Ranked: The EU’s Biggest Trading Partners 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 China supplied nearly a quarter of all EU imports in Q1 2026, making it the bloc’s largest foreign supplier. The U.S. remained the EU’s biggest export market despite exports falling more than 30% from a year earlier. The EU runs a large trade deficit with China but a sizable surplus with the United States. The European Union’s trade relationships reveal two very different economic realities: China is the bloc’s dominant source of imports, while the United States remains its largest export destination. Using Q1 2026 data from Eurostat, this visualization ranks the EU’s biggest goods trading partners outside the bloc. Together, China, the U.S., the UK, Switzerland, and Türkiye account for more than half of the EU’s external goods trade. China Creates the EU’s Largest Trade Gap China supplied €145.3 billion worth of goods to the EU in Q1 2026, nearly three times the value of EU exports to China over the same period. The resulting trade deficit of nearly €100 billion was the largest among the bloc’s major trading relationships and underscores Europe’s continued reliance on Chinese manufacturing. This data table lists major EU trade partners based on their total imports and exports in Q1 2026. Trade PartnerImport Amount (€B)Export Amount (€B)Surplus/Deficit (€B) China145.347.6-97.7 USA85.9119.433.5 UK39.588.749.2 Switzerland36.757.220.5 Turkiye24.627.12.5 Total627.8640.512.7 For the EU, trade relations with China are particularly sensitive as the bloc seeks to protect its domestic industries from rising Chinese competition. Cheaper Chinese cars, for example, have put pressure on the German auto industry, particularly in the electric vehicle space. Beijing has responded to some EU trade policies with tariffs on key European exports like pork, wine, or liquor, actions that affect major EU member states including France, Spain, and Italy. The U.S. Remains Europe’s Top Customer While China dominates EU imports, the United States remains the bloc’s largest export market. EU exports to the U.S. totaled €119.4 billion in Q1 2026, compared with €85.9 billion in imports, giving Europe a goods trade surplus of €33.5 billion. Even so, transatlantic trade has cooled. EU exports to the U.S. were down more than 30% from Q1 2025, reflecting the impact of renewed tariff disputes and a more uncertain trading environment between the two economies. Transatlantic ties between the EU and U.S. have come under pressure in 2025 and 2026. The U.S. imposed sweeping tariffs on EU imports in early 2025 to address its deficit with Brussels, and the two sides only worked out a deal following months of negotiations. In early 2026, tariffs resumed as the U.S. criticized the slow pace of implementation. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has also used tariffs in unrelated matters, such as threatening tariffs on certain large EU countries after they protested U.S. assertions of sovereignty over Greenland, which is the territory of EU member state Denmark. A New Relationship With London Beyond EU-U.S. and EU-China relations, the 27-member bloc must also balance relations with other European economies, including Switzerland, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom. The last of these has proven the most essential, partly because of the size of the UK economy, but also because of the UK’s prior status as an EU country. Following the UK’s withdrawal in 2020, subsequent British governments have attempted to maximize cooperation with the bloc, which imported €39.5 billion of goods from the UK while exporting €88.7 billion to British shores. Ten years on from the vote that led to Brexit, rumblings have persisted in both Brussels and London that a future British government might seek to rejoin the EU. Prior to departure, the UK was the second-largest EU member state by nominal GDP. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Europe’s Most Powerful Economic Centers on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Use This Visualization Ranked: Tax Revenue as a Share of GDP 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 Nineteen of the top 20 OECD countries by tax revenue as a share of GDP are in Europe. Denmark collects the most tax revenue relative to the size of its economy at 45.2% of GDP. The U.S. ranks near the bottom of the OECD, collecting 25.6% of GDP in tax revenue. How much of a country’s economy ends up in government coffers? Across the OECD, the answer ranges from less than one-fifth of GDP to nearly half. The visualization above ranks all 38 OECD member countries by tax revenue as a share of GDP using the latest available OECD data. The figures include personal income, corporate, property, value-added (VAT), social security, consumption, and other taxes. On average, OECD members collect 34.1% of GDP in tax revenue. Europe: High Taxes, High Support Of the top 20 countries by tax revenue as a percentage of GDP, the first 19 are European. Denmark leads the way with 45.2%, followed by France at 43.5% and Austria at 43.4%. While a majority of OECD countries are in Europe, their concentration at the top reflects a postwar social-economic model that uses higher taxes to help fund public education, healthcare, pensions, and labor systems. This data table lists OECD countries by tax revenue as a percentage of GDP. RankCountry2024 Tax Revenue (% of GDP) 1 Denmark45.2% 2 France43.5% 3 Austria43.4% 4 Italy42.8% 5 Belgium42.6% 6 Finland42.2% 7 Luxembourg41.5% 8 Sweden41.4% 9 Norway40.2% 10 Greece39.8% 11 Netherlands38.5% 12 Slovenia38.3% 13 Germany38.0% 14 Iceland36.9% 15 Spain36.7% 16 Poland36.6% 17 Slovak Republic35.6% 18 Estonia35.2% 19 Portugal35.1% 20 Canada34.9% 21 Latvia34.9% 22 United Kingdom34.4% 23 Hungary34.4% 24 Czechia34.0% 25 Japan33.7% 26 Lithuania33.1% 27 New Zealand32.9% 28 Israel30.9% 29 Australia29.9% 30 Switzerland27.2% 31 United States25.6% 32 Korea25.3% 33 Costa Rica24.8% 34 Türkiye24.0% 35 Ireland21.7% 36 Chile20.5% 37 Colombia19.9% 38 Mexico18.3% -- OECD Avg34.1% Most European countries fall within this general social market system, including the major economies of Germany (38%), Italy (42.8%), Spain (36.7%), and the United Kingdom (34.4%). However, the specific taxes levied can vary widely between countries. Denmark, for example, has high taxes on personal income but relatively low taxation on corporations and consumption. The European Outliers Only a few European countries bring in less tax revenue than the OECD average of 34.1%. These include Czechia (34%), Lithuania (33.1%), Switzerland (27.2%), and Ireland (21.7%). Ireland and Switzerland in particular serve as regional outliers, and they have used this to their advantage. Ireland has become a popular destination for multinational corporations seeking a European headquarters. Switzerland, meanwhile, has long maintained a reputation as a financial center, owing in part to its tax system and banking privacy laws. The U.S. and the Americas Compared with European and Asian OECD members, the U.S. obtained 25.6% of its GDP in tax revenue in 2024, trailing the OECD average and ranking above only seven OECD members out of 38. The U.S. has long been attractive to foreigners because of its lower tax burden, although the country is known for offering fewer public-spending benefits than peers like Canada (34.9%), Japan (33.7%), or New Zealand (32.9%). Notably, most countries drawing less relative tax revenue than the U.S. are also in the Americas. The four Latin American OECD members (Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Mexico) all obtain under 25% of GDP in revenue, with Mexico at 18.3%. Learn More on the Voronoi App Curious where residents get to keep more of their paycheck? Check out These Places Have No Personal Income Tax Requirements on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Published 2 hours ago on June 22, 2026 By Visual Capitalist Graphics & Design Jennifer West Abha Patil Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Plasma Will Tether be a Mega-Holder of Gold and U.S. Debt by 2030? Key Takeaways Tether holds about $117 billion in U.S. Treasuries and 132 metric tons of gold, making it a notable holder of both U.S. debt and gold reserves. Tether’s Treasury holdings could reach $1.4 trillion by 2030, with gold reserves also projected to rise significantly, approaching levels currently held by major countries like Japan and the UK. Stablecoins like Tether are becoming a larger part of global finance, backed by reserves such as U.S. debt and gold. This graphic compares Tether’s holdings with those of major countries and explores how Tether’s reserves could grow by 2030. It’s presented by Plasma as part of our Money 2.0 series on the next era of money. Tether’s Impact on U.S. Debt Markets Tether currently holds about $117 billion in U.S. Treasuries, still far below what major countries, such as Japan ($1.2 trillion) and the UK ($927 billion), currently hold. However, it has become a major buyer of U.S. debt. Projections suggest Tether’s holdings could grow under certain scenarios. The following projections make some assumptions: Stablecoin market cap hits $1.9 trillion (base case) to $4 trillion (bull case) by 2030. Tether’s market share stays the same at 59%.  Tether’s share of reserves held in U.S. Treasuries is unchanged at 61%. Debt HolderAmount of U.S. Treasuries Held Japan (current)$1.2 trillion UK (current)$927 billion Tether (current)$117 billion Tether (2030 base case)$682 billion Tether (2030 bull case)$1.4 trillion Source: Tether, CoinMarketCap, U.S. Treasury, Citi Institute, TheStreet. Data accessed on June 5, 2026. It’s important to note that Japan and UK figures are current and included as a point of comparison to help gauge the scale of Tether’s holdings. The values don’t reflect their 2030 projections, and their Treasury holdings will likely also increase over time. Tether’s Gold Reserves vs. Major Countries Tether’s gold reserves could follow a similar path, with these assumptions: Stablecoin market cap hits $1.9 trillion (base case) to $4 trillion (bull case) by 2030. Tether’s market share stays the same at 59%.  Tether’s share of reserves held in gold is unchanged at 10%. The price of gold is $5,000 per ounce in 2030. Gold HolderAmount of Gold Held Japan (current)846 metric tons UK (current)310 metric tons Tether (current)132 metric tons Tether (2030 base case)719 metric tons Tether (2030 bull case)1,514 metric tons Source:

Use This Visualization Ranked: The 50 Largest U.S. Cities by Median Income 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 San Jose ($175,491) and San Francisco ($141,277) have the highest median household incomes among the 50 largest U.S. metro areas. Seven of the top 10 highest-income metros are located in the West, including three in California. Las Vegas is the only Western metro with a median household income below the national median of $85,828. Which major U.S. cities have the highest-earning households? This graphic ranks the 50 most populous metros in the U.S. by median household income, using March 2026 model-estimated data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Home Ownership Affordability Monitor (HOAM). The national median household income stands at $85,828, but several major metros far exceed that figure, led by San Jose at nearly $176,000 per year. California’s Top-Tier Salaries The West is home to seven of the top 10 highest-ranked U.S. metros by household income, with California accounting for three. For someone pursuing a high salary, the Golden State still stands out despite its high cost of living. San Jose ($175,491) leads the way, followed by San Francisco ($141,277). Both cities are magnets for tech-sector and highly educated workers seeking Silicon Valley salaries. The following data table lists U.S. metros based on their median household income. RankMetroMedian Household Income (2026) 1San Jose, CA$175,491 2San Francisco, CA$141,277 3Washington, DC$130,587 4Boston, MA$125,025 5San Diego, CA$115,012 6Seattle, WA$114,804 7Denver, CO$112,231 8Raleigh, NC$107,446 9Portland, OR$104,269 10Salt Lake City, UT$104,059 11Sacramento, CA$103,447 12New York, NY$103,166 13Baltimore, MD$102,578 14Austin, TX$101,583 15Los Angeles, CA$101,268 16Minneapolis, MN$101,123 17Hartford, CT$98,059 18Dallas, TX$97,808 19Atlanta, GA$96,651 20Riverside, CA$95,039 21Philadelphia, PA$94,766 22Phoenix, AZ$93,845 23Chicago, IL$93,572 24Nashville, TN$92,333 25Charlotte, NC$91,059 26Kansas City, MO$88,033 27Columbus, OH$87,273 28Virginia Beach, VA$86,046 29Orlando, FL$84,866 30Jacksonville, FL$84,841 31Miami, FL$84,814 32Houston, TX$84,610 33Cincinnati, OH$84,546 34St. Louis, MO$84,425 35Las Vegas, NV$83,859 36Richmond, VA$83,637 37Tampa, FL$82,721 38Providence, RI$82,527 39San Antonio, TX$82,130 40Pittsburgh, PA$81,967 41Indianapolis, IN$81,718 42Milwaukee, WI$80,485 43Birmingham, AL$79,463 44Detroit, MI$79,294 45Louisville, KY$77,221 46Oklahoma City, OK$76,960 47Cleveland, OH$76,118 48Buffalo, NY$74,258 49Memphis, TN$70,056 50New Orleans, LA$65,021 —United States $85,828 San Diego ($115,012) lands in the top five, while nearby Los Angeles ($101,268) and Riverside ($95,039) also fall above the national median household income. The Midwest: Incomes at All Levels The West can claim the highest incomes, with Las Vegas ($83,859) as the region’s only major metro to fall below the national average. The Midwest shows a wider range of outcomes. Although not home to any of the country’s top-10 metro areas, the Midwest includes higher-income cities such as Minneapolis ($101,123) and Chicago ($93,572), as well as lower-median deindustrializing cities such as Cleveland ($76,118) and Detroit ($79,294). The distinction between these groups often comes down to the industries present in each metro area. Chicago, for example, has been cited by sources such as Moody’s as having the most balanced economy of any major U.S. city, with no single industry employing over 14% of the labor force. This sectoral diversity has helped consistently attract top talent. The Northeast’s Educational Edge Median incomes are particularly high in dynamic northeastern cities such as Boston ($125,025) and New York ($103,166), both of which are major metropolitan economies with diverse workforces. Education plays a key role: Boston is near top-tier universities such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while New York is home to world-class colleges such as Columbia University and New York University. Similar to the role Stanford played in the development of Silicon Valley, these prestigious northeastern universities have helped nearby cities become hubs for educated talent, raising median incomes accordingly. Learn More on the Voronoi App Wondering how far these incomes go toward buying a house? Check out The States Where Housing Prices Have Surged the Most (2021–2026) on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Use This Visualization The Countries With the Most 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 data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways China now has more billionaires than the U.S., with 1,110 compared to 1,000. China and the U.S. are home to more than half of the world’s billionaires. India ranks a distant third with 308 billionaires, ahead of every European country. China is now home to more billionaires than any other country in the world. According to the Hurun Global Rich List 2026, China has 1,110 billionaires, surpassing the United States. Together, the two countries account for more than half of the global billionaire population, highlighting how concentrated extreme wealth has become. This visualization ranks countries by the number of billionaires living there in 2026. Wealth calculations are a snapshot as of January 15, 2026. China Pulls Ahead According to Hurun, 75% of China’s billionaires were not on the list 10 years ago. This statistic shows how quickly the shift has happened, helping put China at the top of the rankings. RankCountryRegionNumber of Billionaires 1 ChinaAsia1,110 2 USAAmericas1,000 3 IndiaAsia308 4 GermanyEurope171 5 UKEurope150 6 SwitzerlandEurope114 7 RussiaEurope105 8 BrazilAmericas77 9 CanadaAmericas75 10 ItalyEurope73 11 FranceEurope71 12 AustraliaOceania61 13 SingaporeAsia59 14 IndonesiaAsia44 15 JapanAsia42 16 ThailandAsia40 17 South KoreaAsia37 18 SwedenEurope35 18 TürkiyeEurope35 20 SpainEurope34 21 IsraelMiddle East31 22 UAEMiddle East28 23 MexicoAmericas27 23 MonacoEurope27 25 Saudi ArabiaMiddle East17 26 PhilippinesAsia16 26 MalaysiaAsia16 28 ChileAmericas15 28 DenmarkEurope15 30 AustriaEurope14 -- OtherVarious173 The U.S. Remains a Billionaire Powerhouse The U.S. ranks second, but remains one of the most important centers of global wealth. Its 1,000 billionaires reflect deep capital markets, a large technology sector, and decades of entrepreneurship. The country is also home to many of the world’s largest companies by market value. Even after being overtaken by China, the U.S. still accounts for roughly one-quarter of the global billionaire population. It also has a higher population of ultra-rich people (>$30MM net worth) overall. India Holds Third Place India ranks third with 308 billionaires, far ahead of Germany in fourth place. Its billionaire class has grown alongside the country’s expanding consumer market, technology sector, and industrial base. India’s large population and rising wealth levels could support further billionaire growth in the years ahead. Europe’s Billionaire Base Is Broad Europe has several countries in the top rankings, including Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Russia, Italy, and France. Germany leads Europe with 171 billionaires, followed by the UK with 150. Switzerland also stands out with 114 billionaires despite its smaller population. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The $126T Global Economy in One Giant Chart on Voronoi.

Use This Visualization Ranked: Household Income by Race 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 data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Asian households had the highest median income in 2024, at $121,700. White alone, non-Hispanic households ranked second, with a median income of $92,530. The gap between the highest- and lowest-income groups was $65,680. Median household income differs significantly across racial and ethnic groups in the United States, with one group sitting well above the rest. In 2024, Asian households reported a median income of $121,700, nearly $30,000 higher than White alone, non-Hispanic households and more than double the median income of Black households. These differences reflect a mix of factors, including education, geography, occupation, household composition, immigration patterns, and historical inequalities. This graphic ranks median household income by race and Hispanic origin in 2024, using inflation-adjusted dollars. The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. Asian Households Lead by a Wide Margin Asian households had the highest median income in 2024, at $121,700. This was well above every other group shown in the Census dataset. White alone, non-Hispanic households ranked second, with a median income of $92,530. Hispanic households followed at $70,950. Median Household Income Group20022024Growth (real) Asian alone$86,910$121,70040% White alone, not Hispanic$77,460$92,53019% Hispanic (any race)$54,670$70,95030% American Indian and Alaska Native alone$54,050$59,0509% Black alone$47,940$56,02017% American Indian and Alaska Native households had a median income of $59,050, while Black households had the lowest among the listed groups at $56,020. Asian households had a median income that was $29,170 higher than White alone, non-Hispanic households in 2024. This group has ranked at the top of the dataset for every year shown, from 2002 to 2024. It is important to note that these are median household figures, not individual earnings. Household income can be affected by the number of earners in a household, local cost of living, age distribution, educational attainment, and where people live and work. A Persistent Income Gap The gap between the highest and lowest median household incomes was $65,680 in 2024. That difference compares Asian households at $121,700 with Black households at $56,020. In practical terms, the top group’s median income was more than double the lowest group’s. The long-term trend also shows that these gaps have persisted across multiple economic cycles. While incomes have generally risen since 2002 in inflation-adjusted terms, the distance between the highest- and lowest-income groups remains substantial. Hispanic Household Income Continued to Rise Hispanic households had a median income of $70,950 in 2024. That was up from $67,240 in 2023, and well above the 2002 level of $54,670 in 2024 dollars. The Census Bureau defines Hispanic as people of Hispanic or Latino origin, regardless of race. This means Hispanic households can include people who identify with any racial group. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Number of Indian Tribes in the US on Voronoi.

Use This Visualization Mapped: Smoking Rates by State, From 6% to 20% 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 West Virginia has the highest adult smoking rate in America at 20.4%, while Utah has the lowest at 6.0%. Smoking rates remain highest across Appalachia and parts of the South. Several Western and Northeastern states now report single-digit smoking rates. Cigarette smoking has declined significantly in the United States over the past several decades, but it remains one of the leading causes of preventable death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke contribute to roughly one in five deaths nationwide each year. This map highlights the share of adults who smoke in every U.S. state based on CDC data. West Virginia and Kentucky Lead the Nation West Virginia has the highest smoking rate in the country, with 20.4% of adults reporting that they smoke. Kentucky follows at 17.6%, while Tennessee ranks third at 17.0%. RankStateAdults who smoke 1West Virginia20.4% 2Kentucky17.6% 3Tennessee17.0% 4Oklahoma15.8% 5Louisiana15.7% 6Mississippi15.6% 7Missouri15.3% 8Alaska15.3% 9South Dakota15.2% 10Ohio15.0% 11Arizona15.0% 12Pennsylvania14.9% 13Indiana14.5% 14Alabama14.2% 15Nevada14.2% 16Maine14.0% 17Wyoming14.0% 18Kansas13.9% 19Iowa13.7% 20Michigan13.6% 21North Dakota13.4% 22North Carolina13.2% 23Montana12.4% 24New Mexico12.2% 25Minnesota12.2% 26South Carolina12.1% 27Nebraska12.1% 28Wisconsin12.0% 29Georgia12.0% 30Delaware11.4% 31Vermont11.3% 32Texas11.3% 33Virginia10.9% 34Illinois10.8% 35Oregon10.6% 36Florida10.5% 37Idaho10.4% 38New Hampshire10.4% 39Colorado10.2% 40Arkansas10.0% 41Massachusetts9.8% 42District of Columbia9.8% 43Rhode Island9.5% 44New York9.3% 45New Jersey9.1% 46Maryland9.1% 47Hawaii9.0% 48Washington9.0% 49California8.5% 50Connecticut8.4% 51Utah6.0% These states have long struggled with elevated tobacco use rates due to a combination of economic, cultural, and historical factors. The Appalachian region has been closely linked to tobacco production and consumption for generations. Although smoking rates have declined over time, the region continues to record some of the nation’s highest levels of tobacco use. The South and Midwest Remain Above Average Several Southern and Midwestern states rank near the top of the list. Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio all report smoking rates of 15% or higher. Many of these states also face higher rates of smoking-related illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions. These states also tend to have lower life expectancy rates. Utah Stands Out as the Lowest-Smoking State At the other end of the spectrum, Utah reports the nation’s lowest adult smoking rate at just 6.0%. Connecticut, California, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, and New Jersey also rank among the states with the lowest smoking prevalence. Utah’s exceptionally low rate is often attributed to cultural and religious influences, along with longstanding public health efforts. Meanwhile, California’s rate of 8.5% reflects decades of aggressive anti-smoking campaigns and tobacco-control policies that have helped reduce cigarette use across the state. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Why Living Longer Isn’t Always Living Healthier on Voronoi.

Use This Visualization Ranked: The Countries That Brew the Most Beer 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 China brewed 9.0 billion gallons of beer in 2024, producing nearly one in every five beers worldwide. The top five beer-producing countries accounted for almost half of global output. Africa was the fastest-growing beer region in 2024, led by strong gains in Angola and South Africa. Beer is consumed almost everywhere, but brewing at scale is a different story. Behind many of the world’s biggest beer brands are countries producing billions of gallons each year for domestic drinkers and export markets. This visualization ranks the world’s largest beer producers in 2024, measured in U.S. gallons, using data from the BarthHaas Report 2024/25. China Still Leads by a Wide Margin China brewed 9.0 billion gallons of beer in 2024, making it the world’s largest producer by far. That works out to 18.2% of global beer output, or nearly one in every five beers brewed worldwide. China also produced more beer than the United States and Brazil combined. RankCountryBeer Output (Billion Gallons)Share of World (2024) 1 China9.0118.2% 2 United States4.879.8% 3 Brazil3.897.9% 4 Mexico3.837.7% 5 Russia2.404.8% 6 Germany2.224.5% 7 Japan1.182.4% 8 Spain1.092.2% 9 South Africa0.982.0% 10 United Kingdom0.951.9% 11 Poland0.911.8% 12 India0.871.7% 13 Vietnam0.831.7% 14 Colombia0.741.5% 15 Thailand0.601.2% 16 France0.561.1% 17 Netherlands0.561.1% 18 Belgium0.551.1% 19 Canada0.541.1% 20 Argentina0.541.1% 21 Czech Republic0.531.1% 22 Nigeria0.511.0% 23 Italy0.460.9% 24 Philippines0.460.9% 25 Angola0.430.9% 26 South Korea0.4280.9% 27 Cambodia0.4230.9% 28 Peru0.3980.8% 29 Romania0.3960.8% 30 Ukraine0.370.7% 31 Australia0.3680.7% 32 Ethiopia0.3620.7% 33 Chile0.3000.6% 34 Turkey0.2930.6% 35 Austria0.2670.5% 36 Cameroon0.2460.5% 37 Ireland0.2190.4% 38 Portugal0.2010.4% 39 Ecuador0.1800.4% 40 Myanmar0.1700.3% 41 Denmark0.1690.3% 42 Laos0.1590.3% 43 Hungary0.1470.3% 44 DR Congo0.1420.3% 45 Guatemala0.1400.3% 46 Venezuela0.1370.3% 47 Kazakhstan0.1370.3% 48 Taiwan0.1330.3% 49 Tanzania0.1280.3% 50 Ivory Coast0.1270.3% 51 Bulgaria0.1240.3% 52 Dominican Republic0.1170.2% 53 Mozambique0.1120.2% 54 Kenya0.1110.2% 55 Greece0.1080.2% 56 Sweden0.1060.2% 57 Uganda0.1050.2% 58 Belarus0.1020.2% 59 Switzerland0.09920.2% 60 Ghana0.09790.2% 61 Congo (Brazzaville)0.09510.2% 62 Bolivia0.09480.2% 63 Panama0.08930.2% 64 Indonesia0.08800.2% 65 Serbia0.08550.2% 66 Finland0.08530.2% 67 Burkina Faso0.08190.2% 68 Croatia0.07960.2% 69 New Zealand0.07820.2% 70 Slovakia0.07660.2% 71 Paraguay0.07590.2% 72 Lithuania0.07340.1% 73 Norway0.07210.1% 74 Uzbekistan0.07130.1% 75 Zimbabwe0.06500.1% 76 Cuba0.06480.1% 77 Zambia0.06180.1% 78 Sri Lanka0.05550.1% 79 Gabon0.05280.1% 80 Nepal0.05280.1% 81 Israel0.05260.1% 82 Namibia0.04890.1% 83 Slovenia0.04760.1% 84 Tunisia0.04540.1% 85 Uruguay0.04470.1% 86 Lesotho0.04390.1% 87 Rwanda0.04260.1% 88 Costa Rica0.04160.1% 89 Moldova0.03960.1% 90 Malaysia0.03960.1% 91 Algeria0.03960.1% 92 Honduras0.03940.1% 93 Madagascar0.03750.1% 94 Georgia0.03590.1% 95 El Salvador0.03500.1% 96 Benin0.03380.1% 97 Togo0.03280.1% 98 Nicaragua0.03200.1% 99 Singapore0.03170.1% 100 Malawi0.03060.1% 101 Mongolia0.02910.1% 102 Puerto Rico0.02910.1% 103 Chad0.02510.1% 104 Egypt0.02490.1% 105 Estonia0.02480.1% 106 Iran0.02380.0% 107 Bosnia-Herzegovina0.02180.0% 108 Morocco0.02160.0% 109 Botswana0.02080.0% 110 Albania0.01990.0% 111 Latvia0.01950.0% 112 Papua New Guinea0.01810.0% 113 Trinidad and Tobago0.01570.0% 114 Azerbaijan0.01370.0% 115 Kyrgyzstan0.01350.0% 116 Mauritius0.01350.0% 117 Guyana0.01310.0% 118 North Macedonia0.01290.0% 119 Bhutan0.01270.0% 120 Hong Kong0.01270.0% 121 Cyprus0.01130.0% 122 Jamaica0.01090.0% 123 Guinea0.01010.0% 124 Equatorial Guinea0.009460.0% 125 Armenia0.009300.0% 126 Turkmenistan0.009250.0% 127 Tajikistan0.008590.0% 128 Burundi0.008450.0% 129 Lebanon0.008450.0% 130 Central African Republic0.007530.0% 131 Eritrea0.007400.0% 132 Montenegro0.007400.0% 133 Jordan0.006630.0% 134 Réunion0.005940.0% 135 Eswatini0.005940.0% 136 Luxembourg0.005860.0% 137 Malta0.005180.0% 138 Haiti0.005150.0% 139 Iceland0.005070.0% 140 Mali0.005020.0% 141 Sierra Leone0.004990.0% 142 Tahiti (French Polynesia)0.004760.0% 143 Senegal0.004620.0% 144 St. Lucia0.004570.0% 145 Liberia0.003960.0% 146 New Caledonia0.003960.0% 147 Bahamas0.003860.0% 148 Fiji0.003700.0% 149 Dutch Antilles0.003650.0% 150 Seychelles0.002670.0% 151 Samoa0.002640.0% 152 Suriname0.002620.0% 153 Niger0.002590.0% 154 Pakistan0.002110.0% 155 Barbados0.002090.0% 156 Solomon Islands0.001720.0% 157 Martinique0.001590.0% 158 Aruba0.001510.0% 159 Guinea-Bissau0.001320.0% 160 St. Vincent and the Grenadines0.001190.0% 161 Belize0.001060.0% 162 Grenada0.0008450.0% 163 St. Kitts and Nevis0.0006870.0% 164 Antigua and Barbuda0.0005280.0% 165 Cayman Islands0.0005280.0% 166 Cape Verde0.0004230.0% 167 São Tomé and Príncipe0.0003170.0% 168 Dominica0.0002910.0% 169 Bangladesh0.0002640.0% 170 Vanuatu0.0002380.0% 171 North Korea0.0002110.0% 172 Palestine0.0001060.0% 173 South Sudan0.00005280.0% 174 Gambia0.00005280.0% However, its dominance has declined over time. In 2013, China accounted for 25.7% of global beer production. The Americas Remain Beer Heavyweights The United States ranked second with 4.9 billion gallons, followed by Brazil and Mexico. Together, these three countries brewed more than 12.5 billion gallons in 2024. The U.S. market remains large, but production fell 4.8% as craft brewery closings outpaced openings for the first time since 2005. Mexico’s position is also notable. With 3.8 billion gallons brewed, it nearly matched Brazil and remains a major export hub for global beer brands. Russia Overtakes Germany in Europe Russia produced 2.4 billion gallons of beer in 2024, moving ahead of Germany to become Europe’s largest beer producer. This shift reflects major changes in the Russian beer market after several Western brewers exited the country. Carlsberg’s Baltika unit was seized by the state in 2023 and later sold to local management. Domestic production rose 9% as import substitution supported local brewers. Germany, long associated with beer culture, ranked sixth globally with 2.2 billion gallons. Africa Posts the Fastest Growth Africa was the fastest-growing beer region in 2024, with output rising 6.7%. South Africa remained the continent’s largest beer producer, ranking ninth globally with 977 million gallons. Nigeria also made the top 25, producing 506 million gallons. Angola stood out with a 35% production surge, reaching 428 million gallons. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Where Food Inflation Will Hit Hardest in 2026 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

All of the FIFA World Cup Host Countries in History 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: Mexico has become the first country to host three FIFA World Cups. European nations have hosted 11 World Cups, more than any other region. World Cup hosting is becoming increasingly multinational, with six countries involved in the 2030 tournament. The FIFA World Cup has been staged in just 19 countries since the tournament began in 1930, despite being watched by billions of fans worldwide every four years. This graphic by Harris Saleem, using data from Top End Sports, shows every World Cup host nation through 2026 and reveals which countries have hosted football’s biggest event most often. Mexico leads all nations with three tournaments, while Europe remains the dominant host region with 11 World Cups across nine countries. Looking ahead, FIFA is increasingly embracing multi-country tournaments, a trend that will reach a new scale in 2030. Which Countries Have Hosted the FIFA World Cup? While the World Cup is a global event, hosting opportunities have been concentrated among a relatively small group of countries. Since 1930, just 19 nations have staged the tournament, with several countries returning as hosts multiple times. The table below shows every FIFA World Cup host nation and the years they staged the tournament. CountryWorld Cups HostedHosting Years Mexico31970, 1986, 2026 United States21994, 2026 Germany21974, 2006 Italy21934, 1990 Brazil21950, 2014 France21938, 1998 Canada12026 Qatar12022 Russia12018 South Africa12010 Japan12002 South Korea12002 Spain11982 Argentina11978 England11966 Chile11962 Sweden11958 Switzerland11954 Uruguay11930 Mexico is now the first nation to host three World Cups, having previously staged the tournament in 1970 and 1986. A second tier of hosts includes Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, and the United States, each with two tournaments. Europe has been the center of World Cup hosting activity, accounting for 11 tournaments across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England, Sweden, Switzerland, and Russia. South America has hosted five editions, while Asia and Africa only began hosting in the 21st century. How FIFA Chooses Host Nations Hosting the World Cup has become increasingly competitive. FIFA evaluates bids based on factors such as stadium capacity, transportation networks, accommodation availability, security planning, financial guarantees, and sustainability initiatives. In recent decades, FIFA has also sought to expand the tournament’s geographic reach. South Africa became the first African host in 2010, Russia hosted in 2018, and Qatar became the first Middle Eastern nation to stage the tournament in 2022. These newer hosts demonstrate how the World Cup has evolved into a truly global event rather than one concentrated in Europe and South America. The shift toward co-hosting has accelerated as tournament requirements grow. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature a record 48 teams and more than 100 matches. The Future of World Cup Hosting The World Cup’s hosting model is undergoing one of its biggest shifts. As tournament sizes expand and infrastructure requirements grow, FIFA has increasingly favored multi-country bids over single-nation hosts. FIFA has already confirmed hosts for the next two tournaments beyond 2026. The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with centenary celebration matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to mark 100 years since the first tournament. FIFA officially approved the six-country hosting arrangement in late 2024. Four years later, Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, becoming only the second Middle Eastern nation to stage the competition. These selections reflect FIFA’s continued emphasis on regional rotation and expanding football’s global footprint. Learn More on the Voronoi App Want to explore the business behind the games? Check out Breaking Down the $417 Billion Sports Industry on the Voronoi app.

Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Most and Least Liked Countries 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 Switzerland and Canada have the world’s highest net perception scores, both at +36. The United States ranks among the five worst-perceived countries, with a score of -16. Israel records the lowest score globally at -24, followed by Afghanistan and North Korea at -19. How a country is viewed abroad can influence everything from tourism and investment to diplomacy and soft power. While countries such as Switzerland, Canada, and Japan enjoy strongly positive global reputations, others face much more negative perceptions. This graphic ranks 65 countries by their average net perception score, calculated by subtracting negative views from positive views. The data comes from the Democracy Perception Index 2026, which surveyed more than 46,000 respondents across 85 countries. Nice Perceptions of the North Atlantic Switzerland and Canada top the global rankings with net perception scores of +36, followed closely by Japan (+34) and Sweden (+33). Of the top 15 best-perceived countries, over two-thirds are located in Europe. Member countries of the European Union, meanwhile, average out to around +26. This average is brought down substantially by France’s relatively low +11 score, which it shares with the United Kingdom. This data table lists countries based on their net perception globally. RankCountryAverage Net Perception Score 1 Switzerland36 2 Canada36 3 Japan34 4 Sweden33 5 Italy32 6 Norway32 7 Spain31 8 Australia30 9 Denmark30 10 New Zealand30 11 Finland30 12 Netherlands29 13 Ireland28 14 Portugal26 15 Austria25 16 Greece24 17 Belgium24 18 Singapore21 19 South Korea21 20 Germany21 21 Poland19 22 Taiwan17 23 Hong Kong16 24 Thailand14 25 Brazil14 26 Malaysia13 27 Indonesia12 28 France11 29 Argentina11 30 UK11 31 Philippines9 32 Egypt9 33 South Africa9 34 Vietnam9 35 Ukraine9 36 Turkey8 37 China7 38 Hungary7 39 Morocco7 40 Qatar6 41 UAE4 42 Serbia4 43 Kenya4 44 Mexico2 45 Ethiopia0 46 Saudi Arabia-1 47 India-2 48 Colombia-2 49 Yemen-3 50 Bangladesh-3 51 Lebanon-3 52 Cuba-3 53 Nigeria-3 54 Venezuela-5 55 Myanmar-5 56 Belarus-5 57 Pakistan-9 58 Syria-10 59 Russia-11 60 Iraq-13 61 USA-16 62 Iran-17 63 Afghanistan-19 64 North Korea-19 65 Israel-24 The positive global perception of Canada and European countries like Switzerland and Italy (+32) may reflect a mix of factors, including domestic stability, quality of life, diplomatic positioning, and relatively open societies. Positive perceptions also extend to other developed countries beyond the North Atlantic, including Australia and New Zealand (both +30), as well as major Asian economies such as Singapore and South Korea (both +21). The Decline of American Soft Power The United States stands out as a major outlier in the rankings. Despite being the world’s largest economy and one of its most influential countries, it receives a net perception score of -16, placing it among the five lowest-ranked nations in the survey. While the global view of the U.S. has always been complex, shaped by immigration, culture, and foreign policy, it has deteriorated notably over the last decade. Under the Donald Trump administrations (2017-2021, 2025-present), surveys have consistently reflected a worsening of global public opinion of, and trust in, the United States. As of 2026, the U.S. does not find itself in the company of peers like Germany, Japan, or even the United Kingdom. Instead, it ranks near countries such as Iran (-17) and Iraq (-13), both of which have long-standing geopolitical tensions with the U.S. The Worst-Perceived Countries Worldwide The U.S. is not alone in netting a negative perception score. India (-2) and Pakistan (-9) both received more negative responses than positive, as did Nigeria (-3), Russia (-11), and Saudi Arabia (-1). No country fares worse than Israel, which has a -24 net perception score. Controversy around the country has grown in recent years owing to its conflicts in Gaza as well as Lebanon, Syria, and most notably Iran. As a result, Israel records the lowest net perception score in the survey. It ranks below every other country evaluated, including Afghanistan and North Korea (both -19), underscoring how sharply global opinion has shifted in recent years. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: The World’s Countries by Political System on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: States That Drink the Most Beer 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 New Hampshire bought more beer per person than any state in 2023, at 35.6 gallons per resident. Utah ranked last at 10.2 gallons per person, less than one-third of New Hampshire’s total. Many of the highest-ranked states are clustered in Northern New England and the Northern Plains. Beer purchases vary dramatically across the United States, with residents of some states buying more than three times as much beer per person as others. Using data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), this map shows gallons of beer purchased per resident across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in 2023. While New Hampshire, Montana, and Vermont top the rankings, many of the country’s largest states sit near the middle of the pack. The results point to a surprisingly strong regional pattern in America’s beer market. Ranked: Beer Consumption by State Below is the full ranking of beer purchases per person by state. RankStateGallons of Beer per Person 2023 1New Hampshire35.6 2Montana34.0 3Vermont33.3 4North Dakota29.6 5Oregon29.3 6Pennsylvania29.1 7Nevada28.0 8Louisiana26.9 9Maine26.9 10Hawaii26.7 11South Dakota26.4 12Iowa25.8 13Texas25.6 14New Mexico25.1 15Wisconsin25.1 16California24.2 17District of Columbia24.2 18Colorado24.0 19Mississippi24.0 20Wyoming24.0 21West Virginia23.1 22Kansas22.9 23Minnesota22.9 24Ohio22.9 25Delaware22.7 26Missouri22.4 27Nebraska22.4 28Florida22.2 29North Carolina22.2 30Arizona21.8 31Illinois21.6 32Alaska21.3 33Tennessee21.3 34South Carolina20.9 35Alabama20.0 36Michigan19.8 37Oklahoma19.8 38Arkansas19.6 39Kentucky19.3 40Indiana18.9 41Georgia18.7 42Virginia18.7 43New York18.0 44Washington18.0 45Massachusetts16.7 46New Jersey16.2 47Connecticut15.6 48Idaho15.3 49Rhode Island15.1 50Maryland14.9 51Utah10.2 -- U.S. Average22.0 New Hampshire leads the nation in beer purchases, followed by Montana, Vermont, North Dakota, and Oregon. At the other end, Utah is the clear outlier, followed by Maryland, Rhode Island, Idaho, and Connecticut. The gap is striking: New Hampshire residents purchased the equivalent of nearly 380 12-ounce beers per person in 2023, compared with about 109 in Utah. That means the average New Hampshire total was more than three times higher. Why New Hampshire Leads the Country New Hampshire’s top ranking is not just about local drinking habits. The state has no general sales tax, and its alcohol stores are often positioned near highways and state borders. That makes New Hampshire a major destination for cross-border alcohol purchases, especially from nearby Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. In 2025, New Hampshire’s liquor commission generated $743 million in sales while serving roughly 12 million customers, nearly nine times the state’s population. America’s Beer Belt The map also reveals a clear northern pattern. High-ranking states stretch across Northern New England, the Northern Plains, and parts of the Mountain West. Maine has the most craft breweries per capita nationwide after California, with 157 breweries per 100,000 adults over 21. Montana follows at 105 breweries per 100,000 adults, while New Hampshire also ranks in the top 10. Meanwhile, Oregon buys more beer per person than any other Western state and also ranks among the national leaders in brewery density. Why Utah Is the Outlier Utah ranks last by a wide margin, with 10.2 gallons of beer purchased per person in 2023. A major reason is demographics. Roughly 40% of Utah residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose faith prohibits alcohol consumption. The state also has a long history of stricter alcohol rules than most of the country. Few states illustrate the impact of religion on consumer behavior as clearly as Utah. Beer’s Growing Decline in America The state rankings come at a time when beer’s dominance in America is fading. For decades, beer was the dominant alcoholic beverage in the U.S. Today, younger consumers are spreading their spending across spirits, canned cocktails, hard seltzers, wine, and non-alcoholic alternatives, or opting out altogether. The trend extends to other global markets as well. Heineken announced it was laying off 6,000 employees worldwide due to lower demand. Both Carlsberg and Molson Coors have also reported slower sales as U.S. beer sales fall near their lowest level in decades. That shift makes the top-ranked states stand out even more. They are not just places where people buy more beer today; they are places where beer still appears to hold a stronger cultural position as national habits change. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on which countries drink the most wine.

Use This Visualization Ranked: The Car Brands With the Fewest Problems 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 Lexus recorded the fewest reported problems among all automakers, leading the industry for a fourth consecutive year. Buick and MINI rounded out the top three, while several Japanese brands finished well above the industry average. Vehicle dependability fell to a record low in 2026 as software and connectivity issues continued to frustrate owners. Drivers reported more vehicle problems this year than ever before, but some automakers continue to stand out for reliability. This graphic ranks the car brands with the fewest reported problems in 2026 based on J.D. Power’s Problems Per 100 Vehicles (PP100) metric. Lower scores indicate fewer owner-reported issues and better long-term dependability. The data comes from the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles. While Lexus once again topped the rankings, the broader industry moved in the opposite direction. Owners reported a record 204 problems per 100 vehicles on average, driven largely by infotainment, smartphone connectivity, and software-related issues. Lexus Extends Its Reliability Lead Lexus ranked first for the fourth consecutive year, recording just 151 problems per 100 vehicles. Buick placed second at 160 PP100, while MINI rounded out the top three with 168. RankBrandProblems per 100 Vehicles (PP100)Change in PP100 from 2025 1 Lexus15111 2 Buick16017 3 MINI168-22 4 Cadillac1756 5 Chevrolet1789 6 Subaru181-31 7 Porsche182-4 8 Toyota18523 9 Kia193-3 10 Nissan194-21 11 BMW1989 11 Hyundai198-24 13 Genesis208-5 13 Mitsubishi208-48 15 Mazda21049 16 Honda21110 17 Ram216-26 18 Lincoln217-4 19 Tesla22617 20 Ford22820 21 GMC22948 22 Acura233-16 22 Infiniti23325 24 Mercedes-Benz235-8 25 Audi244-29 26 Jeep267-8 27 Land Rover2744 28 Volvo29654 29 Volkswagen30116 --Average204+2 Several Japanese automakers performed well throughout the rankings. Subaru, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mazda all finished above the industry average, reinforcing Japan’s long-standing reputation for dependable vehicle manufacturing. Luxury brands also demonstrated strong reliability. Cadillac, Porsche, BMW, and Genesis all ranked in the upper half of the study. Software Problems Are Becoming the Biggest Headache Although mechanical reliability has improved in many areas, technology-related issues continue to worsen. J.D. Power found that infotainment systems were the most problematic of the nine categories measured, making software a larger concern than traditional mechanical components. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity problems remained the industry’s single most-reported issue for a third consecutive year. Powertrain Differences Continue to Emerge The study also highlighted significant differences between vehicle powertrains. Plug-in hybrid vehicles were the least dependable category, recording 281 problems per 100 vehicles, a sharp increase from the previous year. By contrast, gasoline-powered vehicles were the only powertrain type to show improvement, averaging 198 PP100. At the bottom of the rankings, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Land Rover recorded the highest problem rates. Volkswagen posted 301 PP100. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out One in Four Cars Sold in 2025 Was Electric on Voronoi.

Ranked: Military Spending Growth by Country in 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 Spain and Norway increased military spending by roughly 50% in 2025, the fastest growth among the world’s top defense spenders. Europe dominates the rankings as NATO members accelerate rearmament following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S., UK, and Israel were the only top-25 military spenders to reduce defense spending in 2025. Europe’s military buildup accelerated sharply in 2025. Among the world’s 25 largest defense spenders, Spain and Norway led annual spending growth with increases of roughly 50%, while Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Canada also posted gains exceeding 20%. This graphic ranks the world’s largest military spenders by the real year-over-year change in defense expenditure between 2024 and 2025, using data from the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Soaring Defense Budgets in Europe European countries saw the biggest jumps in defense spending between 2024 and 2025, reflecting the continent’s growing concerns over external pressure. Spain (49.6%) and Norway (49%) led the way in year-over-year change, followed by Sweden (24.1%), Germany (23.9%), and Poland (23.4%). These defense spending increases stem from two key factors: Russian aggression in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, and growing U.S. pressure on NATO allies to raise spending. The following data table ranks countries based on defense spending changes in 2025 in real terms, along with most recent total military budget in current U.S. dollars. RankCountry2025 Military Spending ($B, nominal)YoY real change (%) 1 Spain4049.6 2 Norway1749.0 3 Sweden1624.1 4 Germany11423.9 5 Poland4723.4 6 Canada3722.6 7 Italy4820.1 8 Ukraine8419.7 9 Netherlands2914.5 10 Taiwan1813.8 11 Brazil2412.8 12 Algeria2510.6 13 Singapore1710.3 14 Japan629.7 15 India928.9 16 China3367.4 17 Türkiye307.2 18 Russia1905.9 19 Australia353.0 20 South Korea482.6 21 France681.5 22 Saudi Arabia831.4 23 United Kingdom89-2.0 24 Israel48-4.9 25 USA954-7.5 As the heavyweight within NATO, the U.S. has long called for European members of the alliance to boost their defense spending, particularly under the administrations of Donald Trump (2017–2021, 2025–present). Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 further spurred increases in defense spending. While Spain and Norway posted the largest percentage increases, Germany may be the most consequential story. Europe’s largest economy has raised defense spending to over $100 billion, seeking to narrow the gap with Moscow. Russia’s own military spending jumped 5.9%. Europe’s Rearmament Dilemma One question facing German and European policymakers as they seek to build world-class militaries of their own is procurement. Historically, European NATO members and countries like Canada, which boosted defense spending by 22.6% in 2025, purchased their top-shelf arms from U.S. defense manufacturers like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. However, as U.S. pressure on these countries has mounted, there have been growing domestic calls to buy from more local contractors such as Leonardo, Rheinmetall, and Thales. Leaders from Lisbon to Helsinki face decisions on whether to prioritize building up European defense technology capabilities or continue making the investments that have historically underpinned the transatlantic relationship. Why Did the U.S., UK, and Israel Cut Spending? Only three of the world’s 25 largest military spenders recorded lower defense spending in 2025: the U.S., the UK, and Israel. Their declines stand out because military budgets increased across most major economies, particularly in Europe. Wartime can quickly change spending trajectories, as seen in Ukraine, where defense spending jumped 19.7% in 2025. The Eastern European country now spends more on defense than any other European country besides Germany and Russia. The massive U.S. defense budget, meanwhile, is famously larger than that of the next seven military spenders: China, Russia, Germany, India, the UK, and Ukraine. In 2026, the budget is expected to top $1 trillion. Learn More on the Voronoi App Curious about how global military spending stacks up? Check out In 2024, global military spending reached its highest level in decades on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Use This Visualization Ranked: America’s Biggest Government Contractors 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 Lockheed Martin received $73.7 billion in federal contract obligations in FY 2025, more than double the next-largest contractor. Defense firms dominate the ranking, accounting for eight of the top 14 contractors. Healthcare and IT companies also receive billions in federal spending through benefits administration, pharmaceutical distribution, and cybersecurity contracts. The U.S. government spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year on private-sector contracts, but a relatively small group of companies receives a large share of that spending. In fiscal year 2025, Lockheed Martin led all contractors with $73.7 billion in obligated spending, more than twice the amount awarded to the next-largest recipient. This ranking shows the companies receiving the most federal contract obligations, spanning defense, healthcare, pharmaceutical distribution, and IT services. The data for this visualization comes from GovSpend, using SAM UEI contract data and analysis from Veridion. Defense Contractors Dominate Federal Spending A handful of defense companies account for a significant share of federal contract spending. Lockheed Martin alone received $73.7 billion in FY 2025, more than double the amount awarded to General Dynamics, the second-largest contractor on the list. The scale of Lockheed’s lead reflects the government’s continued investment in major defense programs such as the F-35 fighter jet. Company NameGov't Spending (2025)Example Product / ServiceIndustry Lockheed Martin$73.7BF-35 fighter jetDefense General Dynamics$35.9BM1A2 Abrams tankDefense RTX (Raytheon)$34.0BPatriot missile defense systemDefense UnitedHealth Group$25.4BFederal employee health benefitsHealthcare Boeing$23.1BF-15EX fighter jetDefense Northrop Grumman$14.8BB-21 Raider stealth bomberDefense TriWest Healthcare Alliance$13.4BHealthcare for military familiesHealthcare Leidos$12.6BMilitary IT & cybersecurity systemsIT Services McKesson$11.9BPharmaceutical distribution servicesHealthcare Huntington Ingalls Industries$11.2BVirginia-class submarinesDefense L3Harris Technologies$8.7BTactical communication systemsDefense Booz Allen Hamilton$7.8BCybersecurity, artificial intelligenceIT Services BAE Systems$7.7BBradley Fighting VehicleDefense Cencora$7.4BPharmaceutical distribution for veterans and DoD healthcare systemsHealthcare General Dynamics follows Lockheed with $35.9 billion, while RTX ranks third at $34.0 billion. Together, these three companies account for a major share of spending among the top contractors. Other large defense firms on the list include Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Huntington Ingalls Industries, L3Harris Technologies, and BAE Systems. Their contracts cover aircraft, missiles, submarines, combat vehicles, and military communications systems. Healthcare Is Another Major Contracting Category While defense dominates the ranking, healthcare is the second-largest category among top contractors. UnitedHealth Group ranks fourth overall with $25.4 billion in obligated spending, making it the largest non-defense contractor on the list. Several other healthcare organizations also rank among the government’s biggest vendors. TriWest Healthcare Alliance supports military family healthcare programs, while McKesson and Cencora help distribute pharmaceuticals across federal healthcare systems. Healthcare procurement includes veterans, service members, federal employees, and public health systems. IT and Cybersecurity Firms Play a Growing Role Federal spending increasingly extends beyond physical equipment and healthcare services. IT and cybersecurity contractors now play a critical role in supporting military operations, government agencies, and digital infrastructure. Leidos received $12.6 billion in obligated spending in FY 2025, while Booz Allen Hamilton received $7.8 billion. Their work spans cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data systems, and mission-critical technology platforms. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Military Spending by Country in 2025 on Voronoi.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: How 45 Countries View 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 Israel and Nigeria rank first, with 83% of respondents holding favorable views of America. Emerging economies including Vietnam, India, and the Philippines rank above many Western countries. Nine of the 10 lowest favorability ratings come from traditional U.S. allies in Europe and North America. America remains one of the world’s most influential countries, but public opinion of the U.S. varies widely across the globe. Some of its strongest support now comes from emerging economies such as Vietnam, India, and the Philippines, while favorability has weakened across several longtime Western allies. This graphic ranks how people in 45 countries view the U.S. using January 2026 survey data from Morning Consult’s America Reputation Tracker. Where Positive Views Are the Highest Israel and Nigeria rank first in the survey, with 83% of respondents holding favorable views of America. Morocco, Vietnam, and Peru round out the top five, highlighting how some of the strongest support for the U.S. now comes from outside its traditional circle of Western allies. Country% Favorable% N/A% Unfavorable Israel83%7%10% Nigeria83%7%10% Morocco68%13%19% Vietnam64%16%20% Peru64%14%22% India62%10%28% Pakistan61%17%22% Philippines61%14%25% Argentina58%14%28% Colombia57%14%29% Romania57%19%24% Chile57%13%30% Algeria56%20%25% UAE55%14%31% Poland55%17%29% Brazil54%13%33% South Africa53%12%35% Egypt48%14%39% Indonesia45%16%39% Saudi Arabia45%20%35% Mexico43%15%42% South Korea43%12%46% Spain39%14%47% UK39%13%48% Australia38%12%49% Malaysia38%18%44% Russia37%22%41% Thailand37%31%32% Japan36%24%41% Ireland35%8%57% Czechia35%15%51% Italy34%15%52% Singapore33%12%55% Turkey32%19%49% Austria31%7%62% Switzerland31%10%60% China30%33%37% France30%20%50% Germany28%14%58% Norway25%3%72% Canada25%10%66% Sweden23%9%69% Belgium22%14%64% Netherlands21%14%66% India has the highest favorability rating of any major economy at 62%, ranking ahead of countries such as Canada, Germany, and France. Argentina also places in the top 10, underscoring how perceptions of America are often strongest in countries that view the U.S. as an important economic, security, or strategic partner. The Countries Souring on America Trade disputes and rising political tensions have weighed heavily on America’s image among many of its traditional allies. Tariffs on Canada and Europe, criticism of NATO, suggestions that Canada could become the 51st state, and President Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland have all strained relations across the Western alliance. As a result, nine of the 10 lowest favorability ratings in the survey come from Western countries, including Canada, France, Germany, and Sweden. In response to growing uncertainty around U.S. policy, Canada has expanded economic cooperation with Europe and sought closer engagement with China. One of the survey’s most surprising findings is that China ranks ahead of several longstanding U.S. allies. Despite ongoing geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Beijing, America’s favorability rating in China exceeds that of countries including Canada, Belgium, and Sweden. In other words, countries that have been America’s closest partners for decades now view it less favorably than its chief geopolitical rival. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on how much U.S. states rely on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.

Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Top Billionaire Cities 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 data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways New York leads the world with 146 billionaires, the highest concentration of billionaire wealth in any city. Chinese cities account for 34% of billionaires across the top 32 cities, with Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing all ranking in the global top four. Asia is home to 58% of the billionaires represented in the ranking, highlighting the region’s growing role in wealth creation. The world’s billionaire population is increasingly concentrated in a small group of global wealth hubs. Using data from the Hurun Global Rich List 2026, this graphic ranks the cities with the most billionaires worldwide as of January 15, 2026. While New York remains the world’s billionaire capital, Chinese cities dominate much of the leaderboard. More broadly, Asia accounts for the majority of billionaires across the cities shown, underscoring the region’s expanding influence on global wealth creation. New York Remains the Global Billionaire Capital New York remains the world’s billionaire capital with 146 billionaires, but the gap is narrowing. Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing now rank second, third, and fourth globally, giving China three cities within striking distance of New York’s total. The Big Apple’s dominance is supported by Wall Street, a deep pool of financial services firms, and a thriving ecosystem of private equity, real estate, and technology companies. RankCityCountryNumber of Billionaires 1New York United States146 2Shenzhen China132 3Shanghai China120 4Beijing China107 5London United Kingdom102 6Mumbai India95 7Hong Kong China (SAR)88 8San Francisco United States86 9Moscow Russia82 10Hangzhou China65 11New Delhi India64 12Singapore Singapore59 13Taipei Taiwan51 14Paris France44 15São Paulo Brazil41 15Guangzhou China41 17Los Angeles United States40 17Bangkok Thailand40 19Suzhou China39 20Seoul South Korea32 20Ningbo China32 20Jakarta Indonesia32 23Tokyo Japan31 23Istanbul Türkiye31 25Bengaluru India30 26Stockholm Sweden29 27Milan Italy28 27Dallas United States28 29Toronto Canada26 30Palm Beach United States24 30Melbourne Australia24 30Dubai United Arab Emirates24 Chinese Cities Dominate the Rankings Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing rank second, third, and fourth globally, with 132, 120, and 107 billionaires, respectively. China’s presence extends well beyond its largest cities. Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Suzhou, and Ningbo also appear among the world’s leading billionaire hubs. Altogether, eight Chinese cities appear in the ranking, accounting for 34% of all billionaires represented. Asia Emerges as the Center of Billionaire Growth Asia accounts for 58% of billionaires across the cities shown, making it the dominant region in the ranking. In addition to China’s strong showing, cities such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok, Seoul, Jakarta, and Tokyo all rank among the world’s top billionaire centers. India’s presence is particularly notable, with Mumbai and New Delhi both placing in the global top 11. Traditional Wealth Centers Still Matter Despite Asia’s rise, several long-established wealth centers remain highly influential. London ranks fifth globally with 102 billionaires, while Moscow, Paris, Milan, Stockholm, and Istanbul all feature prominently. In North America, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Toronto, and Palm Beach continue to attract significant concentrations of wealth. Meanwhile, Dubai’s inclusion reflects the Middle East’s growing role as a destination for entrepreneurs, investors, and high-net-worth individuals. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Countries With the Most Ultra-Rich Residents in 2026 on Voronoi.

Published 9 hours ago on June 18, 2026 By Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Akhila Ayyalasomayajula Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email 10 Leadership Qualities Linked to High-Performing Companies High-performing companies may differ in industry, size, and strategy, but professionals who work in them tend to agree on something: the importance of leadership accountability. In a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. professionals, people at high-performing companies consistently valued accountability-related behaviors as more important than those at average and poor-performing companies. The findings suggest that these leadership qualities, such as taking personal ownership or having tough conversations, are closely associated with company success. The graphic below, created in partnership with Leadership Contract Inc., highlights 10 leadership qualities that are critical for individuals to develop. The Importance of Accountability Specifically, respondents were asked to rate the importance of these behaviors in relation to the strongest, most accountable leaders in their company.  High-performing companies gave every behavior a score of more than 4 out of 5, assigning the highest importance to “take personal ownership to lead to a higher standard of behavior and accountability.” In other words, does this person lead by example? BehaviorPoor-Performing Company RatingAverage-Performing Company RatingHigh-Performing Company Rating Demonstrate personal clarity about the organization's long-term strategy.4.084.094.31 Understand the pressures, scrutiny, and demands of their leadership role.3.824.054.27 Express optimism about the organization and its future.4.024.084.32 Have clarity on the specific leadership expectations for one’s role.4.004.134.36 Take personal ownership to lead to a higher standard of behavior and accountability.4.074.184.42 Set the tone of accountability for the people they lead.3.984.164.33 Strengthen personal resilience and resolve.4.084.094.33 Have tough conversations in a direct and supportive manner.3.984.124.38 Tackle difficult challenges with courage.3.944.184.32 Create a supportive group of peers that helps them succeed and has their back.3.874.114.28 Source: Molinaro, Vince (2025). The DNA of Accountable Leadership. The State of Leadership Accountability. Leadership Contract Inc Research Series. Mean scores based on a 5-point scale. The survey was conducted with 1,020 respondents across job titles: 47% individual contributors, 10% front-line managers, 15% middle managers or directors, 14% senior executives, 9% C-suite team, and 5% other. Enjoying this content? Dive into more insights in the Leaders Under Pressure guide: Many of the leadership qualities center around the person having a strong understanding of the company’s strategy and their own specific role. These behaviors become especially important during periods of change, when leaders are expected to provide clarity, resilience, and direction amid uncertainty. Notably, respondents at poor-performing companies assigned the lowest importance score to understanding the pressures and demands of a leadership role. This may indicate that leadership clarity and role awareness receive less emphasis in lower-performing organizations. On top of clarity, resilience and optimism stand out as important leadership qualities. As organizations navigate rapid change and competing priorities, respondents placed a high value on leaders who maintain resolve and confidence in the company’s future. Finally, it’s important for leaders not to shrink away from hard tasks. Whether it’s having tough conversations or tackling difficult challenges, taking action helps employees see a leader as strong and accountable. Putting Leadership Qualities Into Practice For senior executives, the takeaway is clear: accountability isn’t abstract. It’s definable and teachable through these specific behaviors.  In today’s complex, fast-moving landscape, strong accountability is the ultimate competitive advantage. When leaders take true ownership of their role, companies are better able to translate strategy into action. If accountability is unclear or inconsistent, even the best strategies can lose momentum before they deliver results. How accountable is your leadership team? Download Leadership Contract Inc.’s free Leaders Under Pressure guide to explore all 30 accountability behaviors and assess your organization’s leadership accountability score. You may also like Leadership4 weeks ago The 10 Biggest Challenges Companies Face Right Now Challenges like AI, leadership changes, and customer expectations are reshaping business. Why are some companies adapting better? Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

Use This Visualization Amazon Overtakes Walmart as America’s Biggest Company 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 Amazon generated $717 billion in revenue in its latest fiscal year, overtaking Walmart ($713 billion) as America’s largest company. Healthcare companies account for 10 of America’s 50 largest firms, generating a combined $2.7 trillion in revenue. Apple ($416 billion) and Alphabet ($403 billion) are the country’s largest technology companies by revenue. For more than a decade, Walmart sat atop the Forbes 500 ranking. Now, that streak is over. Amazon’s rise to the No. 1 spot reflects a broader shift in the American economy, where e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital services have become increasingly dominant drivers of corporate growth. The company is now just the fourth business to lead the Forbes 500 in the ranking’s 72-year history. The visualization above ranks the 50 largest U.S. companies by revenue using data from the 2026 Forbes 500 list, via 50 Pros. Alongside Amazon’s ascent, the ranking highlights the enormous scale of healthcare, technology, energy, and financial firms across corporate America. Amazon Ends Walmart’s 13-Year Run In 2026, Amazon displaced Walmart as the world’s largest company by revenue, ending Walmart’s 13-year reign at the top. This shift follows a decade in which Amazon’s revenue surged alongside the growth of e-commerce and online shopping. The company’s strategic investments also expanded over this period, including its $13.7 billion acquisition of grocery retailer Whole Foods in 2017. This data table lists American companies based on total revenue in their most recent fiscal year. RankCompanyRevenue of latest fiscal year (USD Billions)Sector 1Amazon716.9Retail 2Walmart713.2Retail 3UnitedHealth447.6Health Care 4Apple416.2Technology 5McKesson403.4Health Care 6Alphabet402.8Technology 7CVS Health402.1Health Care 8Berkshire Hathaway371.4Financials 9Exxon Mobil332.2Energy 10Cencora321.3Health Care 11Microsoft281.7Technology 12Costco275.2Retail 13Cigna274.9Health Care 14Cardinal Health222.6Health Care 15Nvidia215.9Technology 16Meta201.0Technology 17Elevance Health199.1Health Care 18Centene194.8Health Care 19Chevron189.0Energy 20Ford Motor187.3Autos 21General Motors185.0Autos 22JPMorgan Chase182.4Financials 23Home Depot164.7Retail 24Fannie Mae152.7Financials 25Walgreens147.7Retail 26Kroger147.6Retail 27Verizon138.2Media & Telecom 28Marathon Petroleum132.7Energy 29StoneX132.4Financials 30Phillips 66132.4Energy 31Humana129.7Health Care 32AT&T125.6Media & Telecom 33Comcast123.7Media & Telecom 34State Farm123.0Financials 35Valero Energy122.7Energy 36Freddie Mac122.1Financials 37Dell Technologies113.5Technology 38Bank of America113.1Financials 39Target104.8Retail 40Tesla94.8Autos 41Walt Disney94.4Media & Telecom 42Johnson & Johnson94.2Health Care 43PepsiCo93.9Consumer Goods 44Boeing89.5Industrials & Logistics 45UPS88.7Industrials & Logistics 46RTX88.6Industrials & Logistics 47FedEx87.9Industrials & Logistics 48Progressive87.7Financials 49Lowe's86.3Retail 50Energy Transfer85.5Energy The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the retail race between Amazon and Walmart. Lockdowns and isolation pushed many consumers toward online shopping at a scale not seen before, helping Amazon’s revenue jump by more than a third between 2019 and 2020. Amazon’s displacement of Walmart makes the 1994-founded online retailer just the fourth company to top the Forbes 500 in the list’s 72-year history. Prior to Walmart, General Motors and ExxonMobil held the title. In 2025, GM’s revenue reached $185 billion, while ExxonMobil led the American oil industry at $332 billion. Healthcare: Soaring Revenues Healthcare companies generate over $2.7 trillion in combined revenue across America’s 50 largest companies, led by UnitedHealthcare at $448 billion. Nearly one out of every five dollars in the U.S. economy is spent in the healthcare sector, which is reflected in the massive revenues of companies like CVS Health ($402 billion), Cigna ($275 billion), and Johnson & Johnson ($94 billion). Technological advancements and an aging U.S. population have driven growth in the sector, with firms like UnitedHealthcare and Cigna each posting over 10% year-over-year revenue growth. America’s Core Sectors The technology sector generated over $1.6 trillion in revenue from just its six top firms, with Apple ($416 billion) and Google parent company Alphabet ($403 billion) leading the way. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway ($371 billion) posted the highest revenue among financial firms, followed by JPMorgan Chase ($182 billion) and government-sponsored enterprise Fannie Mae ($153 billion). Notably, the only consumer goods company to break into America’s top 50 firms by revenue is PepsiCo, which generated $94 billion in revenue in the 2025 fiscal year. This puts the food and beverage company ahead of industrial and logistics giants like Boeing ($90 billion) and United Parcel Service ($89 billion). Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Amazon’s Profit Hits New Highs as Cost Cutting Bears Fruit on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Most and Least Expensive Internet 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 Internet prices vary dramatically worldwide, ranging from $2.61 per month in Iran to nearly $374 in Wallis and Futuna. Island nations and territories account for 18 of the world’s 25 most expensive broadband markets. Some of the world’s cheapest broadband markets, including Romania and Vietnam, also rank among the fastest for internet speeds. The cost of getting online varies far more than many people realize. In some countries, a fixed broadband subscription costs just a few dollars per month, while in others it can exceed $300. Using data from Broadband Genie, this graphic compares the world’s most and least expensive broadband markets based on average monthly subscription prices in U.S. dollars. The results reveal a gap of more than 140-fold between the cheapest and most expensive markets. Geography is a major factor, with remote islands heavily represented among the world’s costliest places to access the internet. The World’s Most Expensive Internet Markets Wallis and Futuna leads the ranking by a wide margin, followed by Turkmenistan and Turks and Caicos. More broadly, geographic isolation stands out as a key pattern, with 18 of the world’s 25 most expensive broadband markets being island nations or territories. Many of the world’s most expensive broadband markets have small populations and limited competition. In remote island territories, infrastructure costs must be spread across relatively few subscribers, helping explain why internet bills can be significantly higher. RankCountryAverage Monthly Cost of Fixed Broadband 2026 (USD) 1 Wallis and Futuna$373.88 2 Turkmenistan$286.24 3 Turks and Caicos$252.00 4 Saint Barthélemy$207.26 5 Eswatini$193.31 6 Syria$189.92 7 Burundi$186.46 8 Comoros$175.12 9 Cayman Islands$167.39 10 British Virgin Islands$155.00 11 Bermuda$150.00 12 Congo$136.54 13 Seychelles$134.30 14 Timor-Leste$124.50 15 Curaçao$121.96 16 Vanuatu$117.38 17 Guam$115.00 18 Falkland Islands$112.73 19 Greenland$111.45 20 U.S. Virgin Islands$110.00 21 Anguilla$108.29 22 Mozambique$108.22 23 UAE$105.92 24 Iceland$105.08 25 Northern Mariana Islands$104.99 167 U.S.$80.00 Broadband prices vary widely even as internet access becomes increasingly common worldwide. The share of the global population online has risen from 43% in 2015 to 68% in 2025, making affordability an increasingly important part of digital access. In the U.S., rising competition has helped drive broadband prices lower. Since 2014, the price of popular broadband plans has fallen by roughly two-thirds, while internet speeds have doubled. Where Internet Access Is Cheapest At the other end of the ranking, several countries offer broadband for only a few dollars per month when converted into U.S. dollars. Iran ranks as the least expensive market, driven by a collapsing rial and government subsidies. Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh follow. Ukraine had roughly 1,500 internet service providers before the war, with some apartment buildings having more than a dozen providers competing for customers. RankCountryAverage Monthly Cost of Fixed Broadband 2026 (USD) 1 Iran$2.61 2 Ukraine$5.35 3 Ethiopia$6.46 4 Bangladesh$7.38 5 Mongolia$7.41 6 Egypt$7.91 7 Romania$8.19 8 India$8.82 9 Nepal$9.22 10 Russia$9.71 11 Vietnam$10.24 12 Indonesia$10.66 13 Uzbekistan$12.03 14 Kyrgyzstan$13.95 15 Lebanon$14.23 16 China$14.30 17 Libya$14.68 18 Georgia$14.87 19 Kazakhstan$15.23 20 Moldova$15.66 21 Belarus$15.66 22 Pakistan$15.96 23 Papua New Guinea$17.30 24 Lithuania$17.75 25 Türkiye$17.76 Cheap internet does not necessarily mean lower-quality service. Romania and Vietnam rank among the world’s least expensive broadband markets while also placing among the global leaders in fixed broadband speeds. This suggests that market competition and network investment can sometimes deliver both affordability and performance. The contrast is striking: broadband in Wallis and Futuna costs roughly 143 times more than the average subscription in Iran, the world’s cheapest market. The Geography of Digital Infrastructure The internet is often described as borderless, but the rankings tell a different story. Submarine cables carry roughly 99% of global internet traffic, creating the physical backbone of the online world. Countries located farther from major network routes often face higher infrastructure costs, which can ultimately be reflected in consumer prices. As digital services become increasingly central to work, education, entertainment, and communication, broadband affordability is emerging as an important part of economic accessibility. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the cost of living around the world in 2026.

Published 1 hour ago on June 17, 2026 By Cody Good Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Pulsar Helium   The Top 10 Signals Pulsar Is Leading the Helium-3 Race Key Takeaways Pulsar Helium offers an Earth-based path to He-3 supply, supported by proven gas production, high-grade helium, and real project infrastructure. With 7 of 7 wells encountering gas, 65,000 acres under exclusive leases, and confirmed He-3 concentrations up to 14.5 ppb, Pulsar has multiple signals pointing to commercial potential. Investors looking for exposure to Helium-3 (He-3) face a major challenge. Most potential sources are either scarce, government-controlled, or still highly speculative.  Pulsar Helium offers a different pathway. The company is pursuing an Earth-based He-3 supply chain through a permitted project in Minnesota, USA. This graphic, created in partnership with Pulsar Helium, highlights 10 signals that Pulsar is emerging as a key company to watch in the He-3 race. It’s the final piece in the Helium 3: From Theory to Opportunity series, delivering key He-3 insights for investors tracking deep tech, critical minerals, and advanced computing. The Top 10 Helium-3 Signals Pulsar’s investment case is built around a combination of drivers. These include rising demand, helium scarcity, strong well results, and project readiness. Signal #SignalKey Data 1Helium Demand Is Outrunning SupplyGlobal demand is projected to grow from 29 to 58 metric tons per year by 2035. 2A Market Defined by ScarcityHe-4 trades near US$100,000 per metric ton; He-3 reaches implied values of ~US$18.7B per metric ton. 3A Proven, Gas-Charged System7 of 7 wells encountered gas, a 100% gas-hit success rate. 4A Large, Permitted First-Mover PositionPulsar controls ~65,000 acres under exclusive leases. 5High-Grade Helium With Room to GrowJetstream #1 and #2 delivered 8.1% and 5.6% helium, respectively. 6One of Earth’s Highest He-3 DiscoveriesUp to 14.5 parts-per-billion He-3 confirmed; 0.4 Bcf P50 recoverable helium from Jetstream #1. 7Clean, Dry, High-Deliverability GasGas composition includes 8.1% He, 72.3% CO₂, 15.8% N₂, 2.7% CH₄, and ~1% other gases. 8Development-Ready LocationRoads and 3-phase power are within 5.5 miles. 9Momentum Backed by CapitalPulsar has secured a US$12.5M project financing package and a US$4M credit facility. 10A Team Built for HeliumPulsar’s team includes helium explorers, noble-gas scientists, and industrial-gas executives. Source: Pulsar Helium Investor Deck, April 2026. Together, these signals show Pulsar’s He-3 opportunity is backed by measurable project milestones: Successful wells Confirmed grades Nearby infrastructure New financing. Pulsar’s Earth-Based Helium-3 Opportunity For investors, Pulsar stands out for how far along it is in the commercial He-3 supply chain. Pulsar is already advancing the key pieces of resource and infrastructure data to plant engineering. Pulsar offers an Earth-based pathway to Helium-3 that is accessible through proven gas production today, unlike tomorrow’s speculative lunar mining. As demand for He-3 grows, companies with credible, near-term supply pathways become increasingly important.     You may also like Energy3 hours ago The Cost of Helium-3: Earth Sources vs. the Moon Helium-3 extraction costs vary widely based on source, from Earth-based underground deposits to the lunar surface. Here’s how they compare. Energy5 hours ago Helium-3’s Projected Demand Rise Through 2035 See how Helium-3 demand is projected to grow nearly 14x by 2035 for quantum, cryogenics, and fusion research using this rare isotope. Energy8 hours ago Helium-3: The Most Powerful Fuel by Energy Density See how Helium-3 compares to other major fuel sources by energy density, from uranium and hydrogen to gasoline, coal, and wood. Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up