 Portugal3.3 20 United Kingdom3.3 21 Poland3.2 22 Serbia3.1 23 Cyprus3.0 24 Latvia3.0 25 Germany2.9 26 Italy2.9 27 Montenegro2.9 28 France2.5 29 Netherlands2.5 30 Malta2.4 31 Finland2.3 32 Hungary2.1 33 Czechia1.5 34 Sweden1.5 35 Denmark1.0 36 Switzerland0.6 Among Europe’s major economies, France currently sits closest to the ECB’s 2% inflation target at 2.5%. A recent fall in the price of many manufactured goods has contributed to the country’s below-average inflation relative to many of its neighbors. France’s widespread use of nuclear power has also helped the country avoid some of the energy challenges faced by peers like Germany in recent years. However, cost of living has nonetheless remained a key issue in back-to-back French elections. Inflation Crisis in the Southeast Southeastern Europe remains the continent’s clearest inflation hotspot, with several Balkan economies continuing to experience rapid price growth. Bulgaria (6.2%), Croatia (5.4%), and especially Romania (9%) lead Europe in inflation, driven by rising costs in everything from everyday staples to housing prices. In these countries and their neighbors, austerity measures aimed at bringing down budget deficits are adding to the squeeze felt by many households. Inflation can also temper economic growth forecasts. Croatia, for example, has been held up as a model European economy in recent years, averaging roughly 3% growth owing to high private consumption and tourism numbers. However, the country’s high inflation is reducing the effects of this growth and raising pressure on the country’s government. ECB Interest Rates Europe’s uneven inflation picture is creating a difficult challenge for policymakers. While inflation remains elevated in parts of Southeastern Europe, several northern economies including Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, and Czechia are already below the ECB’s 2% target. That divergence makes it harder for central banks to balance inflation control against slowing economic growth across the continent. Learn More on the Voronoi App Interested in the effects of inflation on poverty? Check out Inflation Inflicted Pain, Especially on the Poor on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

Published 2 hours ago on May 19, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Jennifer West Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Hinrich Foundation Ranked: Top 12 Countries with Digital Trade Agreements Digital trade now powers a growing share of the global economy. It covers cross-border data flows, e-commerce, digital services, and online payments. As digital commerce expands, governments are moving quickly to set the rules that govern how it operates. This visualization, created in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation, shows which countries are leading digital trade negotiations, using data from Digital Policy Alert. It also highlights the rapid rise of digital trade agreements worldwide. The Global Leaders in Digital Trade Agreements A small group of countries now leads the push to shape trade rules. Singapore ranks first with 26 agreements either completed or under negotiation. The UAE follows with 21 agreements, while the EU has 20. CountryNumber of Agreements Singapore26 UAE21 EU20 South Korea18 Australia16 UK16 Chile15 China14 U.S.14 Canada12 Peru12 New Zealand12 South Korea ranks fourth with 18 agreements, reflecting Asia’s growing role in digital governance. Australia and the UK each have 16 agreements underway. Chile leads Latin America with 15 agreements. China and the U.S. each have 14, showing how digital commerce has become a major area of economic competition. Digital Trade Agreements Are Growing Fast Countries have sharply increased digital trade activity in recent years. Since 2001, governments worldwide have signed 165 digital trade agreements. More than half of the world’s 2,587 digital commerce commitments came in the last four years alone. YearNumber of Digital Trade Agreements Worldwide 20011 20020 20032 20046 20052 20064 20073 20086 20093 20104 20112 20123 20137 20147 20156 20163 20173 201812 201914 20209 20217 202211 202315 202414 202515 2026 (YTD)6 Total165 Activity stayed relatively low through the 2000s and early 2010s. Momentum picked up after 2018. In both 2023 and 2025, countries signed 15 agreements globally—the highest annual total on record. Shaping the Digital Economy Countries now compete to shape the rules governing data, technology, and online commerce. The rapid growth of these agreements shows how important digital policy has become to the global economy. As this type of trade expands, the countries setting these rules today will play a major role in shaping the future of global trade tomorrow. Visit the Hinrich Foundation to learn more about the future of digital trade. 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See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization China’s Grip on Critical Mineral Refining See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways China leads refining for 19 of the 20 critical minerals analyzed, including materials essential for AI chips, EV batteries, and defense systems. China controls 99% of gallium refining and more than 90% of graphite, manganese, and rare earth processing. Refining capacity is far more concentrated than mining, creating major supply chain dependencies for the U.S. and Europe. China has become the world’s dominant processor of critical minerals, refining the materials that power everything from AI chips and data centers to electric vehicles and military hardware. In many cases, China’s control extends far beyond mining. The country leads refined production for 19 of the 20 minerals analyzed in this visualization, including gallium, graphite, rare earths, and lithium. The data for this visualization comes from the World Economic Forum, using International Energy Agency figures as of 2025. China’s Grip on Battery and Electrification Materials China’s dominance is strongest in the materials powering the global energy transition. The country controls most refining capacity for graphite, manganese, cobalt, lithium, and rare earths, creating major dependencies in EV and battery supply chains. China accounts for 96% of refined graphite production and 95% of manganese refining, both of which are crucial for battery chemistry and energy storage systems. MineralTop RefinerShare of Refined ProductionSector Graphite China96%Batteries, grids and renewables Manganese China95%Batteries, grids and renewables Rare earths China91%Batteries, grids and renewables Cobalt China78%Batteries, grids and renewables Lithium China70%Batteries, grids and renewables Copper China44%Batteries, grids and renewables Nickel Indonesia43%Batteries, grids and renewables Gallium China99%AI, data centers and high-tech Silicon China85%AI, data centers and high-tech Tellurium China77%AI, data centers and high-tech Antimony China74%AI, data centers and high-tech Germanium China74%AI, data centers and high-tech Indium China70%AI, data centers and high-tech Tantalum China46%AI, data centers and high-tech Molybdenum China81%Aerospace, industry and defense Titanium China69%Aerospace, industry and defense Vanadium China59%Aerospace, industry and defense Tungsten China44%Aerospace, industry and defense Chromium China42%Aerospace, industry and defense Zirconium China38%Aerospace, industry and defense Rare earth processing is another major advantage. China refines 91% of global rare earth output, materials essential for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Even in copper refining, where the market is more diversified, China still leads globally with a 44% share. Indonesia stands out as the only non-China leader in the dataset, controlling 43% of nickel refining. However, Chinese companies reportedly control more than three-quarters of Indonesia’s refining capacity, extending Beijing’s influence even where production occurs overseas. Critical Minerals Powering AI and Semiconductors The AI boom is rapidly increasing demand for specialized minerals used in semiconductors, fiber optics, power systems, and data center infrastructure. China dominates refining for nearly all of these materials, including gallium, germanium, silicon, and indium. Gallium is especially notable because China controls 99% of refined production. The mineral is used in semiconductors, telecommunications equipment, and military electronics. Similarly, germanium and indium are important for fiber optics, solar panels, and advanced chips. China’s control over these supply chains has become increasingly strategic amid growing technology competition with the United States and Europe. Export restrictions on minerals such as gallium and germanium have already demonstrated how refining dominance can translate into geopolitical leverage. Defense and Industrial Supply Chains Remain Concentrated China also leads refining across minerals tied to aerospace, heavy industry, and defense manufacturing. This includes molybdenum, titanium, vanadium, tungsten, and zirconium. Many of these materials are essential for producing jet engines, military hardware, industrial machinery, and high-strength alloys. China controls 81% of molybdenum refining and nearly 70% of titanium refining, giving it substantial influence over industrial supply chains. While many countries are expanding mining investment, refining remains the hardest part of the supply chain to rebuild. That leaves China in a powerful position across industries tied to AI, energy, semiconductors, and defense manufacturing. Building new processing facilities can take years, require significant capital investment, and often face environmental and regulatory hurdles. That means China’s current lead may persist even as governments increase investment in domestic mining and supply chain resilience. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Visualizing EU’s Critical Minerals Gap by 2030 on Voronoi.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: AI Adoption by Country in 2026 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The UAE leads global AI usage, with 70% of working-age adults regularly using AI tools. Singapore ranks second at 63%, while the U.S. trails more than 20 countries despite leading AI development. Europe accounts for 11 of the world’s top 20 AI adoption markets. AI may be dominated by American companies, but the countries using it the most are much smaller economies. This map shows the share of each country’s working-age population using AI tools in Q1 2026, based on Microsoft estimates of users engaging with AI for at least 90 minutes per month. Globally, 17.8% of working-age adults now use AI regularly. The UAE leads the world by a wide margin, with more than 70% adoption, followed by Singapore at 63%. Meanwhile, the U.S. ranks outside the global top 20 despite being home to many of the world’s leading AI firms. Europe also emerges as a major AI adoption hub, with countries including Norway, Ireland, France, Spain, and the Netherlands all posting usage rates above 40%. Smaller Economies Are Winning the AI Race The rankings suggest that building the world’s leading AI models does not automatically translate into widespread everyday usage. Smaller economies like the UAE and Singapore have moved faster to integrate AI across business, education, and government services through centralized digital strategies and heavy infrastructure investment. Rank (2026)CountryQ1 2026H1 2025 1 UAE70.1%59.4% 2 Singapore63.4%58.6% 3 Norway48.6%45.3% 4 Ireland48.4%41.7% 5 France47.8%40.9% 6 Spain44.2%39.7% 7 New Zealand43.0%37.6% 8 UK42.2%36.4% 9 Netherlands42.1%36.3% 10 Qatar41.8%35.7% 11 Australia39.5%34.5% 12 Belgium39.0%33.5% 13 Israel38.1%33.9% 14 Switzerland37.8%32.4% 15 Canada37.3%33.5% 16 South Korea37.1%25.9% 17 Sweden36.1%31.2% 18 Austria34.1%29.1% 19 Hungary32.2%27.9% 20 Taiwan31.8%26.4% 21 U.S.31.3%26.3% 22 Denmark31.2%26.6% 23 Germany31.1%26.5% 24 Poland31.0%26.4% 25 Italy30.2%25.8% 26 Czechia30.1%26.0% 27 Jordan29.7%25.4% 28 Bulgaria29.7%25.4% 29 Finland29.5%25.6% 30 Saudi Arabia29.4%23.7% 31 Slovenia29.0%24.6% 32 Costa Rica28.5%25.1% 33 Lebanon27.3%24.8% 34 Vietnam26.5%21.2% 35 Oman26.5%22.6% 36 Portugal26.4%22.4% 37 Croatia26.1%21.8% 38 Slovakia26.1%22.1% 39 Dominican Republic24.8%22.0% 40 Uruguay24.6%20.9% 41 Colombia24.5%20.4% 42 Lithuania24.3%21.0% 43 Serbia24.1%19.7% 44 Jamaica24.0%22.2% 45 Panama23.3%20.3% 46 South Africa23.1%19.3% 47 Chile22.7%19.6% 48 Japan22.5%16.7% 49 Bosnia And Herzegovina22.1%18.2% 50 Argentina21.9%17.8% 51 Malaysia21.8%18.3% 52 Kuwait21.1%17.7% 53 Greece20.8%17.7% 54 Georgia20.5%17.3% 55 Mexico20.1%16.7% 56 Philippines20.1%17.1% 57 Ecuador19.5%17.0% 58 Brazil19.1%15.6% 59 Albania18.5%15.8% 60 Moldova18.5%16.6% 61 El Salvador18.3%14.6% 62 Azerbaijan17.7%14.2% 63 India17.6%14.2% 64 Romania17.5%15.3% 65 Turkey17.4%13.4% 66 Mongolia16.7%12.6% 67 Guatemala16.4%13.7% 68 Peru16.4%13.4% 69 China16.4%15.4% 70 Kazakhstan15.9%12.7% 71 Namibia15.1%13.0% 72 Gabon15.0%12.3% 73 Libya15.0%12.7% 74 Egypt14.8%12.5% 75 Botswana14.8%12.8% 76 Nepal14.2%12.3% 77 Indonesia14.1%11.7% 78 Honduras14.0%12.4% 79 Senegal13.9%12.4% 80 Tunisia13.5%12.3% 81 Algeria13.2%11.3% 82 Zambia13.1%11.7% 83 Cote D'Ivoire13.1%10.8% 84 Bolivia12.7%10.9% 85 Iran12.6%9.6% 86 Iraq12.5%10.3% 87 Thailand12.4%9.1% 88 Paraguay12.2%10.1% 89 Nicaragua11.8%10.0% 90 Morocco11.7%10.5% 91 Gambia11.4%10.6% 92 Pakistan11.4%9.7% 93 Angola10.9%8.9% 94 Madagascar10.9%8.9% 95 Malawi10.9%8.9% 96 Mozambique10.9%8.9% 97 French Guiana10.3%8.3% 98 Guyana10.3%8.3% 99 Suriname10.3%8.3% 100 Venezuela10.3%8.3% 101 Benin10.1%8.7% 102 Burkina Faso10.1%8.7% 103 Ghana10.1%8.7% 104 Guinea10.1%8.7% 105 Guinea-Bissau10.1%8.7% 106 Liberia10.1%8.7% 107 Mali10.1%8.7% 108 Mauritania10.1%8.7% 109 Niger10.1%8.7% 110 Nigeria10.1%8.7% 111 Sierra Leone10.1%8.7% 112 Myanmar10.0%8.4% 113 Lesotho9.8%8.8% 114 Belarus9.6%7.6% 115 Kyrgyzstan9.5%7.6% 116 Russia9.5%7.6% 117 Ukraine9.4%9.1% 118 Kenya8.7%7.8% 119 Cameroon8.7%7.0% 120 Central African Republic8.7%7.0% 121 Chad8.7%7.0% 122 Congo8.7%7.0% 123 Democratic Republic Of The Congo8.7%7.0% 124 Zimbabwe8.5%6.9% 125 Haiti8.5%7.1% 126 Laos7.8%6.0% 127 Bangladesh7.8%6.5% 128 Papua New Guinea7.7%7.2% 129 Burundi7.6%6.4% 130 Eritrea7.6%6.4% 131 Ethiopia7.6%6.4% 132 Somalia7.6%6.4% 133 South Sudan7.6%6.4% 134 Sudan7.6%6.4% 135 Tanzania7.6%6.4% 136 Uganda7.6%6.4% 137 Syria7.5%6.7% 138 Armenia7.4%6.2% 139 Sri Lanka7.3%6.2% 140 Rwanda7.2%6.0% 141 Uzbekistan7.2%5.7% 142 Cuba6.7%5.7% 143 Afghanistan6.1%5.1% 144 Tajikistan6.1%5.1% 145 Turkmenistan6.1%5.1% 146 Cambodia5.7%4.6% Europe’s strong performance also reflects widespread enterprise digitization, advanced broadband infrastructure, and highly digital workforces. By contrast, many emerging economies remain in the early stages of adoption, creating a widening global AI gap that could reshape productivity and economic competitiveness over the next decade. America Leads AI Development, Not Usage At 31.3%, the U.S. trails 20 other countries in AI adoption despite leading the world in AI investment and infrastructure. One reason is scale. Rolling out AI tools across a massive workforce is far more difficult than in smaller, digitally centralized economies like Singapore or the UAE. But the rankings also suggest that building the world’s best AI models does not automatically translate into widespread everyday usage. The data also highlights a growing divide between building AI and actually using it. While America dominates AI model development, chip design, and venture funding, several smaller economies are integrating AI into everyday work at a faster pace. AI adoption is also highly uneven across the country. Regions with dense tech ecosystems and high concentrations of digital talent are seeing significantly stronger usage rates than less digitized states. One separate study found that 22.4% of workers in Washington state use AI, compared with just 13.1% in South Dakota. Asia Is Becoming the Fastest-Growing AI Region Asia already accounts for 10 of the world’s 15 fastest-growing AI markets, according to Microsoft’s data. AI usage in South Korea increased 43.2% between the first half of 2025 and Q1 2026, the largest increase globally. Thailand (36.2%), Japan (34.1%), and Mongolia (32.2%) are also seeing rapid adoption. By comparison, U.S. growth increased 19% over the period. The surge also reflects major improvements in non-English AI performance, making AI tools far more useful across Asian markets over the past year. The region is also investing heavily in digital infrastructure. China remains relatively low at 16%, but its scale means even modest increases in adoption could rapidly add hundreds of millions of new AI users. Like the U.S., it plays a leading role in AI model performance, particularly in open-source models, yet actual adoption remains lower than many regional peers. AI Adoption Could Deepen the Next Economic Divide The map highlights a growing global split between countries rapidly integrating AI and those still lagging behind. Higher-adoption economies tend to share several traits: strong internet infrastructure, service-heavy economies, high digital literacy, and significant investment in cloud computing and AI education. Meanwhile, lower-income regions across Africa and parts of South Asia continue to face barriers including internet access, device affordability, and limited enterprise AI integration. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday work, adoption gaps could increasingly shape which countries gain the biggest productivity and economic advantages over the next decade, similar to how internet adoption reshaped global competitiveness in the early digital era. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on memory chip makers by market cap.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: America’s Best Companies by Home State See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Nvidia, Nike, Costco, Publix, and Chick-fil-A ranked as the top companies in their home states. Consumer brands won nearly half of all states, far ahead of tech companies. Finance and industrial firms remained especially strong across the Midwest and South. Which homegrown company has the strongest reputation in your state? This map shows the top-rated company headquartered in every U.S. state, according to Forbes’ 2026 America’s Best-in-State Companies ranking. Winners range from Nvidia in California and Nike in Oregon to Publix in Florida and Wegmans in New York. The rankings combine customer reviews, employee ratings, media sentiment, cybersecurity performance, and sustainability metrics. While consumer brands were strongest nationally, finance and industrial firms remained especially strong across much of the Midwest and South. America’s Best Companies, State by State Consumer brands dominated the rankings, with grocery chains, restaurants, and retailers winning nearly half of all states. Many of the top-ranked companies also have deep regional roots, including Wegmans in the Northeast, Publix across the Southeast, and Costco in the Pacific Northwest. Below, we show the full list of the best company headquartered in every U.S. state, according to Forbes’ 2026 rankings. StateCompanyCategory AlabamaRegions FinancialFinance AlaskaBering Straits NativeIndustrial ArizonaWest USA RealtyFinance ArkansasDillard'sConsumer CaliforniaNvidiaTech ColoradoNewmontIndustrial ConnecticutUnited RentalsIndustrial DelawareHertrichConsumer FloridaPublix Super MarketsConsumer GeorgiaChick-fil-AConsumer HawaiiValley Isle ProduceConsumer IdahoMicronTech IllinoisGE HealthcareHealthcare IndianaCumminsIndustrial IowaHy-VeeConsumer KansasCreative PlanningFinance KentuckyTexas RoadhouseConsumer LouisianaEntergyEnergy MaineL.L. BeanConsumer MarylandMarriottConsumer MassachusettsSchneider ElectricIndustrial MichiganGeneral MotorsConsumer MinnesotaUS BancorpFinance MississippiCal-Maine FoodsConsumer MissouriBunge GlobalConsumer MontanaMurdoch's Ranch & Farm SupplyConsumer NebraskaBerkshire HathawayFinance NevadaMGM ResortsConsumer New HampshireIron MountainTech New JerseyJohnson & JohnsonHealthcare New MexicoNavajo Nation Gaming EnterpriseConsumer New YorkWegmans Food MarketsConsumer North CarolinaBank of AmericaFinance North DakotaEide BaillyFinance OhioGE AerospaceIndustrial OklahomaQuikTripConsumer OregonNikeConsumer PennsylvaniaSaint-GobainIndustrial Rhode IslandDave's MarketplaceConsumer South CarolinaMichelin TireIndustrial South DakotaEmpirical FoodsConsumer TennesseeFirst HorizonFinance TexasRisePointTech UtahZions BancorpFinance VermontGardener's SupplyConsumer VirginiaMarsConsumer WashingtonCostcoConsumer West VirginiaUnited BanksharesFinance WisconsinMead & HuntIndustrial WyomingAdmiral BeverageConsumer Consumer Brands Are Strongest Consumer companies accounted for 24 of the state winners, more than double the next-largest category. That dominance reflects the advantage consumer-facing companies have in rankings partly driven by public recommendations. Brands that interact directly with millions of customers each year naturally generate stronger recognition than firms operating primarily behind the scenes. The results suggest that direct consumer engagement remains one of the strongest drivers of corporate reputation. Finance and Industrial in the Midwest and South While consumer brands dominated overall, finance and industrial firms showed some of the strongest regional concentration. Finance companies topped 10 states, including Bank of America in North Carolina, Berkshire Hathaway in Nebraska, and Zions Bancorp in Utah. Many of these firms are headquartered in long-established financial hubs where they remain major local employers. Industrial companies also ranked highly across manufacturing-heavy states. Pennsylvania’s top company was Saint-Gobain, Ohio was led by GE Aerospace, and Wisconsin’s winner was construction and engineering firm Mead & Hunt. The geographic split highlights how America’s regional economies remain highly specialized. Consumer brands may dominate nationally, but industrial and financial firms still anchor many local economies across the country. Tech Companies Won Far Fewer States Than Expected Despite dominating markets and headlines in 2026, tech companies ranked first in only four states. Nvidia led California, Micron won Idaho, RisePoint topped Texas, and Iron Mountain ranked first in New Hampshire. That total was far lower than consumer companies or financial firms. One reason may be the methodology. Because the rankings incorporate both employee and customer evaluations, companies with direct consumer relationships often have an advantage over enterprise-focused technology firms that operate more behind the scenes. Even so, Nvidia’s presence in California underscores how central AI and semiconductor companies have become to America’s economic leadership in 2026. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the 50 best places to work in America in 2026.

Ranked: The Youngest Billionaires in 2026 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: Nearly all of the world’s youngest billionaires inherited their wealth through family-controlled empires. Germany and Italy account for many of the billionaires under 30, tied to industrial, retail, and luxury fortunes. Only a small number built billion-dollar companies themselves, mostly in AI and tech. The world’s youngest billionaires are overwhelmingly heirs rather than startup founders. Using Forbes data, this visualization by Julie Peasley ranks the youngest members of the global billionaire class in 2026. Most inherited stakes in family-controlled businesses spanning luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, retail, and manufacturing. Germany and Italy dominate the ranking, reflecting Europe’s concentration of multigenerational corporate wealth. Only a small number of billionaires under 30 are self-made, primarily through AI and technology startups. Inherited or Self-Made: Fortunes of the Young and Wealthy Young billionaires remain a relatively small share of the world’s richest individuals. Here’s a look at the world’s youngest billionaires in 2026 and how they made their wealth, based on Forbes data. NameCompanyAgeWorth ($B)Source Clemente Del Vecchio EssilorLuxottica216.8Inherited Luca Del Vecchio EssilorLuxottica246.8Inherited Johannes von Baumbach Boehringer Ingelheim206.6Inherited Franz von Baumbach Boehringer Ingelheim246.6Inherited Katharina von Baumbach Boehringer Ingelheim266.6Inherited Maximilian von Baumbach Boehringer Ingelheim286.6Inherited Kevin David Lehmann drogerie markt234.9Inherited Alexandr Wang Scale AI293.2Self-Made Zahan Mistry Tata Sons273.1Inherited Firoz Mistry Tata Sons293.1Inherited Alexandra Andresen Ferd292.5Inherited Remi Dassault Dassault Aviation242.4Inherited Adarsh Hiremath Mercor222.2Self-Made Brendan Foody Mercor222.2Self-Made Surya Midha Mercor222.2Self-Made Abbas Sajwani AHS Properties261.9Inherited Kim Jung-youn Nexon221.7Inherited Kim Jung-min Nexon241.7Inherited Fabian Hedin Lovable261.6Self-Made Lívia Voigt de Assis WEG211.4Inherited Dora Voigt de Assis WEG281.4Inherited Yoni Nahmad art dealing251.3Inherited Aman Sanger Cursor251.3Self-Made Michael Truell Cursor251.3Self-Made Sualeh Asif Cursor261.3Self-Made Arvid Lunnemark Cursor261.3Self-Made Luana Lopez Lara Kalshi291.3Self-Made Tarek Mansour Kalshi291.3Self-Made Maxim Tebar Stihl251.2Inherited Wang Zelong Tinergy Chemical291.2Inherited Amelie Voigt Trejes WEG201.1Inherited Felipe Voigt Trejes WEG231.1Inherited Pedro Voigt Trejes WEG231.1Inherited Carl Anton-Kunz Cordes & Graefe271.1Inherited Shayne Coplan Polymarket271.0Self-Made The ranking is heavily concentrated in inherited fortunes, especially among European industrial dynasties. Inherited Wealth Dominates the Rankings One of the clearest patterns in Forbes’ billionaire rankings is how few billionaires under 30 are self-made. Fewer than a dozen globally built their fortunes independently. Many of the heirs on this list became billionaires through ownership stakes in family-controlled businesses. These include pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim, eyewear powerhouse EssilorLuxottica, and major retail chains operating across Europe. The concentration of inherited wealth highlights how billionaire status increasingly reflects long-term family ownership and multigenerational capital accumulation rather than startup entrepreneurship alone. The Few Self-Made Exceptions Although inheritance dominates the rankings, a small number of younger billionaires built their wealth through entrepreneurship and technology. These cases remain relatively rare compared to older billionaire cohorts. The few self-made billionaires on the list are concentrated in fast-growing technology sectors, especially AI startups and software platforms. Unlike inherited fortunes tied to industrial dynasties, many of these fortunes were created within a single decade. However, volatile valuations and changing market conditions mean younger tech billionaires can move on and off global wealth rankings quickly. Europe’s Strong Presence Among Young Billionaires Germany and Italy account for a large share of the world’s youngest billionaires, reflecting Europe’s concentration of multigenerational corporate dynasties. Many of Europe’s largest companies remain partially controlled by founding families, particularly in manufacturing, healthcare, luxury goods, and retail. That structure has allowed wealth to pass across generations while preserving large ownership stakes. By contrast, the U.S. billionaire landscape is more heavily shaped by founder-led technology companies, where fortunes are often created within a single generation. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed this post, check out The Universities Producing the Most Billionaires on the Voronoi app to explore which schools have produced the highest number of ultra-wealthy graduates worldwide.

Published 5 hours ago on May 18, 2026 By Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Terzo U.S. Trade is Falling With China—but Surging With Taiwan and Vietnam U.S. trade patterns are shifting as imports and exports with China and parts of Europe decline. On the other end of the scale, trade with countries like Taiwan, Vietnam, and Mexico is rising. In this graphic, produced in partnership with Terzo, we look at the biggest changes in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same time last year. It’s part of our Markets in a Minute series, which delivers quick economic insights. The Biggest Drops in U.S. Trade With a drop of nearly $50 billion, the U.S. has decreased trade with China the most. While the trade war is estimated to have created billions in tariff revenue for the U.S., both countries have increasingly shifted trade toward other partners and supply chains. Trading PartnerChange in Total Goods Trade, Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025 China-$49B Ireland-$44B Switzerland-$36B Canada-$22B Germany-$8B Australia-$7B Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Data is seasonally adjusted and is the change in the sum of exports and imports from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. America’s trade with Ireland also plummeted. In 2025, Ireland’s pharmaceutical exports to the U.S. surged in anticipation of potential tariffs. The vast majority of these exports were hormones for GLP-1 drugs. Exports have since levelled off following the 2025 spike, causing the large drop. The Biggest Rises in U.S. Trade On the other hand, U.S. trade has increased the most with Taiwan. U.S. demand for semiconductors and servers surged amid the AI boom, and many of these products were exempt from American tariffs. Trading PartnerChange in Total Goods Trade, Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025 Taiwan+$39B Vietnam+$18B Mexico+$16B UK+$9B Hong Kong+$7B S. 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See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Household Debt by Country See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The U.S. and China account for over half of all household debt worldwide. Americans hold nearly one-third of global household debt despite making up just 4% of the world’s population. China’s household debt has surged from $277 billion in 2006 to $12.3 trillion today. Global household debt has climbed to $65.3 trillion, with borrowing increasingly concentrated in two countries: the U.S. and China. The U.S. alone accounts for $21.2 trillion in household debt, driven largely by mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans. China ranks second at $12.3 trillion after a decades-long credit expansion tied closely to its housing boom, according to data from the Institute of International Finance. The data also highlights striking regional contrasts. Canada now carries nearly as much household debt as Germany despite having less than half the population, while several Asia-Pacific economies rank among the world’s most leveraged households. America’s Outsized Debt Load Despite having just 4% of the global population, the U.S. holds nearly one out of every three dollars of household debt worldwide. Much of this debt is tied to mortgages, reflecting high home values and the central role housing plays in the American economy. The table below shows which countries carry the world’s largest household debt burdens and how much each contributes to the $65.3 trillion global total. RankCountryHousehold Debt Q1 2026Global Share 1 U.S.$21.2T32.4% 2 China$12.3T18.8% 3 UK$3.0T4.6% 4 Japan$2.5T3.9% 5 Germany$2.5T3.8% 6 Canada$2.4T3.6% 7 Australia$2.3T3.5% 8 France$2.0T3.1% 9 India$1.6T2.4% 10 South Korea$1.5T2.4% 11 Switzerland$1.3T2.1% 12 Netherlands$1.3T1.9% 13 Italy$934B1.4% 14 Brazil$891B1.4% 15 Spain$835B1.3% 16 Sweden$599B0.9% 17 Russia$565B0.9% 18 Thailand$503B0.8% 19 Norway$497B0.8% 20 Denmark$430B0.7% 21 Belgium$421B0.6% 22 Saudi Arabia$404B0.6% 23 Hong Kong$366B0.6% 24 Mexico$360B0.6% 25 Malaysia$353B0.5% 26 Israel$287B0.4% 27 Singapore$275B0.4% 28 Austria$247B0.4% 29 New Zealand$234B0.4% 30 Poland$232B0.4% 31 Indonesia$218B0.3% 32 Finland$200B0.3% 33 Portugal$193B0.3% 34 Ireland$178B0.3% 35 UAE$160B0.2% 36 South Africa$153B0.2% 37 Chile$152B0.2% 38 Türkiye$151B0.2% 39 Colombia$131B0.2% 40 Czech Rep.$128B0.2% 41 Vietnam$112B0.2% 42 Greece$107B0.2% 43 Slovakia$69B0.1% 44 Luxembourg$66B0.1% 45 Kuwait$66B0.1% 46 Kazakhstan$57B0.1% 47 Romania$52B0.1% 48 Philippines$51B0.1% 49 Hungary$49B0.1% 50 Peru$45B0.1% 51 Bulgaria$43B0.1% 52 Nigeria$41B0.1% 53 Ecuador$39B0.1% 54 Morocco$37B0.1% 55 Costa Rica$36B0.1% 56 Argentina$35B0.1% 57 Croatia$34B0.1% 58 Bangladesh$29B0.04% 59 Egypt$28B0.04% 60 Oman$26B0.04% 61 Lithuania$23B0.04% 62 Cyprus$22B0.03% 63 Slovenia$21B0.03% 64 Dominican Republic$19B0.03% 65 Estonia$18B0.03% 66 Serbia$18B0.03% 67 Jordan$15B0.02% 68 Tunisia$15B0.02% 69 Malta$14B0.02% 70 Kenya$13B0.02% 71 Sri Lanka$12B0.02% 72 Bahrain$12B0.02% 73 Latvia$10B0.02% 74 Trinidad and Tobago$9B0.01% 75 Côte d'Ivoire$9B0.01% 76 Pakistan$9B0.01% 77 El Salvador$7B0.01% 78 Tanzania$7B0.01% 79 Mongolia$6B0.01% 80 Ethiopia$6B0.01% 81 Jamaica$4B0.01% 82 Ghana$4B0.01% 83 Mozambique$2B0.004% 84 Lao PDR$2B0.003% 85 Tajikistan$2B0.003% 86 Zambia$2B0.003% 87 Angola$2B0.003% 88 Rwanda$2B0.003% 89 Senegal$2B0.003% 90 Cameroon$2B0.003% 91 Maldives$1B0.002% 92 Papua New Guinea$1B0.002% 93 Benin$1B0.002% 94 Congo, Rep. of$1B0.001% 95 Grenada$1B0.001% 96 Gambia$0B0.0% Credit cards, auto loans, and student debt also contribute to America’s massive household balance sheet. In 2025, U.S. credit card balances hit a record high of nearly $1.3 trillion. While high household debt can support economic growth and consumer spending, it also leaves households more exposed to rising interest rates and housing market downturns. As borrowing costs have climbed, debt levels have become an increasingly important measure of financial vulnerability. China’s 40x Debt Surge China’s household debt story is relatively new compared to mature Western credit economies. Since 2006, household debt has soared from $277 billion to $12.3 trillion. As a share of GDP, it has climbed from 11% to 60%. In the decade leading up to 2019, household debt expanded rapidly, largely driven by a property boom. This stretched household balance sheets, with mortgage loans rising to roughly one-third of GDP by 2023. With the property market now facing a prolonged slump, the estimated number of defaults has doubled over the past five years. One key difference is that China’s household savings rate remains relatively high. Personal savings account for roughly 35% of disposable income across urban households, providing a potential financial buffer even as debt levels rise. Ultimately, household debt is increasingly concentrated in a small number of major economies, with the U.S. and China alone accounting for more than half of the global total. As housing markets and consumer borrowing continue to drive economic growth, these debt levels are becoming one of the clearest indicators of financial vulnerability worldwide. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on how much people save around the world.

Mapped: The Highest Weekly Wages in America See visuals like this from many other data creators 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: Washington, D.C. workers earn nearly $2,400 per week on average, far above every U.S. state. Washington, Massachusetts, and California rank among the top-paying states thanks to tech, finance, and professional services. The lowest-paying states average under $1,150 per week, highlighting America’s widening regional income gap. Where Americans live can have a massive impact on how much they earn each week. In the highest-paying parts of the country, average wages are nearly double those in the lowest-paying states. This map shows average weekly wages across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Washington, D.C. ranks far above every state at nearly $2,400 per week on average, driven by high concentrations of government, legal, and consulting jobs. Meanwhile, states powered by technology and finance sectors, including Washington, Massachusetts, and California, also rank near the top. On the flipside, many lower-wage states rely more heavily on agriculture, tourism, food services, and lower-wage industries. Ranking Weekly Wages by U.S. State The table below shows average weekly wages by state. RankState or DistrictAverage Weekly Wage 1District of Columbia$2,393 2Washington$1,923 3Massachusetts$1,818 4California$1,815 5New York$1,757 6Connecticut$1,604 7Colorado$1,570 8New Jersey$1,558 9Maryland$1,526 10Virginia$1,504 11New Hampshire$1,481 12Illinois$1,457 13Alaska$1,455 14Texas$1,444 15Minnesota$1,438 16Oregon$1,409 17Delaware$1,394 18Pennsylvania$1,383 19Arizona$1,360 20Georgia$1,349 21Florida$1,342 22Hawaii$1,342 23North Carolina$1,328 24Tennessee$1,327 25Michigan$1,323 26Rhode Island$1,322 27Nevada$1,314 28Utah$1,297 29North Dakota$1,291 30Ohio$1,279 31Missouri$1,249 32Vermont$1,243 33Maine$1,231 34Wisconsin$1,228 35Indiana$1,214 36Alabama$1,212 37Wyoming$1,201 38South Carolina$1,198 39Iowa$1,194 40Nebraska$1,190 41New Mexico$1,190 42Louisiana$1,187 43Montana$1,182 44Idaho$1,180 45Kansas$1,179 46Kentucky$1,176 47South Dakota$1,146 48Oklahoma$1,143 49Arkansas$1,135 50West Virginia$1,121 51Mississippi$1,005 -- U.S. Average$1,459 Why Some States Pay Far More Than Others Washington, D.C.’s top position reflects a highly unusual labor market. Federal agencies, defense contractors, law firms, consulting firms, and lobbying organizations create a dense cluster of high-paying professional jobs rarely seen elsewhere in the country. Washington state’s strong wage performance stems from a different mix. Seattle’s technology sector, anchored by Amazon and Microsoft, has pushed wages higher across software, cloud computing, and engineering. At the same time, Boeing and its aerospace supply chain continue to support high-paying manufacturing jobs. By comparison, the five lowest-wage states all average below $1,150 per week. These states tend to rely more heavily on agriculture, tourism, food services, retail, and other lower-wage industries. Higher Wages Don’t Always Mean Greater Affordability Weekly wages across the U.S. have risen substantially over the past several years, particularly following the pandemic-era labor shortage. According to BLS data, wage growth accelerated as employers competed for workers in sectors facing staffing shortages. Higher wages do not always translate into greater financial comfort. Many of the nation’s top-paying states also have some of America’s highest housing costs, creating a tradeoff between bigger paychecks and a higher cost of living. This disconnect helps explain growing concerns about affordability. In fact, workers in many advanced economies are increasingly questioning whether longer work hours truly translate into better quality of life, especially when compared with working hours and salaries across OECD countries. What These Wage Gaps Mean for Workers Regional wage disparities influence everything from migration patterns to housing demand and retirement decisions. Workers in lower-paying states may benefit from cheaper housing and lower living costs, but they often face fewer opportunities for career advancement and wealth accumulation. Meanwhile, higher-paying states continue attracting skilled workers in technology, finance, healthcare, and engineering. But these gains can come with tradeoffs, including rising home prices and growing income inequality within metro areas. The map underscores a growing divide in the American economy. Geography now plays a major role not only in earning potential, but also in long-term opportunities for wealth, housing, and career mobility. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed this post, check out Mapped: The Average Hourly Wage by State on the Voronoi app for more data-driven insights on incomes, employment, and the changing labor market.Use This Visualization

Published 1 minute ago on May 18, 2026 By Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Zack Aboulazm Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The Largest Employee Fraud Cases in 2025–2026 Some of the biggest financial losses don’t come from outside hackers: they come from inside the organization. In the most severe cases, employee embezzlement amounts to millions of dollars before the schemes are uncovered. This graphic, part of our Fraud in Data series created in partnership with Inigo, highlights the largest employee embezzlement schemes from May 2025 to April 2026. Ranking Employee Embezzlement Losses The largest scheme involved a former CFO at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, who embezzled over $40 million over more than a decade. By taking advantage of his control over the organization’s finances, he moved funds into accounts he controlled.  He used the funds to finance a lavish personal lifestyle, including luxury travel and designer goods. RankOrganizationEmbezzlement Amount 1Detroit Riverfront Conservancy$40M 2Santa Cruz County$39M 3Startup Software Firm$35M 4Apache Behavioral Health Services$33M 5Federal Health Care System$30M 6Maryland Manufacturing Firm$29M 7Mars$28M 8Las Vegas Construction Firm$26M 9Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises$25M 10Abundant Blessings$23M Source: U.S. Department of Justice, press releases from May 1 2025–Apr. 30 2026. Data includes cases of embezzlement where the total dollar amount was specified. Losses ranked by the amount any one single employee stole. The second-largest embezzlement scheme, totaling $38 million, was carried out by Santa Cruz County’s treasurer, Elizabeth Gutfahr. She wired county funds into accounts she had created for fake companies. Gutfahr bypassed the two-step approval process required for transfers by using the token of a more junior employee. Common Patterns in Employee Fraud Across these cases, a clear takeaway emerges: fraud isn’t limited to one type of organization. Government agencies, nonprofits, startups, and even large corporations like Mars have all been affected. In many instances, employees in trusted financial roles were able to exploit weak internal controls. Often, they operated undetected for years while diverting funds. A common vulnerability is the concentration of power. When one employee controls multiple steps, such as executing and approving transactions, it becomes much easier to carry out fraud. In the Santa Cruz County case, access to another employee’s credentials allowed fraudulent transfers to slip through approval systems entirely. Strengthening controls—such as limiting access, regularly changing credentials, and enforcing multi-step approvals—can significantly reduce risk. In 2026, turning insight into action will define who stays ahead of fraud. 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Ranked: Where Inflation is Highest in Europe in 2026 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Romania has Europe’s highest inflation rate at 9.0%, followed by Kosovo and Bulgaria. Only four countries are at or below the common 2% inflation target: Switzerland, Denmark, Czechia, and Sweden. Many of Europe’s largest economies, including Germany, France, and the UK, remain above target. Inflation has eased from its recent peaks, but price growth remains stubbornly high across much of Europe. This graphic ranks 36 European countries by annual inflation rate, using the latest available 2026 data from Eurostat and the UK Parliament. Annual inflation measures how much consumer prices have risen over the previous 12 months, such as from April 2025 to April 2026. Where Inflation is Highest in Early 2026 in Europe Romania has the highest inflation rate in Europe at 9.0%, followed by Kosovo at 6.5% and Bulgaria at 6.2%. Several of the highest-inflation countries are in Southeastern Europe, highlighting how price pressures remain especially elevated in parts of the region. This data table ranks European countries by their annual inflation rates as of early 2026. RankCountryInflation Rate (%) for Last 12 Months 1 Romania9.0 2 Kosovo6.5 3 Bulgaria6.2 4 Croatia5.4 5 Luxembourg5.2 6 Iceland5.0 7 Lithuania4.9 8 North Macedonia4.9 9 Greece4.6 10 Georgia4.6 11 Belgium4.3 12 Slovakia4.0 13 Ireland3.6 14 Norway3.6 15 Spain3.5 16 Slovenia3.4 17 Estonia3.3 18 Austria3.3 19 Portugal3.3 20 United Kingdom3.3 21 Poland3.2 22 Serbia3.1 23 Cyprus3.0 24 Latvia3.0 25 Germany2.9 26 Italy2.9 27 Montenegro2.9 28 France2.5 29 Netherlands2.5 30 Malta2.4 31 Finland2.3 32 Hungary2.1 33 Czechia1.5 34 Sweden1.5 35 Denmark1.0 36 Switzerland0.6 Romania, the largest economy in Southeastern Europe, faces a crisis on three fronts: high inflation, a multi-month economic recession, and a protracted political crisis that imperils governmental efforts to rein in the country’s fiscal deficit, the largest in Europe. Inflation in recent months has climbed not only because of food and fuel prices, but also due to rising rents. Inflation is equally politically sensitive in neighboring Bulgaria, given the country’s recent adoption of the euro in January 2026. Many in the country had feared that joining the eurozone would contribute to rising prices for everyday goods. The Success Stories of Europe The European Central Bank, Bank of England, and Swiss National Bank all maintain a 2% inflation target. Only four European countries fall within this target range as of March 2026: Czechia and Sweden (1.5%), Denmark (1%), and Switzerland (0.6%). Interestingly, none of these countries use the euro as their national currency, although both the Czech Republic and Sweden are theoretically expected to join the eurozone upon satisfying certain criteria. Denmark has negotiated an opt-out. Switzerland’s inflation rate is not only the lowest in Europe, but also among the lowest worldwide. The small Alpine country has successfully navigated international turbulence without seeing large-scale price increases. It has also managed to avoid deflation (negative inflation), another key part of the Swiss National Bank’s mandate. Inflation in Europe’s Major Economies The major European economies today each grapple with inflation rates above the targets set by the ECB and other central banks. France (2.5%), Germany (2.9%), and the United Kingdom (3.3%) are all facing substantial cost-of-living increases, driven partly by rising energy prices linked to geopolitical conflicts such as the wars in Iran and Ukraine. Persistent inflation has also kept cost-of-living pressures high, making price stability a central political issue across many of Europe’s largest economies. Learn More on the Voronoi App Wondering where rising prices can be seen most clearly? Check out Where Inflation Has Hit the Hardest (2000–2025) on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

The Fertility Rate of Every Country in the World See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways About 71% of the world’s population now lives in countries with birth rates below the replacement level needed to maintain population size. China’s fertility rate has fallen to just 1.0 births per woman, while India has also dropped below replacement level at 1.9. Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest fertility rates, led by Chad, Somalia, and DR Congo. Fertility rates are falling across much of the world, dropping from roughly five births per woman in the 1960s to a global average of 2.2 in 2024. The shift is reshaping long-term population growth, economic outlooks, and age demographics worldwide. This visualization shows the fertility rate of every country and territory alongside its population size. Each segment is sized by population and shaded by fertility rate, revealing where birth rates remain high and where populations are aging rapidly. The data comes from the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 Revision, using 2025 medium-variant estimates for both population and fertility. Most of the World Is Below Replacement Fertility About 71% of the global population lives in countries or territories with fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman. Replacement fertility refers to the birth rate needed for a population to maintain its size over time without immigration. Falling below that threshold for long periods can lead to aging populations, labor shortages, and slower economic growth. Central to this global shift are India and China, the world’s two most populous countries. The data table below shows population and fertility rates across 236 countries and territories. CountryPopulation (thousands)Total Fertility Rate (TFR) India1,460,0001.94 China1,420,0001.02 United States347,3001.62 Indonesia285,7002.10 Pakistan255,2003.50 Nigeria237,5004.30 Brazil212,8001.60 Bangladesh175,7002.11 Russia144,0001.46 Ethiopia135,5003.81 Mexico131,9001.87 Japan123,1001.23 Egypt118,4002.71 Philippines116,8001.88 DR Congo112,8005.90 Vietnam101,6001.88 Iran92,4001.67 Turkey87,7001.62 Germany84,1001.46 Thailand71,6001.19 Tanzania70,5004.47 United Kingdom69,5001.54 France66,7001.64 South Africa64,8002.19 Italy59,1001.21 Kenya57,5003.12 Myanmar54,9002.08 Colombia53,4001.62 South Korea51,7000.75 Sudan51,7004.19 Uganda51,4004.06 Spain47,9001.23 Algeria47,4002.67 Iraq47,0003.17 Argentina45,9001.50 Afghanistan43,8004.66 Yemen41,8004.41 Canada40,1001.33 Angola39,0004.95 Ukraine39,0001.00 Morocco38,4002.18 Poland38,1001.31 Uzbekistan37,0003.45 Malaysia36,0001.53 Mozambique35,6004.62 Ghana35,1003.30 Peru34,6001.94 Saudi Arabia34,6002.29 Madagascar32,7003.84 Ivory Coast32,7004.17 Cameroon29,9004.19 Nepal29,6001.94 Venezuela28,5002.06 Niger27,9005.79 Australia27,0001.64 Dem. People's Republic of Korea26,6001.77 Syria25,6002.66 Mali25,2005.42 Burkina Faso24,1004.00 Sri Lanka23,2001.94 Taiwan23,1000.86 Malawi22,2003.53 Zambia21,9003.97 Chad21,0005.94 Kazakhstan20,8002.95 Chile19,9001.13 Somalia19,6005.91 Senegal18,9003.71 Romania18,9001.71 Guatemala18,7002.26 Netherlands18,4001.44 Ecuador18,3001.79 Cambodia17,9002.51 Zimbabwe16,9003.62 Guinea15,1004.04 Benin14,8004.42 Rwanda14,6003.59 Burundi14,4004.68 Bolivia12,6002.50 Tunisia12,3001.80 South Sudan12,2003.71 Haiti11,9002.59 Belgium11,8001.39 Jordan11,5002.57 Dominican Republic11,5002.19 United Arab Emirates11,3001.21 Honduras11,0002.45 Cuba10,9001.45 Tajikistan10,8002.99 Papua New Guinea10,8003.03 Sweden10,7001.44 Czechia10,6001.47 Portugal10,4001.52 Azerbaijan10,4001.66 Greece9,9001.34 Togo9,7004.07 Hungary9,6001.50 Israel9,5002.75 Austria9,1001.33 Belarus9,0001.22 Switzerland9,0001.44 Sierra Leone8,8003.61 Laos7,9002.36 Turkmenistan7,6002.63 Libya7,5002.25 Hong Kong7,4000.74 Kyrgyzstan7,3002.75 Paraguay7,0002.39 Nicaragua7,0002.18 Bulgaria6,7001.74 Serbia6,7001.50 Congo6,5004.05 El Salvador6,4001.75 Denmark6,0001.52 Singapore5,9000.96 Lebanon5,8002.21 Liberia5,7003.79 Finland5,6001.30 Norway5,6001.42 Palestine5,6003.19 Central African Republic5,5005.81 Oman5,5002.48 Slovakia5,5001.57 Mauritania5,3004.56 Ireland5,3001.60 New Zealand5,2001.65 Costa Rica5,2001.31 Kuwait5,0001.50 Panama4,6002.09 Croatia3,9001.47 Georgia3,8001.79 Eritrea3,6003.61 Mongolia3,5002.58 Uruguay3,4001.39 Puerto Rico3,2000.94 Bosnia and Herzegovina3,1001.50 Qatar3,1001.70 Namibia3,1003.17 Moldova3,0001.72 Armenia3,0001.71 Jamaica2,8001.34 Lithuania2,8001.22 Gambia2,8003.80 Albania2,8001.33 Gabon2,6003.54 Botswana2,6002.66 Lesotho2,4002.64 Guinea-Bissau2,2003.68 Slovenia2,1001.58 Equatorial Guinea1,9004.04 Latvia1,9001.35 North Macedonia1,8001.47 Kosovo (under UNSC res. 1244)1,7001.53 Bahrain1,6001.78 Trinidad and Tobago1,5001.52 Timor-Leste1,4002.56 Cyprus1,4001.37 Estonia1,3001.37 Mauritius1,3001.21 Eswatini1,3002.68 Djibouti1,2002.58 Fiji9302.25 Comoros8803.76 Réunion8802.13 Solomon Islands8403.47 Guyana8402.37 Bhutan8001.44 Macao7200.69 Luxembourg6801.40 Suriname6402.21 Montenegro6301.80 Western Sahara6002.15 Malta5501.11 Maldives5301.55 Cape Verde5301.50 Brunei4701.71 Belize4202.01 Bahamas4001.36 Iceland4001.50 Guadeloupe3702.05 Martinique3401.97 Mayotte3404.50 Vanuatu3403.53 French Guiana3103.29 New Caledonia3001.95 Barbados2801.70 French Polynesia2801.48 Sao Tome and Principe2403.53 Samoa2203.75 Curacao1901.07 St. Lucia1801.38 Guam1702.71 Kiribati1403.09 Seychelles1302.08 Grenada1201.46 Micronesia1102.71 Aruba1101.61 Jersey1001.38 Tonga1003.07 St. Vincent & Grenadines1001.75 Antigua and Barbuda901.58 United States Virgin Islands802.07 Isle of Man801.53 Andorra801.10 Cayman Islands801.51 Dominica701.47 Bermuda601.41 Guernsey601.37 Faroe Islands602.20 Greenland601.91 St. Kitts & Nevis501.51 Turks and Caicos Islands501.44 American Samoa502.25 Sint Maarten401.43 Northern Mariana Islands402.28 Liechtenstein401.54 Gibraltar401.88 British Virgin Islands401.06 Monaco402.09 Marshall Islands402.82 San Marino301.16 Bonaire301.45 Saint Martin (French part)202.63 Palau201.86 Anguilla101.35 Cook Islands102.00 Nauru103.25 St. Barthélemy100.83 Wallis & Futuna101.40 Tuvalu103.14 Saint Pierre and Miquelon101.28 St. Helena101.64 Montserrat01.45 Falkland Islands01.69 Tokelau02.57 Niue02.46 India’s fertility rate sits at 1.94, while China’s is much lower at 1.02 due in part to its one-child policy, which was enforced from 1980–2015. Despite policy reversals and birth subsidies, no country that experienced a fertility decline as steep as China’s has fully recovered. Fertility Trends Divided Among the Largest Populations Among the world’s 10 largest populations, six are below replacement fertility. Alongside India and China, the U.S., Indonesia, Brazil, and Russia all fall below 2.1 births per woman. Conversely, several of the world’s most populous countries remain well above replacement. Pakistan has a fertility rate of 3.50, Nigeria sits at 4.30, and Ethiopia at 3.81. Future global population growth is increasingly concentrated in a smaller number of high-fertility countries, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia. Sub-Saharan Africa Has the World’s Highest Fertility Overall, the highest fertility rates in the dataset are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the population-weighted fertility rate is about four. Chad (5.94 births per woman), Somalia (5.91), and DR Congo (5.90) recorded the region’s highest fertility rates in 2025. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to drive most of the world’s net population growth through 2100, with Nigeria alone projected to surpass the U.S. in population before 2050. These countries stand in sharp contrast to places with very low fertility. Macao has the lowest fertility rate in the dataset at 0.69, followed by Hong Kong at 0.74 and South Korea at 0.75. The gap between the world’s highest- and lowest-fertility countries is now historically wide, highlighting how uneven demographic change has become across regions. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Comparing Fertility Rates Across the Western World on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

America’s Most-Spoken Languages After English and Spanish See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Chinese is the top non-English, non-Spanish language in 13 states, including California, New York, and Georgia. German still dominates parts of the Plains and Mountain West more than a century after peak German immigration. Indigenous and immigrant languages alike remain regionally concentrated, from Navajo in the Southwest to Vietnamese across the South and Plains. America’s linguistic map looks very different once English and Spanish are removed. This map shows the most-spoken language in every U.S. state after English and Spanish, based on U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data from 2020–2024. From Chinese in New York and California to Navajo in the Southwest, the results reveal how immigration, Indigenous communities, and regional history continue to shape the country. Chinese Dominates Coastal and Tech-Hub States Chinese is the dominant non-English, non-Spanish language across 13 states, giving it the widest geographic footprint of any language on the map. The concentration is especially visible in coastal states and fast-growing Sun Belt economies with large technology and business sectors. California alone has more than 1.2 million Chinese speakers, while New York has more than 600,000. State#2 Language MinnesotaAmharic/Somali & Afro-Asiatic MichiganArabic TennesseeArabic VirginiaArabic West VirginiaArabic CaliforniaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) ColoradoChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) DelawareChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) GeorgiaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) MarylandChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) MissouriChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) New JerseyChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) New YorkChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) North CarolinaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) OregonChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) PennsylvaniaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) UtahChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) WashingtonChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) District of ColumbiaFrench LouisianaFrench MaineFrench New HampshireFrench VermontFrench IdahoGerman IowaGerman KentuckyGerman MontanaGerman North DakotaGerman South CarolinaGerman WyomingGerman FloridaHaitian Creole WisconsinHmong ArkansasIlocano/Samoan/Hawaiian & Austronesian HawaiiIlocano/Samoan/Hawaiian & Austronesian AlabamaKorean ArizonaNavajo New MexicoNavajo AlaskaOther Native (North America) South DakotaOther Native (North America) IllinoisPolish ConnecticutPortuguese MassachusettsPortuguese Rhode IslandPortuguese NevadaTagalog/Filipino KansasVietnamese MississippiVietnamese NebraskaVietnamese OklahomaVietnamese TexasVietnamese IndianaYiddish/PA Dutch & W. Germanic OhioYiddish/PA Dutch & W. Germanic These communities reflect both modern immigration patterns and more than 150 years of Chinese-American settlement history dating back to the 19th century. German’s Historic Footprint Remains Visible German remains the most-spoken non-English, non-Spanish language across several Plains and Mountain West states, including Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, and North Dakota. This reflects the legacy of large-scale German immigration during the late 1800s, when German became the country’s largest non-English language. That influence declined sharply following anti-German sentiment during World War I and immigration restrictions introduced in the 1920s. Regional Language Clusters Reflect Migration Patterns Beyond Chinese and German, the map reveals several distinct regional language corridors across the United States. French remains prominent in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C., reflecting both Quebec-border heritage and Francophone migration. Vietnamese leads across Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, and Mississippi, while Portuguese ranks first among non-English, non-Spanish languages in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Elsewhere, Navajo remains the leading language category in Arizona and New Mexico, highlighting the enduring presence of Indigenous communities in the Southwest. Meanwhile, Alaska and South Dakota also stand out for their large populations speaking Indigenous North American languages. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Most Spoken Languages by Total Speakers on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.Use This Visualization

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Europe’s Most Visited Countries See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Spain recorded nearly 330 million international visitor nights, the highest total in Europe. Mediterranean countries dominate European tourism, with Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Portugal all ranking highly. France and the UK remain among Europe’s largest tourism markets despite cooler climates. Europe remains the world’s top tourism destination, attracting hundreds of millions of travelers every year. This visualization maps Europe’s biggest tourism hubs based on international visitor nights, highlighting where travelers are spending the most time. The data for this visualization comes from Eurostat and the UK Office for National Statistics via VisitBritain. Southern Europe Continues to Lead Collectively, the European Union recorded over 1.5 billion international visitor nights. Spain led all countries with roughly 330 million nights, followed by Italy at 265 million. Türkiye, France, and the United Kingdom also ranked among Europe’s top tourism destinations. RankCountryInternational Visitor Nights 1 Spain329,661,068 2 Italy264,741,414 3 Türkiye154,799,879 4 France150,753,829 5 UK (2024)149,803,000 6 Greece130,851,809 7 Austria97,020,394 8 Croatia85,604,505 9 Germany83,622,666 10 Netherlands64,311,055 11 Portugal60,031,130 12 Switzerland (2024)27,719,928 13 Czechia26,740,457 14 Ireland24,718,902 15 Belgium23,138,513 16 Poland20,217,607 17 Cyprus17,338,450 18 Denmark16,909,462 19 Sweden16,496,139 20 Hungary16,234,583 21 Bulgaria16,083,286 22 Norway14,165,842 23 Slovenia13,344,871 24 Malta11,755,619 25 Iceland8,849,422 26 Albania7,137,072 27 Finland7,081,113 28 Serbia6,072,905 29 Slovakia5,407,029 30 Romania5,326,691 31 Montenegro4,577,800 32 Lithuania3,841,447 33 Estonia3,797,929 34 Luxembourg3,177,126 35 Latvia3,076,322 36 North Macedonia (2024)1,530,378 37 Kosovo902,259 38 Liechtenstein208,229 -- European Union1,501,283,416 Mediterranean countries dominate Europe’s tourism landscape. Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Portugal all rank highly thanks to their warm climates, coastlines, and established tourism infrastructure. Seasonal travel remains a major driver, particularly during the summer months, when millions of visitors head to beach destinations and resort towns. Spain’s tourism sector has remained especially resilient over the past decade. Cities like Barcelona and Madrid continue to attract cultural tourism, while the Balearic and Canary Islands remain major global vacation destinations. Italy similarly benefits from a mix of historical landmarks, culinary tourism, and scenic coastal regions. France and the UK Remain Global Draws France recorded over 150 million international visitor nights, reinforcing its long-standing reputation as one of the world’s most visited countries. Paris remains a central attraction, but regions such as the French Riviera, Provence, and the Alps also draw significant tourist traffic throughout the year. The United Kingdom ranked close behind France, despite the data excluding Northern Ireland. London continues to serve as a major global tourism hub thanks to its museums, theater scene, and historical landmarks. Smaller Countries Punch Above Their Weight Several smaller European countries generate impressive tourism figures relative to their population sizes. Croatia recorded more than 85 million visitor nights, driven largely by Adriatic coastal tourism and growing international visibility over the last decade. Austria also performed strongly, with nearly 100 million visitor nights, supported by winter sports tourism and alpine destinations. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Travel and Tourism Contribute Greatly to Europe’s Economies on Voronoi.

Ranked: Countries With the Highest Water Use Per Person See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Turkmenistan and Montenegro withdraw more freshwater per person than any other countries in the world. Agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. The U.S. ranks fifth globally, driven partly by industrial activity and power generation. Most of the world’s freshwater isn’t used in homes. It’s used to grow crops, cool power plants, and support industry. This graphic ranks countries by annual freshwater withdrawals per person using data from FAO AQUASTAT and the UN, along with population figures from the World Bank. The figures include water used for agriculture, industry, and municipal systems. Some of the results are surprising. Turkmenistan ranks first by a wide margin due to massive irrigation systems tied to cotton farming, while Montenegro ranks second because of intensive water use relative to its population size. The U.S. also places in the global top five. Turkmenistan Leads by a Wide Margin Turkmenistan ranks first, with 128,228 cubic feet of water withdrawn per person. The country’s massive irrigation network was built to support cotton farming in one of the driest regions of Central Asia. Soviet-era canals diverted water from the Amu Darya River into arid farmland. These same diversions contributed to the dramatic shrinking of the Aral Sea. Agriculture Drives Global Water Use Agriculture accounts for around 70% of global freshwater withdrawals worldwide. That helps explain why many high-ranking countries are located in dry or semi-arid regions with large irrigation demands. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Iran all appear in the top 15. RankCountryCubic feet per capita 1 Turkmenistan128,228 2 Montenegro125,155 3 New Zealand68,652 4 Guyana61,907 5 U.S.46,969 6 Uruguay46,969 7 Azerbaijan45,379 8 Kazakhstan44,002 9 Uzbekistan43,366 10 North Macedonia41,848 11 Kyrgyzstan39,023 12 Tajikistan36,763 13 Iran36,657 14 Armenia36,515 15 Suriname35,138 16 Lao PDR34,326 17 Greece34,008 18 Iraq34,008 19 Canada32,772 20 Estonia31,677 21 Eswatini31,006 22 Timor-Leste30,159 23 Bulgaria29,700 24 Argentina29,311 25 Vietnam28,993 In these countries, water demand is often shaped by crop production and river diversion systems. Per-capita figures can rise sharply when large irrigation networks are spread across relatively small populations. Industrial Use Also Matters Not every country on the list is dominated by irrigation. The United States ranks fifth, while Canada and Estonia also appear in the top 20. In these countries, high water withdrawals can reflect industrial activity and power-plant cooling. This type of water use differs from household consumption. Much of the water withdrawn for cooling may later return to rivers or lakes, but it still places pressure on local water systems. Small Populations Can Push Ratios Higher Per-capita rankings can rise quickly in smaller countries when large irrigation or industrial systems are divided across relatively few people. For example, Montenegro, with a population of 627,702, ranks second at 125,155 cubic feet per person. New Zealand ranks third with 68,652 cubic feet per person, followed by Guyana at 61,907. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Which Countries Use the Most Electricity? on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

Ranked: The World’s Largest Deserts See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The Antarctic and Arctic deserts are the two largest deserts on Earth, each covering more than 5 million square miles. The Sahara ranks third overall, but remains the world’s largest hot desert at 3.5 million square miles. Deserts can be polar, subtropical, or cold winter regions, with low precipitation being the defining feature. The world’s two largest deserts aren’t scorching hot landscapes. They’re the frozen polar regions of Antarctica and the Arctic. Characterized by extremely low precipitation, deserts are found on every continent and cover about one-third of Earth’s land. This visualization ranks and maps the world’s largest deserts by area, based on data from WorldAtlas, showing how Earth’s biggest dry regions range from ice sheets to subtropical basins. Antarctica and the Arctic Are Earth’s Largest Deserts Accounting for all of Antarctica and much of the Arctic region, the Antarctic Desert and Arctic Desert cover 5.5 million and 5.4 million square miles, respectively. They are the world’s only polar deserts. The data table below shows the world’s 10 largest deserts and their area in square miles and kilometers, along with their desert type and geographic span: DesertLocationTypeArea in sq. milesArea in sq. kilometers Antarctic AntarcticaPolar5,500,00014,200,000 Arctic Canada Greenland Iceland Norway Sweden Finland RussiaPolar5,400,00013,900,000 Sahara Western Sahara Algeria Libya Egypt Mauritania Mali Niger Chad SudanSubtropical3,500,0009,000,000 Arabian Jordan Iraq Saudi Arabia UAE Oman YemenSubtropical1,000,0002,600,000 Gobi China MongoliaCold winter500,0001,300,000 Patagonian ArgentinaCold winter260,000670,000 Great Victoria AustraliaSubtropical250,000650,000 Kalahari Namibia Botswana South AfricaSubtropical220,000560,000 Great Basin U.S.Cold winter190,000490,000 Syrian Syria Jordan Saudi Arabia IraqSubtropical190,000490,000 With an average of just 0.39 inches (10 millimeters) of annual precipitation, the Antarctic Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. Although it is covered by ice, its extremely low precipitation makes it a desert by definition. Spanning several northern countries including Canada, Greenland, and Russia, the Arctic Desert receives more precipitation than Antarctica at roughly 6–10 inches annually. However, Arctic air is too cold to retain much moisture. The Sahara Is Still the Largest Hot Desert The Sahara Desert ranks third overall, but it is the largest hot desert in the world. Covering 3.5 million square miles (nine million square kilometers), an area comparable to China, it is by far the largest non-polar desert. The Sahara stretches across parts of Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Chad, Eritrea, Sudan, Tunisia, and Mali. Its scale is also changing. Climate change, human activity, and natural climate cycles have contributed to the expansion of many dry regions, and the Sahara’s area has increased by more than 10% since 1920. Subtropical and Cold Winter Deserts Round Out the Ranking After the Sahara, the Arabian Desert ranks fourth at one million square miles, making it the second-largest subtropical desert in the dataset. The Gobi Desert follows at 500,000 square miles and is classified as a cold winter desert spanning China and Mongolia. Further down the ranking, the Patagonian Desert in Argentina covers 260,000 square miles, while Australia’s Great Victoria Desert covers 250,000 square miles. The two smallest deserts in the top 10 are the Great Basin Desert and Syrian Desert, each covering about 190,000 square miles. Even at the bottom of this ranking, these regions remain enormous landscapes shaped by limited rainfall and extreme environmental conditions. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Which Countries Have the Largest Forests? on Voronoi.Use This Visualization