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How Balanced Is Economic Growth Within Countries?

Published 3 hours ago on January 13, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Jennifer West Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Hinrich Foundation How Balanced Is Economic Development Within Countries? Levels of economic development differ not only from one country to another, but also dramatically within their own borders. This visualization, created in partnership with Hinrich Foundation, compares the evenness of economic development within countries, using data from the Fund for Peace. The analysis comes from the 2025 Sustainable Trade Index (STI), which the Hinrich Foundation produced in collaboration with the IMD World Competitiveness Center. Uneven Economic Development The Uneven Economic Development Indicator captures both structural and perceived inequalities across groups, focusing on their relative opportunities to improve economic well-being. It serves as a sub-indicator within the Economics category of the Fragile States Index, developed by the Fund for Peace. This measure examines three core dimensions: economic equality, access to opportunity, and socio-economic dynamics. Economies that demonstrate more balanced and inclusive development tend to score lower on the indicator, reflecting greater stability and resilience. Which Countries Lead in Economic Evenness? Canada, New Zealand, and Australia take the lead when it comes to economic evenness. Their strong performance on the Uneven Economic Development indicator stems from robust social safety nets, high levels of human development, and policies designed to redistribute wealth more equitably. RankCountryUneven Economic Development (score)Uneven Economic Development (index) 1 Canada100.02.5 2 New Zealand94.42.8 3 Australia92.62.9 4 South Korea88.93.1 5 Japan87.03.2 6 United Kingdom79.63.6 6 Vietnam79.63.6 8 Malaysia75.93.8 9 Singapore74.13.9 9 United States74.13.9 11 Thailand72.24.0 12 Indonesia68.54.2 13 Chile59.34.7 14 Philippines57.44.8 15 Pakistan53.75.0 16 Russia51.95.1 17 Laos50.05.2 18 India40.75.7 19 Bangladesh38.95.8 19 Mexico38.95.8 21 Peru37.05.9 22 Ecuador35.26.0 23 Sri Lanka33.36.1 24 China31.56.2 25 Cambodia29.66.3 26 Brunei18.56.9 27 Myanmar13.07.2 28 Papua New Guinea0.07.9 Rounding out the top five are South Korea and Japan, while the United States places further down the list at #9. Which Countries Lag in Economic Evenness? In contrast, emerging markets tend to struggle with balanced economic growth. The lowest-ranked countries on this indicator are Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, and China—highlighting the challenges these economies face in achieving more even distribution of wealth and opportunity. Explore the Sustainable Trade Index This infographic was just a small subset of what the Sustainable Trade Index has to offer. To learn more, visit the Hinrich Foundation, where you can download additional resources including the entire report for free. Visit the Hinrich Foundation to download the entire report, for free. Related Topics: #Growth #Hinrich Foundation #sustainable trade index #2025 #economic development #fund for peace Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "How Balanced Is Economic Growth Within Countries?"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/hf07-how-balanced-is-economic-growth-within-countries/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-193356"; More from Hinrich Foundation Markets2 months ago Ranked: Number of Trade Agreements Across 30 Economies Based on data from the World Trade Organization, which countries have the highest and lowest number of trade agreements? Markets3 months ago Ranked: The World’s Most Sustainable Economies in 2025 Based on the Hinrich Foundation’s 2025 Sustainable Trade Index, which economies are the most and least sustainable? Economy4 months ago Ranked: Countries Losing the Most (and Least) from Trump’s Tariffs Trump’s tariffs affect all major U.S. trading partners, but what matters is how each country’s tariffs compare to its competitors. Economy5 months ago Charting How U.S. Tariffs Will Hit Key Products U.S. tariffs have climbed to an average rate of 18.6%—the highest since 1933. But what does this mean for everyday consumers? Economy7 months ago Breaking Down the $450 Billion of Trade Destruction from U.S. Tariffs The UN has crunched the numbers projecting the ripple effects of Trump’s May 12th tariffs. Which economies are bracing for the biggest hits? Economy9 months ago Ranked: America’s Services Trade Balances America’s goods trade deficits have dominated headlines, but a critical part of the equation is being ignored: services trade. AI10 months ago Visualized: All of the World’s Data More data will be created, captured, and replicated in the next three years than in the rest of human history. But by how much? Economy11 months ago Visualized: The Growing Opportunities in Global Trade Careers Visual Capitalist has partnered with the Hinrich Foundation to explore the landscape of global trade and find out what students and trade professionals can do to… Green11 months ago Ranked: CO₂ Emissions Per Person in 30 Economies CO₂ emissions are reshaping the flows of international trade. Which countries have the highest and lowest CO₂ emissions per capita? Healthcare12 months ago Mapped: Life Expectancy in Major Economies Which countries have the highest and lowest life expectancies at birth? Markets1 year ago Ranked: Government Debt Across Major Economies Based on data from the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, which countries have the highest and lowest government debt ratios? Markets1 year ago Ranked: The World’s Most Sustainable Economies in 2024 Based on the Hinrich Foundation’s 2024 Sustainable Trade Index, which economies are the most and least sustainable? Oil and Gas2 years ago How Oil Is Adding Fuel to Geopolitical Fragmentation Which countries and regions decreased, banned, or increased Russian oil imports following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine? Politics2 years ago The Start of De-Dollarization: China’s Gradual Move Away from the USD The de-dollarization of China’s trade settlements has begun. What patterns do we see in USD and RMB use within China and globally? Politics2 years ago The Bloc Effect: International Trade with Geopolitical Allies on the Rise Rising geopolitical tensions are shaping the future of international trade, but what is the effect on trading among G7 and BRICS countries? Green2 years ago Ranked: Resource Dependency Across 30 Major Economies High resource dependency in trade makes countries more susceptible to market fluctuations and climate change. Misc2 years ago Visualizing the Global Education Gap This graphic adds visual context to the global education gap, using data from 29 major economies. Money2 years ago Ranking the Credit Ratings of Major Economies This graphic visualizes 30 country’s credit ratings, using data from the 2023 Sustainable Trade Index. Economy2 years ago Ranked: The World’s Most Sustainable Economies in 2023 The Sustainable Trade Index 2023 is an annual ranking of the world’s most sustainable economies. View this infographic to see the results. Economy2 years ago Visualizing the Impact of the G20’s Corporate Subsidies The Hinrich Foundation visualizes the impact of corporate subsidies by G20 nations between 2008 and Q1 2023. Economy3 years ago Economic Coercion: China’s Leverage in Trade The Hinrich Foundation explores China’s use of economic coercion and the implications of its control over the solar energy sector. Politics3 years ago Ranking the Trade Policies of the G20 We analyze recent trade policies implemented by G20 members to determine whether they are liberalizing or harmful. Green3 years ago Global Carbon Markets: Highlights from the Latest Report We highlight key findings from the Hinrich Foundation’s latest report on carbon markets, produced in partnership with Visual Capitalist. Green3 years ago Ranked: Air Pollution by Economy Which economies have hazy air, and which ones enjoy mostly clear skies? Find out in this geographic breakdown of air pollution levels. Politics3 years ago Mapped: Geopolitical Risk by Economy Prior to invading Ukraine, Russia had one of the highest levels of geopolitical risk. How does geopolitical uncertainty vary around the world? Economy3 years ago Ranked: Harmful Tariffs by Economy The U.S. has by far the most harmful tariffs, with nearly 5,000 in force. Which economy has the least tariffs? Business3 years ago Interested in a Career in Global Trade? Global trade is growing across regions and countries which is creating an explosion in new jobs and education opportunities. Economy3 years ago Introducing the 2022 Sustainable Trade Index See which economies have the most sustainable trade policies in the Hinrich Foundation’s 2022 Sustainable Trade Index. Economy3 years ago Global Trade Series: Fragmentation in the Digital Economy In this infographic, we examine the current state of digital fragmentation and it’s implications on the world.  Economy3 years ago Global Trade Series: Asia’s Digital Economy Asia’s digital economy is expanding quicker than ever, but cooperation between governments is needed to reduce barriers. Economy4 years ago Global Trade Series: The Benefits of Free Trade Free trade is a powerful engine for economic growth, but rising protectionism stands in the way. See what the data says in this infographic. Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

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Mapped: U.S. States With the Longest Commutes

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: U.S. States With the Longest Commutes 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 New York has the highest share of commuters with one hour or more one-way trips at 17.2%. New Jersey and Maryland follow, with 15.2% and 14.5% of commuters traveling more than 60 minutes. Overall, 9.3% of all U.S. commuters travel more than an hour. Long commutes are a defining feature of life in many U.S. metro areas, where housing affordability, traffic congestion, and job concentration push workers farther from employment hubs. This map shows the share of commuters in each U.S. state with a one-way commute longer than 60 minutes, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 1-Year Estimates. States With the Worst Commutes The longest commutes are heavily concentrated in the Northeast, where dense populations and interconnected metro areas make extended travel times more common. New York leads, with 17.2% of commuters traveling more than an hour each way. The table below ranks states by the share of commuters with hour-long commutes: RankNameShare of commuters with >60 minute commute 1New York17.2% 2New Jersey15.2% 3Maryland14.5% 4Massachusetts13.3% 5California12.1% 6Georgia11.3% 7Illinois10.4% 8New Hampshire10.0% 9Virginia10.0% 10West Virginia9.8% 11Florida9.6% 12Washington9.3% 13Connecticut9.2% 14Texas9.1% 15District of Columbia8.9% 16Delaware8.8% 17Pennsylvania8.8% 18Rhode Island8.6% 19Louisiana8.5% 20Hawaii8.5% 21South Carolina7.8% 22Mississippi7.7% 23Tennessee7.7% 24Wyoming7.4% 25Arizona7.4% 26Alabama7.2% 27Maine7.2% 28Colorado7.1% 29New Mexico7.0% 30North Carolina6.9% 31Kentucky6.5% 32Vermont6.4% 33Indiana6.3% 34Michigan6.1% 35Oregon5.9% 36Nevada5.9% 37Missouri5.6% 38Idaho5.6% 39Arkansas5.6% 40Utah5.5% 41Ohio5.3% 42Alaska5.2% 43Oklahoma5.1% 44Wisconsin5.1% 45Montana5.0% 46Minnesota4.9% 47Iowa4.5% 48South Dakota4.4% 49North Dakota4.3% 50Kansas4.0% 51Nebraska4.0% --National Average9.3% New Jersey (15.2%) and Maryland (14.5%) follow New York, both shaped by commuter flows into major job centers like New York City and Washington, D.C. Massachusetts (13.3%) and California (12.1%) round out the top five, reflecting congestion in large metro regions such as Greater Boston and the Bay Area/Los Angeles corridors. Generally, commutes are longer in states with high population density because jobs are often concentrated in a handful of major urban cores, while housing spreads outward into suburbs and exurbs. As traffic increases and public transit systems strain, commute times rise. However, density isn’t the only factor. Rhode Island is a useful counterexample: despite having the second-highest population density in the country, its small geographic footprint helps limit commute lengths, with only 8.6% of commuters traveling more than an hour. At the low end of the ranking, Great Plains states such as Nebraska (4.0%), Kansas (4.0%), and North Dakota (4.3%) have the smallest shares of long commuters, reflecting smaller metro areas and lower congestion. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, explore more city and transportation insights on Voronoi, including The World’s Most Walkable Cities.

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Charted: Where Inflation Has Hit the Hardest (2000–2025)

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Where Inflation Has Hit the Hardest (2000–2025) 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 Overall U.S. inflation has increased 92% over the past 25 years. The cost of many essentials, like hospital services, childcare, medical care, housing, and even the cost of food, are rising at a faster rate than inflation overall. Meanwhile, the cost of technology (software, TVs, toys) is generally becoming cheaper on a relative basis. Affordability remains a potent issue in America, with both Trump and Mamdami campaigning on high costs of living. Even though inflation has fallen to around 2.7%, prices are about 25% higher than in 2020. Meanwhile, certain sectors, like housing and healthcare, have far outpaced this rate, putting growing strain on consumer wallets. This graphic shows U.S. inflation by category, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The chart was inspired by Mark J. Perry’s famous “Chart of the Century”, which you should also take a look at. Note: The BLS calculates CPI by tracking price changes for a fixed “basket” of goods, adjusting for quality improvements over time. For tech products, rapid gains in performance mean consumers get far more value per dollar, which shows up as large price declines even if sticker prices don’t fall. Ranked: Inflation By Category in America Below, we show the cumulative rate of inflation across key goods and services between 2000 and September 2025. CategoryConsumer Price Inflation 2000-2025 Hospital Services+275% College Tuition & Fees+196% Child Care+185% Medical Care+129% Housing+111% Food & Beverages+104% New & Used Vehicles+25% Furniture +9% Clothing+2% Cellphone Services-43% Toys-74% Computer Software -75% TVs-98% All U.S. Items+92% Hospital services have consistently outpaced inflation over the past several decades, with costs rising a stunning 275% since 2000. For perspective, hospital services increased 6.9% annually as of June 2024, faster than nursing homes (6%), prescription drugs (2.4%), and overall inflation (3%). Today, nearly one in five dollars spent in the U.S. economy goes toward health care, up from one in 20 in 1960. More broadly, prices for essential services have significantly outpaced overall inflation, fueled by consolidation and labor-intensive operations. College tuition and fees have also skyrocketed, rising 196% since 2000. Driving up costs are the hiring of more faculty and increased spending to attract students. Additionally, state funding has seen a long-term downtrend, meaning that colleges must rely more on tuition. As we can see, housing inflation has jumped 111% compared to a 92% increase for all U.S. items. When interest rates hovered near 0% in 2020, it turbocharged housing demand, leading prices to spike to multiple record highs, even as interest rates increased. Goods Under the Average, or Seeing Deflation Interestingly, we can see that new and used vehicle inflation is far below the overall inflation rate, at 25%, averaging an annual increase of less than a percent. Like the housing market, however, prices increased notably over the pandemic amid supply chain bottlenecks. On the other hand, software has seen a clear deflationary trend, driven by the rise of cloud computing and subscription models. Furthermore, TV prices are 98% cheaper than they were at the turn of the century, thanks to technological advancements and rising manufacturing efficiency. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on inflation projections across OECD countries in 2026.

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Mapped: The 50 Largest Cities in Africa by Population

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: Africa’s 50 Most Populous Cities 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 Cairo is Africa’s largest city by a wide margin, with over 25.5 million residents in 2025. Nigeria places nine cities in the top 50, more than any other country. Africa is the world’s fastest-urbanizing continent, with hundreds of millions of people expected to move into cities over the coming decades. This rapid growth has already produced some of the world’s largest metro areas, driven by population growth, rural-to-urban migration, and expanding economic opportunities. This map ranks Africa’s 50 most populous cities in 2025, based on data from the UN World Urbanization Prospects 2025. The Largest Cities in Africa by Population Cairo, officially known as Al-Qahirah, is Africa’s most populous city with 25.6 million residents. Egypt’s capital is not only Africa’s largest city, but also ranks among the largest cities in the world. The table below lists 50 of Africa’s most populous cities in 2025: RankCountryCity2025 Population 1 EgyptAl-Qahirah (Cairo)25,566,000 2 NigeriaLagos12,792,000 3 AngolaLuanda11,370,000 4 DR CongoKinshasa10,944,000 5 TanzaniaDar es Salaam7,795,000 6 EgyptAlexandria7,267,000 7 South AfricaJohannesburg7,077,000 8 SudanKhartoum6,809,000 9 EthiopiaAddis Ababa6,706,000 10 Côte d’IvoireAbidjan6,622,000 11 KenyaNairobi6,134,000 12 NigeriaOnitsha5,628,000 13 GhanaAccra5,593,000 14 CameroonYaoundé5,106,000 15 UgandaKampala4,881,000 16 NigeriaKano4,840,000 17 South AfricaCape Town4,509,000 18 MoroccoCasablanca4,457,000 19 SomaliaMogadishu4,399,000 20 GhanaKumasi4,298,000 21 MaliBamako4,245,000 22 EgyptLuxor4,188,000 23 CameroonDouala4,105,000 24 MadagascarAntananarivo3,916,000 25 SenegalDakar3,852,000 26 NigeriaOwerri3,833,000 27 NigeriaIbadan3,721,000 28 Republic of the CongoBrazzaville3,656,000 29 DR CongoKasaï-Oriental3,606,000 30 ZambiaLusaka3,511,000 31 AlgeriaAlgiers3,246,000 32 Burkina FasoOuagadougou3,206,000 33 South AfricaDurban3,178,000 34 MozambiqueMaputo3,166,000 35 DR CongoLubumbashi2,833,000 36 GuineaConakry (Coyah)2,728,000 37 BeninCotonou2,506,000 38 TunisiaTunis2,473,000 39 TogoLomé2,415,000 40 NigeriaPort Harcourt2,341,000 41 ZimbabweHarare2,117,000 42 EgyptBanha2,089,000 43 MoroccoRabat2,069,000 44 Sierra LeoneFreetown1,936,000 45 ChadN’Djaména1,935,000 46 DR CongoBeni1,924,000 47 NigeriaKaduna1,890,000 48 LiberiaMonrovia1,879,000 49 NigeriaBenin City1,845,000 50 South AfricaPretoria1,836,000 Nigeria’s Lagos ranks second with nearly 12.8 million residents, followed closely by Luanda in Angola and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These cities have expanded rapidly due to high birth rates and sustained migration from rural areas. Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation, appears nine times in the top 50. Egypt follows with four cities, while South Africa has four major metropolitan areas, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria. East Africa also features prominently, with Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Kampala all ranking among the continent’s largest cities. Many of Africa’s urban areas are projected to double in size within the next 25 years. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The True Size of Africa on Voronoi.

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Trump Trade Shake-Up: Which Countries Are Winning Vs. Losing?

Published 3 hours ago on January 12, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by OANDA Trump Trade Shake-Up: Which Countries Are Winning Vs. Losing? Key Takeaways Shifts in U.S. trade policy under President Trump are creating a more uneven playing field for global exporters. Mexico (+17.4%), Canada (+6.1%), and the UK (+5.1%) have emerged with clear relative advantages. By contrast, China (-19.4%), India (-19.4%), and Brazil (-16.6%) have faced significantly greater headwinds. As U.S. trade policy shifts under President Trump, global exporters are facing a more uneven competitive landscape. This visualization, created in partnership with OANDA, explores which countries are winning versus losing in this period of economic uncertainty.  How Trump’s Trade Policies Are Reshaping Export Competitiveness Changes to tariffs and trade agreements mean countries are no longer operating under the same conditions when accessing the U.S. market. This visual compares countries based on their tariff exposure relative to key competitors, highlighting which exporters are gaining an advantage and which are falling behind as commerce dynamics evolve. After a volatile start to 2025, several countries now stand out as relative winners. Mexico and Canada benefit from geographic proximity and established trade frameworks, while the UK, Singapore, and Italy have also emerged with more favorable tariff positioning. CountryRelative Advantage (%) Mexico17.4 Canada6.1 UK5.1 Singapore3.6 Italy5.1 For exporters in these countries, improved access to the U.S. market is often associated with the potential for stronger trade volumes and firmer demand. These shifting dynamics create an environment that has historically supported capital flows and acted as a tailwind for respective currencies. Where Trade Headwinds Are Building On the other side of the ledger, a group of major exporters is facing growing disadvantages. China continues to contend with elevated tariffs and ongoing trade tensions, while India and Brazil face higher relative exposure compared to peers. Switzerland and South Korea also appear less favorably positioned, potentially weighing on export competitiveness. CountryRelative Disadvantage (%) China-19.4 India-19.4 Brazil-16.6 Switzerland-6.9 South Korea-5.5 For these economies, higher commerce barriers represent a significant challenge that can weigh on export growth and corporate earnings. In the current landscape, these factors are being monitored for their potential to increase pressure on foreign exchange markets. What to Watch Next For traders and investors, these divergences highlight the evolving conditions within the global marketplace, as trade policy remains a key driver of capital and currency flows. Note: Past performance is not indicative of future results. Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "Trump Trade Shake-Up: Which Countries Are Winning Vs. Losing?"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/oan04-trump-trade-shake-up-which-countries-are-winning-vs-losing/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-192837"; More from OANDA Markets3 days ago What Happens to the USD When the Fed Cuts Rates? Will Fed easing in 2026 pressure the USD, or will global rate shifts rewrite the usual pattern? Money12 months ago Major Currency Performance by Region in 2024 For each of the world’s seven major regions, what is the most-traded currency and how did it perform versus the U.S. dollar in 2024? Money1 year ago Which Assets Are Most Correlated to the USD? Building a well-balanced, diversified portfolio involves including assets with varying correlations. The USD, with its weak or negative correlations to other assets, can be a valuable… Markets1 year ago Ranked: The Ten Most Traded Currencies with the U.S. Dollar The U.S. dollar is used in 88% of FX trading transactions. Which currencies are most commonly on the other side of the exchange? Markets1 year ago Ranked: The Top Performing Major Currencies (2014-2023) Which major currencies have performed best on the foreign exchange market over the last decade? Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

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Ranked: The World’s Top 20 Billionaires in 2026

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Top 20 Billionaires 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 world’s richest person, Elon Musk, is worth $714 billion driven by his $366 billion stake in SpaceX which is valued at $800 billion. Since 2020, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s wealth has grown from $4.7 billion to $162.5 billion, making him the world’s eighth-richest person. The wealth held by the world’s top 20 billionaires—about $3.8 trillion—is greater than the GDP of most countries on Earth. What’s more, these fortunes have grown at an astonishing rate since 2020. Back then, Jeff Bezos was the richest person in the world, with a net worth of $145 billion. Today, Elon Musk’s fortune is nearly fivefold that figure. This graphic shows the world’s wealthiest people in 2026, based on data from Forbes. Surging Wealth of the Top 20 Billionaires Below, we show the world’s richest individuals as of January 6, 2026: RankNameNet Worth 2026Net Worth 2020Country 1Elon Musk$714.2B$24.6B U.S. 2Larry Page$257.7B$58.4B U.S. 3Jeff Bezos$251.4B$145.1B U.S. 4Larry Ellison$242.6B$59.0B U.S. 5Sergey Brin$237.8B$49.1B U.S. 6Mark Zuckerberg$226.5B$68.8B U.S. 7Bernard Arnault & family$193.9B$91.5B France 8Jensen Huang$162.5B$4.7B U.S. 9Warren Buffett$147.5B$73.4B U.S. 10Amancio Ortega$147.0B$60.5B Spain 11Steve Ballmer$145.9B$62.5B U.S. 12Michael Dell$138.0B$22.9B U.S. 13Rob Walton & family$133.5B$54.1B U.S. 14Jim Walton & family$130.8B$57.0B U.S. 15Alice Walton$121.9B$56.8B U.S. 16Michael Bloomberg$109.4B$48.0B U.S. 17Mukesh Ambani$108.4B$36.8B India 18Bill Gates$103.8B$103.6B U.S. 19Carlos Slim Helu & family$101.3B$52.1B Mexico 20Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & family$89.8B$53.2B France Elon Musk, with $714.2 billion in wealth, is the first person in history to cross the $700 billion mark. Since 2020, Musk’s wealth has grown at a splintering pace, rising by a factor of nearly 30. Among Musk’s largest sources of wealth is his $366 billion stake in SpaceX, which is currently valued at $800 billion. In 2026, its valuation could climb to $1.5 trillion in a potential mega IPO. Google cofounder Larry Page ranks second, with a $257.7 billion net worth. In 2025, Alphabet shares surged 63%, significantly boosting Page’s wealth. As we can see, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has a fortune of $162.5 billion, ranking in eighth globally. Over the past seven years, Nvidia shares have skyrocketed over 4,200%, leading Huang to see the fastest growth in wealth across the top 20 billionaires. By comparison, Bill Gates has seen his wealth remain almost unchanged since 2020. That year, Gates was the world’s second-richest person, but has since slipped to 18th. Largely, this is due transferring tens of billions to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and philanthropic-related causes. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on how the world’s billionaires made their money.

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Mapped: The Median Age of Every U.S. State

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Median Age by 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 Maine has the oldest population in the U.S., with a median age of 45—nearly six years older than the national average. Utah is the youngest state, with a median age of just 33, reflecting higher birth rates and a younger family profile. Across the U.S., age profiles vary widely by region. This map highlights those differences using the most recent nationwide estimates. The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 1-Year Estimates. It reports the median age for each state and the District of Columbia. The Oldest States Are Concentrated in the Northeast The national median age stands at 39.2 as of 2024. RankStateMedian age overall 1Maine44.9 2Vermont43.9 3New Hampshire43.6 4West Virginia42.9 5Florida42.7 6Delaware42.1 7Hawaii41.5 8Montana41.3 9Connecticut41.2 10Pennsylvania41.2 11Rhode Island41.0 12Oregon40.8 13South Carolina40.7 14Wisconsin40.7 15Michigan40.4 16Wyoming40.2 17Massachusetts40.1 18New Jersey40.1 19New York40.1 20New Mexico39.9 21Maryland39.8 22Ohio39.8 23Alabama39.6 24Nevada39.5 25Arizona39.4 26Illinois39.4 27Missouri39.4 28North Carolina39.4 29Virginia39.4 30Kentucky39.3 31Mississippi39.3 32Minnesota39.2 33Arkansas39.1 34Tennessee39.1 35Iowa39.0 36Louisiana38.7 37South Dakota38.7 38Washington38.7 39California38.4 40Indiana38.3 41Colorado38.0 42Georgia38.0 43Kansas38.0 44Idaho37.8 45Nebraska37.4 46Oklahoma37.4 47North Dakota36.7 48Alaska36.3 49Texas35.9 50District of Columbia34.9 51Utah32.5 --U.S. Median Age39.2 New England and nearby states dominate the top of the ranking. Maine leads the country with a median age of 45, followed by Vermont and New Hampshire at 44. Several other northeastern states—including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island—also exceed 41. These older age profiles reflect long-term trends such as slower population growth, lower birth rates, and limited in-migration of younger workers. The Sun Belt Shows a Mixed Demographic Picture Many Sun Belt states cluster near the national average, but with some exceptions. Florida stands out with a median age of 43, driven by its large retiree population. In contrast, Texas has a median age of 36, reflecting faster population growth and a younger workforce. Meanwhile, states like Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina sit close to 39. Younger Populations Dominate the West and Plains The youngest states are largely found in the West and Great Plains. Utah is the clear outlier at 33, supported by higher fertility rates and larger households. The District of Columbia also skews young at 35, due in part to a concentration of working-age adults. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Renters vs Homeowners by State on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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Visualized: Venezuela’s Crude Oil Exports by Country

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Visualized: Venezuela’s Crude Oil Exports 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. Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest oil reserves, but turning that potential into export revenue depends heavily on where its barrels can actually go. After Nicolás Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces, Venezuela’s oil industry is set to change significantly. But where were Venezuela’s oil exports going previously? This visualization shows how Venezuela’s crude oil exports were distributed across destination countries in 2023 using data from Vortexa via the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Where Were Venezuela’s Crude Oil Exports Going? In 2023, Venezuela exported 211.6 million barrels of crude oil, with more than 90% going to just China and the United States. The data table below lists each country’s total barrels imported and its share of Venezuela’s exports in 2023: CountryBarrels of crude oil exports from Venezuela (2023)Share China144,071,00068.1% United States48,467,00022.9% Spain8,533,0004.0% Cuba7,587,0003.6% Singapore1,092,0000.5% Bahamas923,0000.4% Malaysia618,0000.3% Russia358,0000.2% China was the dominant destination for Venezuelan crude, importing 144 million barrels in 2023, which represented 68% of all of the South American country’s crude oil exports. The U.S. was the next largest buyer with 48.5 million barrels imported from Venezuela in 2023, or around 23% of Venezuela’s total crude oil exports that year. Spain and Cuba were the next two countries with significant amounts of crude oil imports from Venezuela at 8.5 million and 7.6 million barrels, respectively, in 2023. How China and Venezuela Met Each Other’s Needs Following the January 2019 U.S. sanctions on PDVSA imposed by the Trump administration—which cut Venezuela’s state oil company off from the U.S. financial system and normal cash sales—a large share of Venezuelan crude exports shifted into oil-for-loans arrangements. China became the central counterparty, having lent nearly $50 billion over the past decade to Venezuela (now estimated to be $10-$12 billion), receiving crude shipments as debt repayment rather than cash. While Venezuela’s heavy grade of crude oil is more difficult to refine and yields fewer high-value fuels like gasoline and diesel and more residual products like asphalt, for China this worked out well. The Asian country’s high asphalt demand is due to its large-scale infrastructure and construction buildouts, and Venezuela’s crude oil offered a cheap supply of necessary resources. With the U.S. now likely taking control of Venezuela’s oil sector, China will be forced to import more from other trading partners like Russia, Iran, or potentially Canada, which also produces extra-heavy grades of crude oil. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about which countries hold significant crude oil reserves besides Venezuela, check out this graphic on Voronoi.

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Mapped: All of the World’s Volcanic Eruptions in 2025

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: All of the World’s Volcanic Eruptions in 2025 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways More than 70 volcanoes worldwide experienced eruptive activity in 2025, spanning every inhabited continent. Many eruptions are long-running events, with several volcanoes active continuously for years or even decades. In 2025, volcanic eruptions occurred across a wide range of tectonic settings, from explosive island arcs to submarine volcanoes hidden beneath the ocean surface. Some events lasted just days, while others continued multi-year or even multi-decade eruptive phases. This map visualizes every volcanic eruption recorded globally during last year. The data for this visualization comes from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program (GVP). It catalogs confirmed eruptive activity by volcano, location, eruption type, and duration, including eruptions that began before 2025 but remained active throughout the year. The Pacific Ring of Fire Remains the Most Active As expected, most eruptions in 2025 occurred along the Pacific Ring of Fire. This geologically active zone includes countries such as Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Mexico, the United States, Russia, and several Pacific island nations. Volcano NameCountryEruption Start DateEruption Stop Date KikaiJapan2025 Dec 292025 Dec 29 Home ReefTonga2025 Dec 172025 Dec 30 (continuing) AmbaeVanuatu2025 Nov 242025 Dec 17 (continuing) Hayli GubbiEthiopia2025 Nov 232025 Nov 23 PuraceColombia2025 Nov 232025 Dec 17 (continuing) Planchon-PeteroaChile2025 Oct 252025 Dec 17 (continuing) AhyiUnited States2025 Oct 202025 Dec 17 (continuing) AkanJapan2025 Sep 15Sep 2025 SabancayaPeru2025 Sep 132025 Dec 17 (continuing) IotoJapan2025 Sep 1September 2025 Whakaari / White IslandNew Zealand2025 Aug 28Aug 2025 DempoIndonesia2025 Aug 7Aug 2025 KrasheninnikovRussia2025 Aug 22025 Dec 17 (continuing) Barren IslandIndia2025 Jul 302025 Dec 30 (continuing) ReykjanesIceland2025 Jul 162025 Aug 5 TelicaNicaragua2025 Jul 14Aug 2025 KirishimayamaJapan2025 Jun 22Sep 2025 KarymskyRussia2025 Apr 302025 Sep 19 Northern EPR at 9.8°NUndersea Features2025 Apr 282025 Apr 29 BulusanPhilippines2025 Apr 282025 Apr 29 KlyuchevskoyRussia2025 Apr 82025 Aug 16 ReykjanesIceland2025 Apr 12025 Apr 1 UlawunPapua New Guinea2025 Mar 272025 Apr 7 RaungIndonesia2025 Mar 132025 Jul 11 Atka Volcanic ComplexUnited States2025 Feb 202025 May 2 PuraceColombia2025 Jan 192025 Feb 21 LewotolokIndonesia2025 Jan 162025 Dec 17 (continuing) TelicaNicaragua2025 Jan 112025 Feb 25 PoasCosta Rica2025 Jan 52025 Dec 17 (continuing) BezymiannyRussia2024 Dec 242025 Dec 17 (continuing) KilaueaUnited States2024 Dec 232025 Dec 17 (continuing) Dieng Volcanic ComplexIndonesia2024 Dec 182025 Jan 6 Home ReefTonga2024 Dec 42025 Jun 29 ± 1 days DempoIndonesia2024 Nov 232025 Feb 2 KanlaonPhilippines2024 Oct 192025 Dec 17 (continuing) AhyiUnited States2024 Aug 52025 May 28 Whakaari / White IslandNew Zealand2024 May 242025 May 13 TaalPhilippines2024 Apr 122025 Dec 17 (continuing) LewotobiIndonesia2023 Dec 232025 Dec 17 (continuing) MarapiIndonesia2023 Dec 32025 Dec 17 (continuing) EtnaItaly2022 Nov 272025 Dec 30 (continuing) Great SitkinUnited States2021 May 252025 Dec 17 (continuing) MerapiIndonesia2020 Dec 312025 Dec 17 (continuing) SangayEcuador2019 Mar 262025 Dec 17 (continuing) SemeruIndonesia2019 Feb 242025 Dec 17 (continuing) ManamPapua New Guinea2018 Jun 102025 Dec 17 (continuing) NyamulagiraDR Congo2018 Apr 142025 Dec 17 (continuing) Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania2017 Apr 92025 Dec 25 (continuing) AiraJapan2017 Mar 252025 Dec 17 (continuing) SabancayaPeru2016 Nov 62025 Apr 6 LangilaPapua New Guinea2015 Oct 222025 Dec 28 (continuing) MasayaNicaragua2015 Oct 32025 Dec 28 (continuing) TofuaTonga2015 Oct 22025 Dec 30 (continuing) VillarricaChile2014 Dec 2 ± 7 days2025 Apr 19 Nevado del RuizColombia2014 Nov 182025 Dec 17 (continuing) SaundersUnited Kingdom2014 Nov 122025 Nov 20 (continuing) HeardAustralia2012 Sep 5 ± 4 days2025 Dec 26 (continuing) ReventadorEcuador2008 Jul 272025 Dec 17 (continuing) IbuIndonesia2008 Apr 52025 Dec 17 (continuing) PopocatepetlMexico2005 Jan 92025 Dec 17 (continuing) SuwanosejimaJapan2004 Oct 232025 Dec 17 (continuing) NyiragongoDR Congo2002 May 17 (?)2025 Sep 19 (continuing) FuegoGuatemala2002 Jan 42025 Dec 17 (continuing) BaganaPapua New Guinea2000 Feb 28 (in or before)2025 Dec 17 (continuing) SheveluchRussia1999 Aug 152025 Dec 17 (continuing) ErebusAntarctica1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days2025 Dec 29 (continuing) Erta AleEthiopia1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days2025 Dec 17 (continuing) StromboliItaly1934 Feb 22025 Dec 17 (continuing) DukonoIndonesia1933 Aug 132025 Dec 17 (continuing) Santa MariaGuatemala1922 Jun 222025 Dec 17 (continuing) YasurVanuatu1270 ± 110 years2025 Dec 17 (continuing) Countries such as Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Russia recorded numerous active volcanoes. Indonesia alone hosted several long-running eruptions, including Merapi, Semeru, and Ibu. These regions sit atop converging tectonic plates, where magma generation and seismic activity are especially common. Long-Running Eruptions Dominate Global Activity Many of the volcanoes active in 2025 were not new eruptions but part of ongoing events that began years or even decades earlier. Stromboli in Italy has been erupting continuously since 1934, while Yasur in Vanuatu has remained active for centuries. Persistent lava lakes were also observed at volcanoes like Nyiragongo in the DR Congo and Masaya in Nicaragua. Not all eruptions occur near populated areas. Several submarine eruptions were recorded in 2025, including activity at Ahyi near the Northern Mariana Islands and along the East Pacific Rise. Remote volcanoes such as Erebus in Antarctica and Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean also remained active. While these eruptions rarely threaten human settlements directly, they are crucial for understanding Earth’s internal processes and long-term volcanic behavior. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out All of the World’s Gold, in One Visual on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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Mapped: The Currencies of Europe in 2026

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: The Currencies of 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 On January 1, 2026 Bulgaria became the 21st country to use the euro as its currency, following Croatia in 2023. Approximately 350 million people use the euro. Bulgaria joined the eurozone on January 1st, departing from its national currency, the lev, whose name translates to “lion.”. Introduced in 1999 and entering circulation in 2002, the euro is the world’s second-largest reserve currency. While 21 of the European Union’s 27 member states use the euro, six do not, including Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Czechia. This graphic shows the currencies of Europe, based on data from Eurail. Breaking Down the Currencies of Europe Below, we show currencies used across the continent of Europe: CountryCurrency AustriaEuro BelgiumEuro BulgariaEuro CroatiaEuro CyprusEuro EstoniaEuro FinlandEuro FranceEuro GermanyEuro GreeceEuro IrelandEuro ItalyEuro LatviaEuro LithuaniaEuro LuxembourgEuro MaltaEuro NetherlandsEuro PortugalEuro SlovakiaEuro SloveniaEuro SpainEuro AlbaniaLek BelarusRuble Bosnia and HerzegovinaMark Czech RepublicKoruna DenmarkKrone HungaryForint IcelandKróna North MacedoniaDenar NorwayKrone PolandZłoty RomaniaLeu RussiaRuble SerbiaDinar SwedenKrona SwitzerlandFranc TurkeyLira UkraineHryvnia United KingdomPound Sterling In total, 21 countries use the euro, covering a population of 350 million people. Back in 1999, there were 11 countries to first adopt the euro, including Germany, Spain, and Austria. Later, in 2001, Greece adopted the currency, then countries including Slovenia and Malta transitioned over the decade. While Bulgaria is the most recent country to adopt the currency, it has not been met without controversy. Supporters argue the move could boost trade and deepen economic integration, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions stemming from the Russia–Ukraine war. Opponents, however, fear the euro could drive inflation. While historical evidence suggests euro adoption has not led to sustained inflation over time, public opinion in Bulgaria remains roughly split. Of the countries that use their own currency in Europe, Russia is the largest by population, at 146 million. Other post-Soviet states also fall into this category, including Belarus and Ukraine. In contrast, three countries out of the 15 post-Soviet nations have adopted the euro since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania transitioning between 2011 and 2015. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on Europe population forecasts to 2100.

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Oil Benchmarks Around the World: How Venezuela Compares

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Click to view this graphic in a higher-resolution. Oil Benchmarks Around the World: How Venezuela Compares 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 Venezuela holds the world’s largest oil reserves, but most of its crude is heavy and sour. Global benchmark crudes tend to be lighter and sweeter, making them easier and cheaper to refine. U.S. refinery capacity is designed to process heavy crude oils, like Canadian or Venezuelan crude. Crude oil is not a uniform product. Its quality varies widely by region, shaping everything from refinery design to global trade flows. This visualization compares Venezuela’s oil with the world’s most traded crude blends. The data for this visualization comes from a combination of sources, including Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), S&P Global, PEMEX, and the Canada Energy Regulator. It compares major global crude grades using API gravity, crude type, and sulfur content to show how oil quality differs around the world. Venezuelan Oil: Heavy and Sour API gravity measures how heavy or light crude oil is compared to water. Oils above 10° API are lighter and float, while those below 10° API are heavier and sink. In general, lighter crudes are easier to refine into fuels like gasoline and diesel. Heavy crude oils typically produce more residual products, such as asphalt. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but most of its production consists of heavy and extra-heavy crude. The country’s flagship blend Merey 16 has API gravity well below 20°. The oil is also sour, meaning it contains high sulfur levels. Top ProducerGradeAPI GravityCrude TypeSweet / Sour Saudi ArabiaArab Super Light50°Extra LightSweet MalaysiaTapis45.8°Extra LightSweet U.S.Eagle Ford45°Extra LightSweet AlgeriaSaharan Blend43.2°Extra LightSweet U.S.WTI 40°LightSweet UK, NorwayBrent Blend40°LightSweet NigeriaBonny Light37°LightSweet OmanOman Crude33.2°MediumSour RussiaUrals31.7°MediumSour UAE, OmanDubai (Fateh)31°MediumSour U.S.Mars Blend28.5°MediumSour VenezuelaMesa 3029.1°MediumSour MexicoMaya21°HeavySour CanadaWestern Canadian Select21°HeavySour ColombiaCastilla18.8°HeavySour VenezuelaHamaca17°HeavySour VenezuelaMerey 1615.9°HeavySour VenezuelaBoscan10.1°Extra HeavySour CanadaAthabasca Bitumen8°Extra HeavySour Because of these characteristics, Venezuelan crude requires complex and expensive refining processes. Only a limited number of refineries globally are equipped to handle such heavy feedstocks efficiently. Why Light and Sweet Crudes Dominate Global Trade Many of the world’s most traded crude oils—such as Brent, WTI, and Arab Light—are light and sweet. With API gravities near or above 40° and low sulfur content (sweet), these crudes are cheaper to process and yield higher proportions of valuable fuels. This makes them attractive benchmarks for global pricing. Extra-light crudes like Arab Super Light and Tapis sit at the top of the quality spectrum. Their high API gravity and low sulfur content allow refiners to maximize output with minimal processing complexity. Despite its challenges, heavy crude still plays an important role in global markets. U.S. Gulf Coast refineries, for example, were specifically configured with cokers and other complex units to process high-sulfur, low-API crude crude oils from countries like Venezuela, Mexico, and Canada. Venezuela is geographically closer to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries than Canada, but most of its crude is heavy and costly to produce. Historically, U.S. refiners purchased significant volumes of Venezuelan heavy crude before sanctions reduced those flows, and Canadian heavy crude has since become the largest foreign heavy crude supply to the U.S. market. Venezuela’s Rise, Fall, and Changing Role in Global Oil At its peak in the 1970s, Venezuela produced around 3.5 million barrels per day, representing more than 7% of global oil output at the time. Since then, production has declined sharply due to underinvestment, infrastructure decay, and geopolitical pressures, including sanctions. Today, Venezuela’s output averages around 1 million barrels per day, or about 1 % of global supply. Despite the collapse in production, Chevron continues to operate in Venezuela through joint ventures, maintaining a presence that few other U.S. oil majors have preserved amid sanctions and nationalizations. Venezuela was also a founding member of OPEC in 1960, alongside Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. However, its influence within the group has diminished as production declined and its ability to meet export commitments weakened. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out All of the World’s Oil Reserves by Country, in One Visualization on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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Ranked: The Countries That Drink the Most Beer (Per Person)

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: Beer Consumption per Person by Country in 2024 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 Czechia leads for the 32nd consecutive year, with beer consumption nearing 150 liters per person annually. European countries dominate the list, accounting for 25 of the 35 highest beer-consuming nations. Beer remains one of the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic beverages, deeply tied to cultural traditions, social habits, and national identity in many countries. This infographic ranks countries by their beer consumption per capita in 2024, based on data from Kirin Holdings, which tracks global alcohol consumption trends annually. Where Do People Drink the Most Beer? Czechia tops global per-capita beer consumption for the 32nd year in a row, although consumption has been declining for the last two years. Beer has deep historical roots in Czechia stretching back to the 10th century, when brewing first began at the Břevnov Monastery. The table below shows the top 35 countries by beer consumption per person in 2024: RankCountryPer Capita Consumption (Liters) 1 Czechia148.8 2 Lithuania110.6 3 Austria104.6 4 Ireland99.0 5 Croatia95.1 6 Estonia93.2 7 Spain91.8 8 Slovenia88.4 9 Romania87.4 10 Germany86.9 11 Panama86.1 12 Mexico83.4 13 Poland83.2 14 Bulgaria81.4 15 Slovakia81.0 16 Gabon80.9 17 Latvia79.1 18 South Africa75.2 19 Hungary74.1 20 Bosnia and Herzegovina71.4 21 Brazil70.3 22 Finland68.7 23 Portugal66.9 24 United Kingdom66.3 25 Netherlands66.2 26 Namibia66.1 27 Russia66.1 28 Serbia65.5 29 United States65.4 30 Australia65.0 31 Puerto Rico61.8 32 Denmark60.8 33 Belgium57.4 34 Norway55.8 35 Laos55.2 The average Czech drinks 148.8 liters of beer annually, amounting to around 419 standard bottles (355 ml, or 0.75 pints)—double that of many top beer-consuming nations. Lithuania and Austria follow, each exceeding 100 liters per capita, along with Ireland, home of Guinness. Croatia rounds out the top five countries, which are unchanged from 2023. While Europe dominates the ranking, beer is also popular in Latin America, with Mexico, Panama, Brazil, and Puerto Rico among the top beer-consuming countries. Notably, Brazil is also the world’s third-largest beer consumer in absolute terms, behind China and the United States. Why Beer Consumption Differs Globally Countries with strong beer traditions often combine cultural acceptance, local production, and affordability. In contrast, regions where spirits or wine dominate tend to show lower beer consumption. Demographics also play a role, with aging populations and younger generations drinking less alcohol overall. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, explore more food, beverage, and lifestyle insights on Voronoi, including The Most Popular Beer in Every U.S. State.

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Ranked: The Countries that Drink the Most Beer

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Countries that Drink the Most Beer 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 Global beer consumption reached 194 billion liters in 2024, with China alone accounting for over one-fifth of the total. Emerging markets like India, Mexico, and Russia posted strong growth, even as consumption declined in several mature markets. Beer remains one of the world’s most popular alcoholic beverages. While per-capita drinking often gets the spotlight, total consumption tells a different story, shaped by population size, economic growth, and shifting consumer habits. This visualization ranks nations by the total volume of beer consumed in 2024. The data for this graphic comes from Kirin Holdings. China and the U.S. Dominate Global Beer Consumption China remains the world’s largest beer market by a wide margin, consuming 40.5 billion liters—nearly 21% of global demand. Despite its size, China’s beer consumption fell by 3.7% year over year. The United States ranks second at 22.3 billion liters, accounting for 11.5% of the global market. Similar to China, U.S. beer consumption edged lower, continuing a long-term trend toward moderation and alternative beverages. RankCountryBillion litersGlobal Market ShareGrowth (2023-24) 1 China40.520.9%-3.7% 2 United States of America22.311.5%-0.5% 3 Brazil15.37.9%1.1% 4 Mexico10.85.6%5.4% 5 Russia9.54.9%9.0% 6 Germany7.23.7%-2.2% 7 South Africa4.62.4%4.5% 8 Vietnam4.62.4%0.6% 9 United Kingdom4.52.3%1.7% 10 Spain4.42.2%-1.3% 11 Japan4.12.1%-2.7% 12 India3.41.8%14.6% 13 Poland3.31.7%-1.7% 14 Colombia2.61.4%3.2% 15 South Korea2.31.2%0.7% 16 Italy2.21.1%0.9% 17 France2.11.1%-1.0% 18 Thailand2.01.0%5.8% 19 Canada1.80.9%-0.1% 20 Australia1.70.9%-2.6% 21 Ethiopia1.70.9%5.1% 22 Romania1.70.9%2.0% 23 Philippines1.70.9%0.3% 24 Ukraine1.70.9%3.0% 25 Czechia1.60.8%-0.9% -- Rest of world36.418.7%-- -- Global Total194.1100.0%0.5% Growth Shifts Toward Emerging Markets Several emerging markets posted notable gains in beer consumption. India recorded the fastest growth among major countries, with volumes rising 14.6% as incomes increase and beer becomes more popular among younger consumers. Mexico and Russia also stood out, growing by 5.4% and 9.0% respectively. Europe’s Mixed Picture Europe remains a key beer-producing and consuming region, but trends vary widely by country. Germany, the world’s sixth-largest beer market, saw consumption decline by 2.2%, while Czechia—famous for having the highest per-capita beer intake—also posted a modest drop. In contrast, countries like the UK, Italy, and Romania experienced mild growth. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Most Popular Beer in Every U.S. State on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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Mapped: The Average Annual Temperature of Every Country

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Average Annual Temperature 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 Africa has the world’s hottest countries, accounting for six of the top 10. Temperatures in Canada and Russia, on average, are colder than several Antarctic islands. Average annual temperatures vary widely by geography, from over 30°C in parts of West Africa to below −18°C in Greenland. This map shows the average annual temperature for countries and territories around the world. The data for this visualization comes from the World Bank Group via Wikipedia, based on Climatic Research Unit gridded climatology data. Average yearly temperature reflects the mean of daily minimum and maximum temperatures for each country from 1991 to 2020. Important caveat: this is showing the geographical mean temperature, and it is not based on where people live in a given country. As an example, Russia and Canada have massive portions of remote, Arctic land that count towards this mean, even though population centers tend to exist in more temperate regions within these landmasses. Africa Is Home to the World’s Hottest Countries Burkina Faso tops the global ranking with an average annual temperature of 30.4°C. Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Gambia also rank among the hottest countries worldwide. In total, six of the 10 hottest countries are located in Africa. Much of this heat concentration is driven by geography. Large portions of the continent sit near the equator or within arid and semi-arid climate zones, where high solar radiation and limited cloud cover push temperatures higher year-round. RankCountry or EntityContinentTemperature 1 Burkina FasoAfrica30.40 °C (86.72 °F) 2 MaliAfrica29.21 °C (84.58 °F) 3 ArubaSouth America29.17 °C (84.51 °F) 4 SenegalAfrica28.90 °C (84.02 °F) 5 MauritaniaAfrica28.82 °C (83.88 °F) 6 TokelauOceania28.71 °C (83.68 °F) 7 TuvaluOceania28.62 °C (83.52 °F) 8 DjiboutiAfrica28.49 °C (83.28 °F) 9 CuraçaoNorth America28.40 °C (83.12 °F) 10 GambiaAfrica28.38 °C (83.08 °F) 11 United Arab EmiratesAsia28.17 °C (82.71 °F) 12 MaldivesAsia28.11 °C (82.60 °F) 13 NigerAfrica28.04 °C (82.47 °F) 14 BeninAfrica28.02 °C (82.44 °F) 15 QatarAsia28.02 °C (82.44 °F) 16 Marshall IslandsOceania28.01 °C (82.42 °F) 17 Guinea-BissauAfrica27.98 °C (82.36 °F) 18 South SudanAfrica27.97 °C (82.35 °F) 19 SudanAfrica27.95 °C (82.31 °F) 20 PalauOceania27.90 °C (82.22 °F) 21 NauruOceania27.83 °C (82.09 °F) 22 Cayman IslandsNorth America27.82 °C (82.08 °F) 23 GuamOceania27.81 °C (82.06 °F) 24 KiribatiOceania27.77 °C (81.99 °F) 25 AnguillaNorth America27.71 °C (81.88 °F) 26 Saint MartinNorth America27.71 °C (81.88 °F) 27 Sint MaartenNorth America27.71 °C (81.88 °F) 28 BahrainAsia27.69 °C (81.84 °F) 29 SingaporeAsia27.68 °C (81.82 °F) 30 GhanaAfrica27.66 °C (81.79 °F) 31 OmanAsia27.64 °C (81.75 °F) 32 ChadAfrica27.63 °C (81.73 °F) 33 British Indian Ocean TerritoryAfrica27.61 °C (81.70 °F) 34 Northern Mariana IslandsOceania27.60 °C (81.68 °F) 35 SamoaOceania27.58 °C (81.64 °F) 36 Caribbean NetherlandsNorth America27.47 °C (81.45 °F) 37 Saint Kitts and NevisNorth America27.47 °C (81.45 °F) 38 CambodiaAsia27.41 °C (81.34 °F) 39 American SamoaOceania27.38 °C (81.28 °F) 40 TogoAfrica27.33 °C (81.19 °F) 41 NigeriaAfrica27.30 °C (81.14 °F) 42 Wallis and FutunaOceania27.30 °C (81.14 °F) 43 Federated States of MicronesiaOceania27.28 °C (81.10 °F) 44 Sri LankaAsia27.25 °C (81.05 °F) 45 Antigua and BarbudaNorth America27.20 °C (80.96 °F) 46 SeychellesAfrica27.09 °C (80.76 °F) 47 Saint LuciaNorth America27.00 °C (80.60 °F) 48 United States Virgin IslandsNorth America26.98 °C (80.56 °F) 49 BruneiAsia26.95 °C (80.51 °F) 50 SomaliaAfrica26.95 °C (80.51 °F) 51 ThailandAsia26.85 °C (80.33 °F) 52 DominicaNorth America26.83 °C (80.29 °F) 53 Ivory CoastAfrica26.80 °C (80.24 °F) 54 Cocos (Keeling) IslandsOceania26.79 °C (80.22 °F) 55 British Virgin IslandsNorth America26.70 °C (80.06 °F) 56 EritreaAfrica26.63 °C (79.93 °F) 57 BarbadosNorth America26.61 °C (79.90 °F) 58 SurinameSouth America26.58 °C (79.84 °F) 59 Trinidad and TobagoNorth America26.55 °C (79.79 °F) 60 Sierra LeoneAfrica26.54 °C (79.77 °F) 61 GrenadaNorth America26.49 °C (79.68 °F) 62 MalaysiaAsia26.38 °C (79.48 °F) 63 KuwaitAsia26.31 °C (79.36 °F) 64 Turks and Caicos IslandsNorth America26.29 °C (79.32 °F) 65 Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesNorth America26.17 °C (79.11 °F) 66 GuyanaSouth America26.12 °C (79.02 °F) 67 Christmas IslandOceania26.06 °C (78.91 °F) 68 IndonesiaAsia25.96 °C (78.73 °F) 69 Saudi ArabiaAsia25.94 °C (78.69 °F) 70 Solomon IslandsOceania25.92 °C (78.66 °F) 71 JamaicaNorth America25.91 °C (78.64 °F) 72 NicaraguaCentral America25.88 °C (78.58 °F) 73 GuineaAfrica25.86 °C (78.55 °F) 74 CubaNorth America25.81 °C (78.46 °F) 75 MontserratNorth America25.75 °C (78.35 °F) 76 BangladeshAsia25.71 °C (78.28 °F) 77 VenezuelaSouth America25.71 °C (78.28 °F) 78 BelizeCentral America25.70 °C (78.26 °F) 79 PanamaCentral America25.60 °C (78.08 °F) 80 BahamasNorth America25.58 °C (78.04 °F) 81 YemenAsia25.54 °C (77.97 °F) 82 Central African RepublicAfrica25.47 °C (77.85 °F) 83 LiberiaAfrica25.45 °C (77.81 °F) 84 BrazilSouth America25.44 °C (77.79 °F) 85 El SalvadorCentral America25.23 °C (77.41 °F) 86 GabonAfrica25.20 °C (77.36 °F) 87 KenyaAfrica25.08 °C (77.14 °F) 88 Puerto RicoNorth America25.04 °C (77.07 °F) 89 NiueOceania25.03 °C (77.05 °F) 90 TongaOceania25.01 °C (77.02 °F) 91 ColombiaSouth America25.00 °C (77.00 °F) 92 United States Minor Outlying IslandsOceania and North America24.97 °C (76.95 °F) 93 HaitiNorth America24.95 °C (76.91 °F) 94 IndiaAsia24.94 °C (76.89 °F) 95 Costa RicaCentral America24.83 °C (76.69 °F) 96 CameroonAfrica24.80 °C (76.64 °F) 97 VietnamAsia24.79 °C (76.62 °F) 98 Republic of the CongoAfrica24.74 °C (76.53 °F) 99 Papua New GuineaOceania24.74 °C (76.53 °F) 100 HondurasCentral America24.72 °C (76.50 °F) 101 Cook IslandsOceania24.71 °C (76.48 °F) 102 FijiOceania24.68 °C (76.42 °F) 103 Equatorial GuineaAfrica24.66 °C (76.39 °F) 104 Timor-LesteAsia24.57 °C (76.23 °F) 105 Dominican RepublicNorth America24.55 °C (76.19 °F) 106 São Tomé and PríncipeAfrica24.49 °C (76.08 °F) 107 VanuatuOceania24.44 °C (75.99 °F) 108 MozambiqueAfrica24.41 °C (75.94 °F) 109 Democratic Republic of the CongoAfrica24.35 °C (75.83 °F) 110 French PolynesiaOceania24.30 °C (75.74 °F) 111 LaosAsia24.16 °C (75.49 °F) 112 ParaguaySouth America23.92 °C (75.06 °F) 113 MyanmarAsia23.82 °C (74.88 °F) 114 ComorosAfrica23.73 °C (74.71 °F) 115 GuatemalaCentral America23.65 °C (74.57 °F) 116 AlgeriaAfrica23.60 °C (74.48 °F) 117 EthiopiaAfrica23.36 °C (74.05 °F) 118 MauritiusAfrica23.33 °C (73.99 °F) 119 UgandaAfrica23.25 °C (73.85 °F) 120 EgyptAfrica23.14 °C (73.65 °F) 121 PhilippinesAsia23.1 °C (73.6 °F) 122 IraqAsia22.95 °C (73.31 °F) 123 TanzaniaAfrica22.92 °C (73.26 °F) 124 LibyaAfrica22.81 °C (73.06 °F) 125 New CaledoniaOceania22.69 °C (72.84 °F) 126 MalawiAfrica22.66 °C (72.79 °F) 127 MadagascarAfrica22.64 °C (72.75 °F) 128 Cape VerdeAfrica22.53 °C (72.55 °F) 129 ZambiaAfrica22.23 °C (72.01 °F) 130 BotswanaAfrica22.09 °C (71.76 °F) 131 AustraliaOceania22.05 °C (71.69 °F) 132 ZimbabweAfrica21.90 °C (71.42 °F) 133 AngolaAfrica21.77 °C (71.19 °F) 134 BermudaNorth America21.67 °C (71.01 °F) 135 EcuadorSouth America21.43 °C (70.57 °F) 136 PakistanAsia21.38 °C (70.48 °F) 137 MexicoNorth America21.31 °C (70.36 °F) 138 BoliviaSouth America20.76 °C (69.37 °F) 139 EswatiniAfrica20.64 °C (69.15 °F) 140 Pitcairn IslandsOceania20.56 °C (69.01 °F) 141 TunisiaAfrica20.53 °C (68.95 °F) 142 BurundiAfrica20.51 °C (68.92 °F) 143 NamibiaAfrica20.45 °C (68.81 °F) 144 IsraelAsia20.25 °C (68.45 °F) 145 PeruSouth America20.07 °C (68.13 °F) 146 MaltaEurope20.06 °C (68.11 °F) 147 JordanAsia20.05 °C (68.09 °F) 148 PalestineAsia20.04 °C (68.07 °F) 149 RwandaAfrica20.03 °C (68.05 °F) 150 Norfolk IslandOceania20.02 °C (68.04 °F) 151 CyprusEurope20.01 °C (68.02 °F) 152 SyriaAsia18.75 °C (65.75 °F) 153 IranAsia18.34 °C (65.01 °F) 154 South AfricaAfrica18.23 °C (64.81 °F) 155 GibraltarEurope18.15 °C (64.67 °F) 156 MoroccoAfrica18.14 °C (64.65 °F) 157 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaAfrica18.10 °C (64.58 °F) 158 UruguaySouth America17.97 °C (64.35 °F) 159 TurkmenistanAsia16.66 °C (61.99 °F) 160 ArgentinaSouth America16.30 °C (61.34 °F) 161 PortugalEurope15.85 °C (60.53 °F) 162 LebanonAsia15.45 °C (59.81 °F) 163 Vatican CityEurope15.20 °C (59.36 °F) 164 GreeceEurope13.17 °C (55.71 °F) 165 SpainEurope13.07 °C (55.53 °F) 166 UzbekistanAsia13.06 °C (55.51 °F) 167 MonacoEurope13.05 °C (55.49 °F) 168 AfghanistanAsia13.04 °C (55.47 °F) 169 ItalyEurope13.02 °C (55.44 °F) 170 AzerbaijanAsia12.96 °C (55.33 °F) 171 San MarinoEurope12.83 °C (55.09 °F) 172 AlbaniaEurope12.44 °C (54.39 °F) 173 LesothoAfrica12.38 °C (54.28 °F) 174 JerseyEurope12.27 °C (54.09 °F) 175 South KoreaAsia12.22 °C (54.00 °F) 176 GuernseyEurope12.09 °C (53.76 °F) 177 CroatiaEurope11.96 °C (53.53 °F) 178 JapanAsia11.78 °C (53.20 °F) 179 TurkeyAsia and Europe11.66 °C (52.99 °F) 180 FranceEurope11.65 °C (52.97 °F) 181 HungaryEurope11.50 °C (52.70 °F) 182 SerbiaEurope11.40 °C (52.52 °F) 183 BulgariaEurope11.35 °C (52.43 °F) 184 MoldovaEurope10.89 °C (51.60 °F) 185 North MacedoniaEurope10.79 °C (51.42 °F) 186 BelgiumEurope10.67 °C (51.21 °F) 187 NetherlandsEurope10.49 °C (50.88 °F) 188 New ZealandOceania10.46 °C (50.83 °F) 189 BhutanAsia10.38 °C (50.68 °F) 190 Bosnia and HerzegovinaEurope10.35 °C (50.63 °F) 191 RomaniaEurope10.18 °C (50.32 °F) 192 KosovoEurope10.02 °C (50.04 °F) 193 LuxembourgEurope10.02 °C (50.04 °F) 194 MontenegroEurope9.93 °C (49.87 °F) 195 SloveniaEurope9.86 °C (49.75 °F) 196 IrelandEurope9.73 °C (49.51 °F) 197 Isle of ManEurope9.65 °C (49.37 °F) 198 GermanyEurope9.59 °C (49.26 °F) 199 United StatesNorth America9.46 °C (49.03 °F) 200 ChileSouth America9.39 °C (48.90 °F) 201 UkraineEurope9.27 °C (48.69 °F) 202 United KingdomEurope9.24 °C (48.63 °F) 203 GeorgiaAsia9.01 °C (48.22 °F) 204 DenmarkEurope8.90 °C (48.02 °F) 205 SlovakiaEurope8.83 °C (47.89 °F) 206 PolandEurope8.78 °C (47.80 °F) 207 Czech RepublicEurope8.60 °C (47.48 °F) 208 AndorraEurope8.27 °C (46.89 °F) 209 ArmeniaAsia7.82 °C (46.08 °F) 210 ChinaAsia7.59 °C (45.66 °F) 211 LiechtensteinEurope7.55 °C (45.59 °F) 212 BelarusEurope7.45 °C (45.41 °F) 213 AustriaEurope7.44 °C (45.39 °F) 214 LithuaniaEurope7.38 °C (45.28 °F) 215 KazakhstanAsia7.11 °C (44.80 °F) 216 North KoreaAsia6.98 °C (44.56 °F) 217 LatviaEurope6.87 °C (44.37 °F) 218 Faroe IslandsEurope6.60 °C (43.88 °F) 219 SwitzerlandEurope6.47 °C (43.65 °F) 220 EstoniaEurope6.34 °C (43.41 °F) 221 Saint Pierre and MiquelonNorth America5.72 °C (42.30 °F) 222 French Southern and Antarctic LandsAntarctica4.11 °C (39.40 °F) 223 TajikistanAsia3.85 °C (38.93 °F) 224 SwedenEurope3.23 °C (37.81 °F) 225 KyrgyzstanAsia2.65 °C (36.77 °F) 226 FinlandEurope2.46 °C (36.43 °F) 227 Heard Island and McDonald IslandsAntarctica2.46 °C (36.43 °F) 228 NorwayEurope2.21 °C (35.98 °F) 229 IcelandEurope1.85 °C (35.33 °F) 230 MongoliaAsia1.07 °C (33.93 °F) 231 RussiaAsia and Europe−3.79 °C (25.18 °F) 232 CanadaNorth America−4.03 °C (24.75 °F) 233 Svalbard and Jan MayenEurope−6.78 °C (19.80 °F) 234 GreenlandNorth America−18.68 °C (−1.62 °F) Tropical Islands and the Middle East Follow Closely Beyond Africa, several tropical island nations and Middle Eastern countries also record consistently high temperatures. Places such as Aruba, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Curaçao average around 28–29°C annually, while countries like Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates post similar figures. These regions experience relatively small seasonal temperature swings. Warm ocean waters and desert climates help keep average temperatures elevated throughout the year. Cold Extremes Concentrated at High Latitudes At the opposite end of the spectrum are countries located at high latitudes or with significant polar territory. Greenland has the lowest average annual temperature at −18.7°C, followed by Svalbard and Jan Mayen (Artic territories of Norway), Canada, and Russia. European countries generally fall in the middle of the ranking, with average temperatures between 8°C and 15°C. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: G20 Greenhouse Gas Emissions per Capita (1990-2024) on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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Now Available: 2026 Global Forecast Report

Now Available: 2026 Global Forecast Report The 2026 Global Forecast Report is now available exclusively on VC+. The report is part of our annual Global Forecast Series, presented by Inigo, and it brings together more than 2,000 predictions from leading economists, strategists, and technologists to distill the most important forces shaping the year ahead. Rather than focusing on short-term forecasts, Visual Capitalist’s editorial team synthesizes areas of consensus, disagreement, and emerging risk across global economic growth, financial markets, geopolitics, technology, climate risk, and social trends—offering a clear, high-level perspective on potential risks and opportunities for 2026. Get the Global Forecast Series with VC+ Get the full report as part of the 2026 Global Forecast Series, presented by Inigo—now available to VC+ members. Not a VC+ member yet? Join today and not only will you get the 2026 Global Forecast Report, you’ll also get: Special Dispatches: Weekly visual briefings on crucial reports and global trends Markets This Month: A snappy summary of the state of the markets, every month The Trendline: Weekly, handpicked curation of the best visualizations from across the globe VC+ Archive: See our full back catalogue of exclusive VC+ content in one dedicated hub Ad-Free Access: Browse Visual Capitalist without any of the ads (worth $23.99/year)

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Healthy Diets Are Getting Pricier, Yet More Affordable

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Healthy Diets Are Getting Pricier, Yet More Affordable 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 average global cost of a healthy diet rose by $1.32 between 2017 and 2024, even after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, slightly more people have been able to afford healthy diets, thanks to rising incomes and social protections. A healthy diet is often discussed as a top public health issue, but affordability remains one of its biggest barriers. Over the past decade, food prices have climbed due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and climate-related shocks. At the same time, incomes and food access have improved in many regions. This graphic highlights how these competing forces have shaped the global cost of eating well—and who is still being left behind. The data for this visualization comes from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. It tracks the average daily cost of a healthy diet worldwide. Healthy Diet Costs Are Rising A healthy diet is defined as providing 2,330 kilocalories per day, with nutritionally adequate proportions across six food groups. These include starchy staples, vegetables, fruits, animal-source foods, legumes, nuts and seeds, and oils and fats. In 2017, the average global cost of a healthy diet was $3.14 per person per day. By 2024, that figure had climbed to $4.46. The sharpest increases occurred after 2020, coinciding with pandemic-related disruptions and global food price inflation. YearAverage global cost% that can't afford it# that can't afford it 2017$3.1438.4%2.93B 2018$3.1936.5%2.82B 2019$3.3035.4%2.76B 2020$3.4336.9%2.91B 2021$3.6034.5%2.75B 2022$4.0133.5%2.68B 2023$4.3032.8%2.65B 2024$4.4631.9%2.60B Affordability Is Improving Despite Higher Prices While costs have risen, affordability has steadily improved. In 2017, 38.4% of the global population—about 2.93 billion people—could not afford a healthy diet. By 2024, that share had fallen to 31.9%, representing roughly 2.6 billion people. Despite global progress, affordability challenges remain concentrated in low-income and conflict-affected regions. Even small increases in food prices can have outsized effects where households already spend a large share of income on food. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Much Meat do We Eat? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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What Happens to the USD When the Fed Cuts Rates?

Published 2 hours ago on January 9, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by OANDA What Happens to the USD When the Fed Cuts Rates? Key Takeaways Historically, Fed rate cuts put downward pressure on the U.S. dollar (USD). The USD often rises in the first 3 months of a cutting cycle, but weakens over the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year horizons. Other major central banks (including the BoC, BoE, and ECB) have typically cut rates over similar periods. When the Federal Reserve begins cutting interest rates, the U.S. dollar has historically struggled to maintain its strength. This visualization, created in partnership with OANDA, examines how the dollar behaved during the last three major easing cycles. While the USD may stay stable, or even prove resilient, early on, it has tended to weaken as the cycle progresses. Will greenback performance in 2026 follow suit if the Fed cuts rates further? How the USD Has Responded to Fed Rate Cuts Across these cycles, a clear negative relationship emerges between the start of Fed easing and U.S. dollar performance. On average, the dollar has fallen about 6% six months into a rate-cut cycle, dropped nearly 9% after one year, and remained lower even two years after cuts begin. USD Performance (%) Rate Cut Cycle3 months6 months1 year2 years January 2001-June 20035.0%-3.3%-4.7%-6.0% September 2007-December 20081.9%-8.4%-13.7%-6.4% August 2019-March 20200.2%-6.0%-7.3%-1.2% Average2.3%-5.9%-8.6%-4.5% The steepest declines occurred during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, but the pattern holds across all three cycles—showing declines at the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year marks each time. The Role of Global Rate Differentials Importantly, the dollar’s path does not depend on Federal Reserve policy alone. Major easing cycles are often driven by widespread economic stress, prompting other central banks to adjust policy in tandem. During both the early 2000s slowdown and the 2007–08 financial crisis, the Bank of Canada, Bank of England, and European Central Bank all cut rates alongside the Fed. At the same time, the Bank of Japan kept rates near zero in the early 2000s and later moved into negative territory from 2016 to 2024, highlighting how coordinated global policy shifts can shape currency outcomes. What This Means Going Forward As 2026 starts, the key question is whether a new easing cycle will once again pressure the U.S. dollar or whether global rate dynamics will alter the historical playbook. Learn how to trade smarter in 2026 with OANDA’s free outlook. Note: Past performance is not indicative of future results. Related Topics: #fed #USD #fx #central banks #interest rates #u.s. dollar #federal reserve #currencies #foreign exchange #oanda Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "What Happens to the USD When the Fed Cuts Rates?"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/oan04-what-happens-to-the-usd-when-the-fed-cuts-rates/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-192751"; More from OANDA Money12 months ago Major Currency Performance by Region in 2024 For each of the world’s seven major regions, what is the most-traded currency and how did it perform versus the U.S. dollar in 2024? Money1 year ago Which Assets Are Most Correlated to the USD? Building a well-balanced, diversified portfolio involves including assets with varying correlations. The USD, with its weak or negative correlations to other assets, can be a valuable… Markets1 year ago Ranked: The Ten Most Traded Currencies with the U.S. Dollar The U.S. dollar is used in 88% of FX trading transactions. Which currencies are most commonly on the other side of the exchange? Markets1 year ago Ranked: The Top Performing Major Currencies (2014-2023) Which major currencies have performed best on the foreign exchange market over the last decade? Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

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Ranked: The World’s Top Silver Producers

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Top Silver Producers 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 Mexico leads global silver production despite holding just 6% of the world’s known reserves. The Silver Institute projected that the silver market would end in a deficit for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, with the cumulative deficit reaching almost 820 million ounces. Silver prices surged more than 5% in recent trading, breaking above $80 per ounce once again. The rally has been driven by China’s restrictions on silver exports, rising demand from green technologies like solar power, and renewed interest in safe-haven assets. This visualization highlights the world’s largest silver-producing countries and shows where global supply is most concentrated. The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. It presents estimated silver mine production by country for 2024. Mexico’s Production Dominance Total world silver production reached roughly 25,000 metric tons in 2024. Mexico remained the world’s top silver producer in 2024, with an estimated 6,300 metric tons of output. The country has held this position for decades, supported by extensive mining infrastructure and high-grade deposits. Notably, Mexico produces far more silver than its reserve share might suggest, holding only about 6% of the world’s known reserves. China and Peru Anchor Global Supply China ranked second globally, producing around 3,300 metric tons of silver in 2024. Much of this output comes as a byproduct of large-scale base metal mining, particularly lead and zinc. Peru followed closely with approximately 3,100 metric tons, reinforcing South America’s importance in global silver markets. Together, these three countries accounted for more than half of global silver production. RankCountry2024 Production (Metric Tons) 1 Mexico6,300 2 China3,300 3 Peru3,100 4 Bolivia1,300 5 Poland1,300 6 Chile1,200 7 Russia1,200 8 United States1,100 9 Australia1,000 10 Kazakhstan1,000 11 Argentina800 12 India800 13 Sweden400 14 Canada300 -- Other countries2,100 -- World total (rounded)25,000 Beyond the top producers, countries such as Bolivia, Poland, Chile, Russia, and the United States each produced between 1,100 and 1,300 metric tons. Australia, Kazakhstan, Argentina, and India also contributed meaningful volumes. Despite this diversity, the silver market remains tight. Strong demand from solar panels, electronics, and electrification is expected to keep the market in a deficit, putting upwards pressure on silver prices. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out All of the World’s Oil Reserves by Country, in One Visualization on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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Mapped: Alcohol Spending Per Capita, by U.S. State

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Alcohol Spending by 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 Americans spent an average of $898 per adult on alcohol in 2024, with wide variation by state. Alaska tops the ranking, driven by geographic isolation, climate, and limited healthcare access. Alcohol consumption patterns in the U.S. vary sharply depending on where people live. Cultural norms, climate, income levels, and access to services all shape how much residents spend on alcoholic beverages. This visualization maps alcohol spending per adult across all 50 states. The data comes from SmartAsset. Alaska Leads by a Wide Margin Alaska ranks first, with adults spending nearly $1,250 on alcohol in 2024. The state’s top position is often linked to isolation, harsh weather conditions, and limited access to healthcare and addiction services. Higher prices due to transportation costs also push up total spending. RankStateAlcohol spending (2024) 1Alaska$1,249.76 2Wyoming$1,237.84 3Colorado$1,202.45 4Massachusetts$1,185.54 5Rhode Island$1,155.82 6New Hampshire$1,119.73 7Oregon$1,104.87 8Hawaii$1,095.34 9Washington$1,070.99 10Montana$1,051.01 11Vermont$1,039.04 12New Jersey$1,037.31 13Virginia$1,019.08 14California$1,001.37 15New Mexico$994.06 16Maine$985.08 17Texas$972.04 18Florida$959.37 19Minnesota$954.14 20Nevada$949.91 21North Carolina$943.46 22Georgia$943.08 23Arizona$881.96 24Connecticut$875.41 25South Carolina$838.57 26Missouri$835.55 27Arkansas$834.54 28Maryland$825.88 29North Dakota$822.97 30Louisiana$805.73 31Michigan$805.06 32South Dakota$804.83 33New York$804.53 34Iowa$801.79 35Delaware$800.65 36Kansas$800.42 37Nebraska$795.17 38Wisconsin$793.37 39Pennsylvania$780.53 40Illinois$774.28 41Alabama$754.48 42Indiana$750.66 43Kentucky$736.76 44Idaho$731.29 45Ohio$704.12 46Tennessee$693.70 47Oklahoma$690.82 48Mississippi$641.12 49West Virginia$616.81 50Utah$606.42 --State Average$897.57 Wyoming and Colorado follow Alaska closely, both exceeding $1,200 per adult. Regional Alcohol Spending Trends Many of the highest-spending states cluster in the West and Northeast. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire rank in the top 10, alongside Oregon and Washington. At the other end of the spectrum, Utah reports the lowest alcohol spending per adult at just over $600. A large religious population and stricter alcohol regulations help keep consumption and spending well below the national average. Several Southern and Midwestern states, including West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, also fall near the bottom of the rankings. Cultural attitudes, stricter alcohol regulations, and lower average incomes all help explain these patterns. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapping Incarceration Rates Across the U.S. on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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Ranked: The 30 Largest Cities in Oceania by Population

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Ranked: The 30 Largest Cities in Oceania by Population 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 Sydney remains Oceania’s largest city, with over 4.1 million residents in 2025. Australian cities dominate the ranking, accounting for over half of the top 30. Papua New Guinea hosts six of the 30 most populated cities. Oceania is the world’s smallest continent by land area, and the second-least populated after Antarctica. The continent’s urban population is largely concentrated in the largest economic hubs, primarily in Australia and New Zealand. This infographic ranks Oceania’s 30 most populated cities in 2025 using data from the UN World Population Prospects 2025. Urban populations can be measured in different ways. In this methodology, the UN looks at satellite-mapped urban footprints for consistency. For this reason some city populations may not line up exactly as you may expect. The 30 Largest Cities in Oceania Here’s how the region’s largest cities stack up by population: RankCountryCity2025 Population 1 AustraliaSydney4,151,000 2 AustraliaMelbourne3,640,000 3 New ZealandAuckland1,123,000 4 AustraliaPerth1,079,000 5 AustraliaBrisbane1,072,000 6 AustraliaAdelaide879,000 7 AustraliaCanberra485,000 8 Papua New GuineaPort Moresby413,000 9 AustraliaPoint Cook405,000 10 AustraliaGold Coast299,000 11 New ZealandGlenfield275,000 12 New ZealandChristchurch261,000 13 FijiSuva226,000 14 AustraliaNewcastle183,000 15 New ZealandHamilton166,000 16 New ZealandPapakura154,000 17 New ZealandWellington149,000 18 Papua New GuineaMendi133,000 19 Solomon IslandsHoniara131,000 20 New CaledoniaNouméa124,000 21 AustraliaDallas122,000 22 Papua New GuineaLae122,000 23 Papua New GuineaMount Hagen107,000 24 AustraliaWollongong106,000 25 AustraliaNorth Lakes102,000 26 AustraliaHackham West100,000 27 AustraliaCampbelltown98,000 28 Papua New GuineaGoroka95,000 29 Papua New GuineaMadang93,000 30 French PolynesiaPapeete92,000 Sydney’s population of 4.15 million makes it the largest metropolitan area in the region, and it has long held this title since 1975. Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital, follows closely behind at 3.64 million. Around 80% of Australia’s population is in the southeast due to favorable climate conditions and historically well-established ports. Perth is the only major city on the West Coast by population. Outside Australia, Auckland stands out as the largest city in New Zealand, home to just over 1.1 million people. Other major New Zealand cities, including Christchurch, Hamilton, and Wellington, also make the top 30, but with significantly smaller populations. Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea places six cities in the top 30, led by its capital city Port Moresby with a population of 413,000. Oceania’s Urban Population Disparity Most Pacific Island nations in Oceania consist of small populations spread across remote islands. On the contrary, Australia’s large landmass, infrastructure, and economic strength support multiple million-plus cities, skewing the region’s population distribution. However, major cities in Australia are growing at a much slower rate relative to emerging cities like Mendi and Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea, where the population is growing by more than 2% annually. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, explore more global urbanization and population insights on Voronoi, including Every City With Over 1 Million People.

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