See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Biggest Risks Facing the World 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 Geoeconomic confrontation is the top global risk in 2026, according to the World Economic Forum’s annual report. Fraying transatlantic alliances and a Great-Power competition between the U.S. and China is increasingly undermining global stability. From rapid advances in AI to shifts in the postwar economic order, multiple forces are reshaping the global system. As these shifts accelerate, they introduce growing risks. Not only do they raise questions for national competitiveness and security, they stand to disproportionately hit labor markets. This graphic shows the world’s leading risks in 2026, based on data from the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026. A Closer Look at the Top Global Risks For the analysis, the World Economic Forum surveyed more than 1,300 experts on the most pressing global risks in 2026. Here, respondents were asked to answer the following question, “Please select one risk that you believe is most likely to present a material crisis on a global scale in 2026.” Surveys were conducted between August 12 and September 22, 2025: RiskPercentage Selecting as Top Risk Geoeconomic confrontation18% State-based armed conflict14% Extreme weather events8% Societal polarization7% Misinformation and disinformation7% Economic downturn5% Erosion of human rights and/or of civic freedoms4% Adverse outcomes of AI technologies4% Cyber insecurity3% Inequality3% Lack of economic opportunity or unemployment2% Concentration of strategic resources and technologies2% Critical change to Earth systems2% Natural resource shortages2% Disruptions to critical infrastructure2% Asset bubble burst2% Debt2% Disruptions to a systemically important supply chain1% Decline in health and well-being1% Involuntary migration or displacement1% Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse1% Biological, chemical or nuclear weapons or hazards1% Inflation1% Pollution1% Insufficient public infrastructure and social protections1% Infectious diseases1% Non-weather related natural disasters1% Censorship and surveillance1% Crime and illicit economic activity1% Geoeconomic confrontation ranks as the top global risk in 2026, selected by 18% of respondents. Since last year, it has jumped up two spots in the rankings given persisting tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine. More recently, U.S. pressure over Greenland, along with the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, have added further strain. At the same time, President Trump’s perceived indifference toward defending Taiwan could create a perfect storm, according to experts, for China’s push for “reunification.” State-based armed conflict ranks second in the WEF report, selected by 14% of respondents. Notably, there are 59 active state-based conflicts worldwide, the highest number since World War II. Rounding out the top three risks are extreme weather events, selected by 8% respondents overall. From wildfires to droughts, severe weather events are meaningfully contributing to food inflation, displacement, and higher insurance costs. As global temperatures continue to rise, these impacts could intensify in both frequency and severity. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top 10 global risks from 2020 to 2025.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: Which Countries Hold the Most U.S. Debt? 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 Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries hit an all-time high of $9.4 trillion in November, despite notable selloffs from China and India. Japan’s holdings of U.S. debt increased 11% annually to reach $1.2 trillion, while Canada’s purchases climbed 27% over the period, with the total now at $472 billion. Each year, the U.S. needs to sell more Treasuries to finance its growing budget deficit. Both domestic and overseas investors buy this debt, with foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries owning a record $9.4 trillion of the total. Overall, European countries collectively hold close to 40% of foreign-owned U.S. debt. This graphic shows which countries hold U.S. debt, based on U.S. Treasury data. The Top 20 Foreign Holders of U.S. Treasuries in 2025 Below, we show the largest foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries as of November 2025: RankCountryValueNov 2025 (B)Annual Change 1 Japan$1,202.611% 2 United Kingdom$888.516% 3 China$682.6-11% 4 Belgium$481.033% 5 Canada$472.227% 6 Cayman Islands$427.45% 7 Luxembourg$425.62% 8 France$376.113% 9 Ireland$340.3-1% 10 Taiwan$312.59% 11 Switzerland$300.31% 12 Singapore$272.28% 13 Hong Kong$256.0-4% 14 Norway$218.935% 15 India$186.5-20% 16 Brazil$168.1-27% 17 Saudi Arabia$148.810% 18 South Korea$145.114% 19 Germany$109.810% 20 Israel$107.723% -- Other countries$1,833.2N/A -- Global Total$9,355.47% With $1.2 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt. In 2019, Japan overtook China, marking a major shift from a decade earlier, when China held nearly $1.3 trillion. Since then, China’s Treasury holdings have been nearly cut in half, while Japan’s have risen more modestly, up $61 billion over the same period. The UK ranks next, with $888.5 billion in U.S. federal debt. In the past 12 months, these debt holdings increased by the double-digits, a pattern echoed across several European nations, including Belgium, France, and Norway. By contrast, BRICS countries saw significant selloffs. Brazil’s holdings fell 27%, outpacing India’s 20% decline and China’s 11% reduction. At the same time, gold’s share of global central bank reserves surpassed U.S. Treasuries in late 2025 for the first time since 1996. While U.S. Treasury demand is shaped by many complex factors, 2025 underscored a clear divergence. Traditional U.S. allies continued to build their positions, while others increasingly diversified away, likely reflecting growing geopolitical considerations. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s $111 trillion in government debt.

The Pyramid of S&P 500 Returns: 152 Years of Market Performance Key Takeaways The S&P 500 has finished in positive territory in nearly 75% of years since 1871. 2026 could mark the fourth consecutive year of gains, which has been rarely seen throughout the S&P 500’s history. Wall Street strategists expect an average return of 12% for the index in 2026. Over the past 152 years, the S&P 500 has delivered a wide spectrum of annual returns, ranging from catastrophic downturns like 1931’s -44%, to massive bull runs such as 1954’s +45%. Using data from TradingView, the visualization above charts every calendar-year performance of the S&P 500 since 1871. As we enter 2026, Wall Street optimism is running high. All 21 strategists surveyed foresee gains for the S&P 500 this year, marking a rare consensus among analysts. How Have Returns Been Distributed Historically? Here’s the historical distribution of S&P 500 annual returns, compiled by TradingView: Annual S&P 500 Return RangeNumber of Years in RangeShare of Years in Range 40 to 50% or more32.0% 30 to 40%95.3% 20 to 30%2214.6% 10 to 20%3422.5% 0 to 10%3019.9% 0 to -10%2516.6% -10 to -20%1811.9% -20 to -30%74.6% -30 to -40%32.0% -40 to -50% or more10.7% Roughly 3 in 4 years have seen positive returns, with the most common range being between 10% and 20%. Only a handful of years (just 2%) delivered returns above 40%, underscoring how rare years like 1954 or 1995 truly are. On the downside, only a small cluster of years produced losses beyond -20%. 2026 Outlook: Optimism Across the Board For the S&P 500 in 2026, analysts are forecasting an average return of 12%, citing continued earnings growth and resilient consumer demand. Multiple investment firms, including Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, expect momentum in tech, AI, and small-cap sectors to drive performance this year. As noted in our global stock markets wrap for 2025, U.S. equities outperformed many international peers, bolstering investor confidence further. Where Will 2026 Land on the Chart? If the forecasted 12% gain materializes, 2026 would fall within the historically common 10–20% return range. That would place it alongside years like 2016 and 2010, which would be solid, unspectacular, and consistent with long-term averages. Based on analyst forecasts compiled in Visual Capitalist’s 2026 Predictions Database exclusively on VC+, the consensus outlook for U.S. equities leans constructively bullish, but more selective. Key themes expected to shape 2026: Moderate positive returns: Many strategists cluster around expectations of roughly 10–12% total returns, close to historical averages. Leadership may broaden beyond the largest mega‑cap tech names, with increased interest in industrials, defense, and select small‑cap segments. AI remains a structural tailwind, though gains may be more uneven as adoption spreads beyond the so‑called “Magnificent Seven.” Higher dispersion: Stock selection and sector rotation are expected to matter more than broad index exposure alone. Put simply, 2026 is shaping up to look less like a speculative surge, and more like a market digesting gains while still moving higher. But as history shows, market behavior can be unpredictable. Whether 2026 joins the ranks of great bull years, or surprises to the downside, remains to be seen.

Published 12 minutes ago on January 28, 2026 By Julia Wendling Article & Editing Ryan Bellefontaine Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Jennifer West Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by New York Life Investments 3 Key Tax Changes for U.S. Investors in 2026 Tax rules rarely sit still, so 2026 could bring meaningful planning ripple effects. As a result, many households may want a fresh look at deductions, transfers, and savings. This graphic, in partnership with New York Life Investments, shows three key tax-law shifts for U.S. investors using data from the Internal Revenue Service. 1. A New SALT (State & Local Tax) Cap For households that itemize deductions, the SALT deduction cap jumps from $10,000 to $40,000. Consequently, in an illustrative example of a married couple filing jointly in the 32% bracket with $40,000 in state and local taxes, federal tax savings rise from $3,200 to $12,800. Here is a table that shows the old and new SALT caps and the illustrative federal tax savings. DeductionFederal Tax Saved Old SALT cap ($10,000)$3,200 New SALT cap ($40,000)$12,800 Based on a married couple filing jointly, in the 32% tax bracket, with income below the SALT phase-out and $40,000 in state and local taxes. However, the benefit can swing widely by state. New York ($7,092) leads the nation, while South Dakota ($1,033) trails, with big coastal states also near the top. Meanwhile, state tax differences can compound over time for investors. 2. A Rise in the Federal Estate and Gift Tax Exemption In 2026, the federal lifetime estate and gift tax exemption rises from $13.99M to $15.00M per person. That added headroom can help reduce forced asset sales during wealth transfers. Here is a table showing the result if someone invested the roughly $1M difference at a 10% annual return, which is the average since 1957. YearTotal Savings (Millions of U.S. Dollars) 01.0 11.1 21.2 31.3 41.5 51.6 61.8 72.0 82.2 92.4 102.6 Average annual return on the S&P 500 since 1957. For illustrative purposes only. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Although results will vary, and markets don’t move in straight lines, it could approach $2.6M after a decade. 3. New Rules for Extra Retirement Contributions After Age 50 The IRS raised the 401(k) elective deferral limit to $24,500 for 2026, up from $23,500 in 2025. At the same time, the age-50 catch-up limit increases from $7,500 to $8,000. YearBase contributionCatch-up contribution 2025$23,500.00$7,500.00 2026$24,500.00$8,000.00 Amounts shown are the IRS maximum employee deferral limits for 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457 plans for individuals age 50 and older. Beginning in 2026, the $8,000 catch-up portion must be made with money that has already been taxed for workers whose prior year wages from that employer exceed the income threshold in the law, approximately $150,000 for 2026 contributions. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a higher catch-up contribution limit applies for employees aged 60-63 if their plan allows. The catch-up would be $11,250 (totaling $35,750). However, the SECURE 2.0 retirement package adds a twist: certain higher earners must make catch-up contributions after-tax as Roth. Because of that, investors may rethink how they balance pre-tax and Roth savings. What These Key Tax Changes Mean for Investors Taken together, these Key Tax Changes can free up after-tax cash flow and broaden long-term options. Yet each outcome depends on income levels, itemizing behavior, plan rules, and macro trends such as interest rate changes. 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See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: U.S. Cities With the Most Remote Workers 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 Frisco, Texas, has the highest share of remote workers among large U.S. cities, at 34%. Many of the top-ranked cities are affluent suburbs or tech hubs well above the U.S. average of 15%. While the national average share of remote workers sits at 15%, some cities far exceed that level. This map ranks U.S. cities by the share of workers who work remotely, revealing where work-from-home arrangements are still common. The data for this visualization comes from SmartAsset. Suburban Texas Cities Top the List Frisco, Texas ranks first, with 34% of its workforce working remotely. Located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area, Frisco benefits from proximity to major corporate employers such as Toyota, American Airlines, and AT&T. Many residents work in high-paying professional and technology roles that are well-suited to remote or hybrid work. RankCityRemote workers (%)Total remote workers 1Frisco, Texas34%42K 2Berkeley, California32%18K 3Cary, North Carolina31%29K 4Boulder, Colorado30%17K 5Scottsdale, Arizona28%36K 6Arlington, Virginia27%39K 7McKinney, Texas27%33K 8Fishers, Indiana27%15K 9Boca Raton, Florida26%14K 10Carlsbad, California26%14K 11Atlanta, Georgia26%74K 12Naperville, Illinois26%20K 13Allen, Texas26%16K 14Sandy Springs, Georgia25%16K 15Pasadena, California25%18K 16Charlotte, North Carolina25%130K 17Austin, Texas25%148K 18Denver, Colorado25%106K 19Alexandria, Virginia25%25K 20Portland, Oregon25%89K Other Texas cities also rank highly, including McKinney, Allen, and Austin. These cities combine strong job markets with newer housing stock and family-friendly suburbs, making them attractive destinations for remote professionals. College Towns and Tech Hubs Stand Out Several college towns and tech-focused cities appear near the top of the ranking. Berkeley, California and Boulder, Colorado both have remote work shares above 30%. These cities have highly educated populations and strong ties to technology, research, and professional services. Cities like Cary, North Carolina and Naperville, Illinois also stand out as affluent suburbs with large numbers of knowledge workers. In these places, remote work is often an extension of pre-existing white-collar employment patterns. Big Cities Still Matter Large metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Austin, Denver, and Portland also appear in the top 20. While their remote work shares are lower than those of leading smaller cities on the list, they account for far more remote workers in absolute terms. For example, Austin and Charlotte each have well over 100,000 remote workers. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Distribution of Income in America (2024 vs 1974) on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Fastest Growing Jobs in the U.S. See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The U.S. economy is projected to add more than 5.2 million net new jobs by 2034. Healthcare, technology, and service roles dominate the list of fastest growing occupations. The U.S. job market is undergoing a major shift as demographic changes, technological adoption, and evolving consumer needs reshape labor demand. Over the next decade, millions of new roles are expected to emerge, with growth concentrated in healthcare, digital occupations, and essential services. This visualization ranks the fastest growing jobs in the U.S. by projected number of new positions added through 2034. The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Healthcare Roles Lead Job Growth Healthcare-related occupations dominate the top of the rankings, driven largely by an aging U.S. population and rising demand for long-term care. Home health and personal care aides alone are expected to add nearly 740,000 new jobs by 2034. That represents about 14% of all projected net job growth. Occupation New jobs by 2034FMedian annual wageEmployment change (2024–34) Home health and personal care aides739,800$34,90017.0% Software developers267,700$133,08015.8% Stockers and order fillers235,000$37,0908.5% Fast food and counter workers233,200$30,4806.1% Cooks, restaurant217,000$36,83014.9% Registered nurses166,100$93,6004.9% General and operations managers164,000$102,9504.4% Medical and health services managers142,900$117,96023.2% Financial managers128,800$161,70014.8% Nurse practitioners128,400$129,21040.1% Construction laborers106,500$46,7307.3% Computer and information systems managers101,600$171,20015.2% Medical assistants101,200$44,20012.5% Management analysts94,500$101,1908.8% Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers89,300$57,4404.0% Data scientists82,500$112,59033.5% Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors81,000$59,19016.8% Light truck drivers78,900$44,1407.3% Electricians77,400$62,3509.5% First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers73,000$42,0106.0% Accountants and auditors72,800$81,6804.6% Industrial machinery mechanics70,700$63,76016.1% Market research analysts and marketing specialists63,000$76,9506.7% Maintenance and repair workers, general62,400$48,6203.8% Managers, all other59,800$136,5504.5% Project management specialists58,700$100,7505.6% Human resources specialists58,400$72,9106.2% Information security analysts52,100$124,91028.5% Health specialties teachers, postsecondary50,100$105,62017.3% First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers49,000$78,6905.3% Total, all occupations5,211,800$49,5003.1% Other fast-growing healthcare roles include registered nurses, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and medical and health services managers. While wages vary widely across these positions, the sector as a whole offers both high-volume job creation and strong long-term demand. Tech and Data Jobs Continue to Expand Technology-focused roles remain among the fastest growing and highest paying jobs in the U.S. Software developers are projected to add more than 267,000 new positions, with a median annual wage exceeding $130,000. Data scientists and information security analysts also rank high, reflecting continued investment in data infrastructure and cybersecurity. Management roles tied to technology, such as computer and information systems managers, show strong growth as well. Service and Logistics Jobs Power the Economy Beyond healthcare and tech, many of the fastest growing jobs are crucial service roles. Stockers and order fillers, fast food workers, cooks, and truck drivers are all projected to see significant increases in employment. Growth in e-commerce, logistics, and food services continues to drive demand for these occupations. While median wages in these roles are generally lower than in tech or management, they collectively make up a substantial portion of total job creation. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out What the Top 1% Richest Americans Pay in Taxes Across the U.S. on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Charted: Median Income by Household Size in the U.S. 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 median U.S. household income stands at $81,604 as of 2024. Households with seven or more people earn the highest median income, at around $126,000. Single-person households earn less than half the income of two-person households. Household income in the United States varies widely depending on how many people live under one roof. Larger households often have multiple earners, while smaller households rely on a single income, shaping large gaps in median household earnings. However, on a per-person basis, smaller households are relatively better off. This infographic shows median household income by household size in the United States, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 1-Year Estimates. How Income Changes With Household Size Median household income generally rises as household size increases, reflecting the growing likelihood of multiple earners contributing to total income. The table below shows median household income by household size in the U.S.: Household sizeMedian household income One person$42,124 Two people$90,465 Three people$107,126 Four people$124,990 Five people$119,003 Six people$118,348 Seven or more people$126,072 Single-person households report a median income of $42,124, highlighting the financial constraints faced by individuals relying on a single paycheck. Two-person households more than double that figure, earning a median of $90,465. Income continues to rise for three- and four-person households, reaching $124,990 for four-person households. This group often includes dual-income families with children, combining higher earnings with shared living costs. Income Plateaus for Larger Households Interestingly, median income levels off, and even dips slightly, for households with five or six people. Five-person households earn a median of $119,003, while six-person households earn $118,348. These larger households may include more dependents relative to earners, such as children or extended family members, which can limit earning potential. Meanwhile, households with seven or more people show a slight rebound, reporting a median income of $126,072. Per-Person Median Income by Household Size Higher median incomes don’t always mean higher living standards. While larger households tend to earn more in absolute terms, their incomes per person are relatively lower. For instance, two-person households make the most median income per person at over $45,000, and this figure continues declining as households get larger. In seven-person homes, the median household income of $126,072 translates to just over $18,000 per person. Larger families also face higher housing, food, healthcare, and childcare costs, which can offset absolute income gains. With these financial constraints in mind, the average U.S. household has evolved significantly—as of 2023, around 58% of U.S. households consisted of married or single adults with no children. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you found this breakdown useful, explore more income and cost-of-living insights on Voronoi, including The Income a Family Needs to be Middle Class in Every State.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization How Global R&D Spending Growth Has Shifted Since 2000 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways China leads the world in R&D growth in percentage terms, with spending rising at a 13.1% compound annual rate since 2000. Several emerging economies, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Indonesia, rank among the fastest-growing R&D spenders. Over the past two decades, the world has become increasingly research-intensive, with global R&D spending reaching nearly $3 trillion in 2024, up from less than $1 trillion in the year 2000. This visualization ranks the world’s fastest-growing R&D spenders based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of gross R&D expenditure between 2000 and 2024, using data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). All figures are in constant 2015 purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted U.S. dollars. China Leads in Global R&D Spending China tops the ranking, with R&D spending growing at a 13.1% annual rate since 2000. Over this period, China’s gross expenditure on R&D surged from just $40.8 billion in 2000 to nearly $786 billion in 2024, accounting for 27% of the global total. The table below shows the top 20 economies with the fastest growth in R&D spending, along with their R&D outlays in 2000 and 2024: RankEconomyCAGR (2000–2024)R&D Spend 2000 (USD, PPP 2015 billions)R&D Spend 2024 (USD, PPP 2015 billions) 1 China13.1%$40.8$785.9 2 Saudi Arabia13.0%$0.6$10.4 3 Egypt11.8%$1.1$16.4 4 Indonesia11.3%$0.8$10.6 5 Cambodia10.4%$0.0$0.1 6 Thailand10.1%$1.5$15.1 7 Türkiye9.9%$4.5$43.2 8 Vietnam9.3%$0.6$5.1 9 Philippines8.6%$0.5$3.5 10 Malta8.6%$0.0$0.2 11 Morocco8.1%$0.3$2.2 12 Namibia8.1%$0.0$0.2 13 Estonia7.8%$0.1$0.9 14 Cyprus7.8%$0.1$0.3 15 Malaysia7.6%$1.8$10.2 16 Poland7.5%$3.9$21.9 17 Republic of Korea7.5%$22.4$126.4 18 Tajikistan7.3%$0.0$0.0 19 Uruguay7.2%$0.1$0.5 20 Burkina Faso6.8%$0.0$0.1 China’s rapid R&D expansion has positioned it as a global innovation powerhouse. Since 2000, China has accounted for more than 36% of all patent applications worldwide, and it also leads in AI patent filings globally. Saudi Arabia ranks second, with R&D spending growing at 13% annually since 2000, the fastest rate among all high-income countries. Egypt follows closely behind, with R&D expenditure rising at an annual rate of nearly 12% from 2000 to 2024. Several emerging economies, such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, also rank among the fastest-growing R&D spenders, although their absolute spending remains relatively low. Meanwhile, the U.S. (not on the list) is the world’s second-largest R&D spender in absolute terms, but American R&D expenditure has grown at just 3.3% annually from 2000 to 2024, placing it 69th worldwide. Why R&D Growth Matters Sustained investment in non-defense R&D positively correlates with higher total factor productivity over the long term, delivering spillover benefits in economic efficiency, manufacturing, and technological leadership. Furthermore, countries that invest effectively in research are better positioned to develop advanced industries and attract skilled talent, especially as global competition revolves more around innovation than low-cost labor alone. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you found this infographic interesting, explore more innovation and technology insights on Voronoi, including Who’s Winning the AI Patent Race?.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Which Countries Are Expected to Grow the Most 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 Guyana is forecast to see 23% real GDP growth in 2026, the highest rate globally, supported by a massive oil boom. Global real GDP growth is projected to be 3.1% in 2026, slightly lower than the 3.2% forecast for 2025. After several years of economic volatility, growth in 2026 is expected to remain uneven across the world. While global growth is projected to hold steady overall, momentum varies sharply by country, shaped by factors such as energy production, trade exposure, fiscal conditions, and demographic trends. As a result, some economies are positioned for rapid expansion, while others face more modest outlooks. This graphic shows forecasts for global GDP growth rates in 2026, based on data from the International Monetary Fund. A Closer Look at GDP Growth Rates in 2026 Below, we show the GDP outlook for 190 countries worldwide: RankCountryReal GDP Growth 2026 (%) 1 Guyana23.0 2 South Sudan22.4 3 Guinea10.5 4 Sudan9.5 5 Uganda7.6 6 Rwanda7.5 7 Bhutan7.4 8 Ethiopia7.1 9 Benin6.7 10 Niger6.7 11 Côte d'Ivoire6.4 12 Zambia6.4 13 Tanzania6.3 14 India6.2 15 Qatar6.1 16 Djibouti6.0 17 Uzbekistan6.0 18 Philippines5.7 19 Vietnam5.6 20 Mongolia5.5 21 Tajikistan5.5 22 Togo5.5 23 Liberia5.4 24 Mali5.4 25 Congo, Dem. Rep. of the5.3 26 Georgia5.3 27 Kyrgyz Republic5.3 28 Nepal5.2 29 Gambia, The5.1 30 Guinea-Bissau5.0 31 United Arab Emirates5.0 32 Armenia4.9 33 Bangladesh4.9 34 Indonesia4.9 35 Kenya4.9 36 Sierra Leone4.9 37 Burkina Faso4.8 38 Cabo Verde4.8 39 Ghana4.8 40 Kazakhstan4.8 41 São Tomé and Príncipe4.7 42 Eswatini4.6 43 Zimbabwe4.6 44 Dominican Republic4.5 45 Egypt4.5 46 Maldives4.5 47 Ukraine4.5 48 Madagascar4.3 49 Mauritania4.3 50 China, People's Republic of4.2 51 Libya4.2 52 Morocco4.2 53 Nigeria4.2 54 Burundi4.1 55 Cameroon4.1 56 Marshall Islands4.1 57 Argentina4.0 58 Cambodia4.0 59 Comoros4.0 60 Kosovo4.0 61 Malaysia4.0 62 Oman4.0 63 Panama4.0 64 Saudi Arabia4.0 65 Israel3.9 66 Kuwait3.9 67 Malta3.9 68 Namibia3.8 69 Paraguay3.7 70 Suriname3.7 71 Türkiye, Republic of3.7 72 Albania3.6 73 Chad3.6 74 Guatemala3.6 75 Iraq3.6 76 Pakistan3.6 77 Serbia3.6 78 Honduras3.5 79 Mozambique3.5 80 Papua New Guinea3.5 81 Grenada3.4 82 Mauritius3.4 83 Bahrain3.3 84 Central African Republic3.3 85 Costa Rica3.3 86 Dominica3.3 87 Palau3.3 88 Somalia3.3 89 Timor-Leste3.3 90 Kiribati3.2 91 Montenegro3.2 92 North Macedonia3.2 93 Samoa3.2 94 Seychelles3.2 95 Bulgaria3.1 96 Fiji3.1 97 Poland3.1 98 Myanmar3.0 99 Senegal3.0 100 Algeria2.9 101 Jordan2.9 102 Lithuania2.9 103 Nicaragua2.9 104 Congo, Republic of2.8 105 Cyprus2.8 106 Macao SAR2.8 107 Solomon Islands2.8 108 Vanuatu2.8 109 Bosnia and Herzegovina2.7 110 Croatia2.7 111 Malawi2.7 112 Peru2.7 113 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2.7 114 Gabon2.6 115 Tuvalu2.6 116 Antigua and Barbuda2.5 117 Azerbaijan2.5 118 El Salvador2.5 119 Lao P.D.R.2.5 120 Belize2.4 121 Brunei Darussalam2.4 122 Uruguay2.4 123 Botswana2.3 124 Colombia2.3 125 Iceland2.3 126 Slovenia2.3 127 Tonga2.3 128 Turkmenistan2.3 129 Aruba2.2 130 Denmark2.2 131 Latvia2.2 132 Moldova2.2 133 New Zealand2.2 134 Saint Kitts and Nevis2.2 135 Angola2.1 136 Australia2.1 137 Bahamas, The2.1 138 Barbados2.1 139 Hong Kong SAR2.1 140 Hungary2.1 141 Luxembourg2.1 142 Portugal2.1 143 Saint Lucia2.1 144 Taiwan Province of China2.1 145 Tunisia2.1 146 United States2.1 147 Chile2.0 148 Czech Republic2.0 149 Ecuador2.0 150 Greece2.0 151 Spain2.0 152 Brazil1.9 153 Nauru1.9 154 Sweden1.9 155 Korea, Republic of1.8 156 Singapore1.8 157 Slovak Republic1.7 158 Andorra1.6 159 Norway1.6 160 Thailand1.6 161 Canada1.5 162 Estonia1.5 163 Jamaica1.5 164 Liechtenstein1.5 165 Mexico1.5 166 Belarus1.4 167 Micronesia, Fed. States of1.4 168 Romania1.4 169 Finland1.3 170 Ireland1.3 171 San Marino1.3 172 Switzerland1.3 173 United Kingdom1.3 174 Netherlands1.2 175 South Africa1.2 176 Trinidad and Tobago1.2 177 Iran1.1 178 Lesotho1.1 179 Belgium1.0 180 Russian Federation1.0 181 France0.9 182 Germany0.9 183 Austria0.8 184 Italy0.8 185 Japan0.6 186 Equatorial Guinea0.5 187 Yemen0.0 188 Puerto Rico-0.1 189 Haiti-1.2 190 Venezuela-3.0 -- World3.1 Thanks to a massive oil discovery, Guyana is projected to see the strongest real GDP growth in 2026, at 23%. As we can see, several African nations are forecast to see upwards of 6% growth, driven by growing economic stability. Meanwhile, India is expected to expand by 6.2%, the 14th-fastest rate globally. In China, real GDP is projected to slow from 4.8% in 2025 to 4.2% in 2026. Strong export growth and fiscal support are anticipated to offset weak domestic demand and a sluggish property market. When it comes to U.S. growth in 2026, a moderate increase from 2.0% in 2025 to 2.1% in 2026 is forecasted. Among the factors underscoring the economic picture are continued strength in the AI sector and gradually easing interest rates, although risks remain. By comparison, European economies are projected to see dismal growth in 2026. In particular, Italy and Austria are each forecast to see just 0.8% growth, among the lowest rates globally. Germany and France, meanwhile, are expected to growth marginally higher, at 0.9%, as weak productivity growth and aging populations weigh on output. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on each state’s share of U.S. GDP.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Where Inflation Has Risen the Most in the U.S. (2019–2025) 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 Motor vehicle insurance has seen the largest price increase since 2019, rising more than 56%. Household essentials like utilities, food, and rent have risen faster than overall inflation. Inflation has reshaped household budgets across the United States since 2019, but price increases have not been evenly distributed. While the overall consumer price index (CPI) is up roughly 26% over the period, some everyday expenses have climbed far faster. This graphic highlights where inflation has risen the most across major consumer categories between November 2019 and 2025. The data for this visualization comes from reporting by CNBC (via Gabriel Cortes), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and POLITICO. Transportation Costs Lead the Inflation Surge Motor vehicle insurance tops the ranking, with prices rising 56.1% since late 2019. Higher repair costs, more expensive vehicles, and increased claims severity have all pushed premiums upward. Vehicle maintenance and repair costs are close behind, up nearly 49%, reflecting higher labor rates and parts prices. RankConsumer Category% Change (2019-2025) 1Motor vehicle insurance56.1% 2Utility (piped) gas service48.8% 3Vehicle maintenance48.8% 4Coffee46.1% 5Electricity40.4% 6Meats, poultry + fish38.1% 7Food away from home34.8% 8Used cars + trucks33.6% 9Rent of primary residence30.8% 10Bread29.4% 11Housekeeping supplies26.2% 12Alcoholic beverages25.9% 13Personal care products24.9% 14Milk24.1% 15New cars + trucks22.6% —All items less food + energy24.7% —All items26.0% Energy and Food Prices Continue to Pressure Households Utility costs have also surged, with piped gas services rising 48.8% and electricity up more than 40%. Food prices remain another major strain, particularly for items consumed outside the home. “Food away from home,” which includes restaurant meals, is up nearly 35%, while coffee, meats, and bread have all seen increases well above the overall inflation rate. Housing and Everyday Essentials Outpace Headline Inflation Housing-related costs continue to rise faster than the CPI average. Rent for primary residences is up 30.8% since 2019, outpacing both “all items” inflation and the CPI excluding food and energy. Other everyday categories—such as housekeeping supplies and personal care products—have also experienced steady increases, reinforcing the sense that inflation is most visible in daily spending rather than discretionary purchases. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out What the Top 1% Richest Americans Pay in Taxes Across the U.S. on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Published 2 hours ago on January 26, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Sabrina Lam Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Ranked: Top 10 ETF Themes That Crushed the S&P 500 in 2025 Rising geopolitical strain defined financial markets in 2025. Capital moved toward assets linked to security, energy, and strategic control. Investors favored themes that reflected real world power dynamics rather than broad market averages. This analysis uses data from ETF Central, our data partner for this post. Their figures show how sharply thematic returns diverged from the broader market. The S&P 500 rose 17.9%, a solid gain in isolation. Yet it trailed far behind sectors aligned with global instability and state driven investment priorities. Security and Strategic ETF Assets Took the Lead Strategic metals delivered the strongest performance of any ETF theme. Returns reached 94.9% as nations rushed to secure materials critical for defense systems, batteries, and advanced manufacturing. Supply chain control became a top economic priority. RankInvestment Theme2025 Return 1Strategic Metals94.9% 2Europe Defense75.1% 3Global Defense70.9% 4Life Sciences66.3% 5Battery Value-Chain64.1% 6Nuclear Energy61.7% 7Space & Deep Sea53.5% 8Solar Energy51.2% 9Alternative Energy47.1% 10U.S. Defense46.7% S&P 50017.9% Defense followed closely behind. Europe defense returned 75.1%, while global defense gained 70.9%. U.S. defense also performed well with a 46.7% return. Higher military budgets and prolonged conflicts sustained long term demand. Life sciences added to the momentum, rising 66.3% as innovation continued despite market uncertainty. Energy Transition Outperformed the Benchmark Energy related themes dominated the middle of the rankings. The battery value chain returned 64.1% as electric vehicles and grid storage expanded worldwide. Nuclear energy gained 61.7% as governments reconsidered reliable baseload power. Solar energy posted a 51.2% return, while alternative energy rose 47.1%. Energy security became just as important as emissions reduction. Investors rewarded technologies that offered resilience and scale. In 2025, focused exposure captured the defining trends that broad indexes could not. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on investment peaks by industry. Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "Ranked: Top 10 ETF Themes That Crushed the S&P 500 in 2025"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/dp/ranked-top-10-etf-themes-that-crushed-the-sp-500-in-2025/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-194545"; You may also like Markets5 days ago Charted: The Battle for AI Data Center Revenue (2021–2025) With the generative AI boom igniting demand for AI chips and data centers, how has market share changed between NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel? Markets1 week ago How Nvidia’s Market Cap Stacks Up Against Entire Countries Nvidia’s valuation now rivals entire G7 economies. See how the tech company’s market cap compares to the largest country economies. Markets2 weeks ago Charted: The Rise of Major Currencies Against the U.S. Dollar in 2025 As the U.S. dollar weakened in 2025, we show the appreciation of several currencies against the U.S. dollar in a highly unpredictable year. Investor Education2 weeks ago Charted: Asset Class Returns Across Eras (1990–2025) Private markets show the highest long-term returns, while gold has been the best-performing asset since 2020. Stocks3 weeks ago Charted: Winners and Losers in U.S. Stocks Over the Last Year We round up the winners and losers in the U.S. stock market over the last 12 months, focusing in on sector and company performance. Markets4 weeks ago Ranked: Magnificent Seven Stock Returns in 2025 As AI competition intensifies, performance across the Magnificent Seven stocks has sharply diverged in 2025. Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization What’s Worrying Billionaires the Most in 2026? This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Trade tensions, geopolitics, and policy uncertainty top the list of risks worrying billionaires in 2026. Regional concerns vary, with tariffs dominating in Asia-Pacific and inflation and conflict leading fears in the Americas. This infographic highlights the factors most likely to negatively impact the global market environment over the next 12 months, based on responses from billionaires across regions. The data for this visualization comes from the UBS Billionaire Survey 2025. Trade and Geopolitics Dominate Concerns Tariffs rank as the top concern overall, cited by 66% of respondents. Close behind, 63% of billionaires point to major geopolitical conflict as a key risk, underscoring fears around wars, regional instability, and great-power rivalry. What Billionaires Are Most Worried About in 2026Share of Respondents Tariffs66% Major geopolitical conflict63% Policy uncertainty59% Higher inflation44% Debt crisis34% Higher taxes28% Global recession27% Higher interest rates19% Supply chain disruptions19% Financial market crisis16% Technological disruptions15% Climate change14% Higher energy costs8% Global health crisis6% Deflation5% Other1% Not worried 1% Policy uncertainty is the third-largest concern, flagged by 59% of respondents. Meanwhile, 44% of billionaires remain worried about higher inflation, indicating that price stability is still not taken for granted after years of elevated inflation across major economies. Regional Differences Reveal Uneven Risk Exposure While global results show common themes, regional differences stand out. In Asia-Pacific, 75% of billionaires cite tariffs as their biggest concern, reflecting the region’s deep integration into global supply chains and export-driven growth models. Meanwhile in the Americas, 70% of respondents are most worried about higher inflation or major geopolitical conflict. Lower-Ranked but Persistent Threats Concerns such as debt crises (34%), higher taxes (28%), and global recessions (27%) still rank meaningfully, though below headline geopolitical risks. Interestingly, technological disruptions (15%) and climate change (14%) appear lower on the list, suggesting that billionaires may view these as longer-term or more manageable challenges compared to immediate political and economic shocks. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Balanced Is Economic Growth Within Countries? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The World’s Top 50 Economies by GDP 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 U.S. real GDP is projected to hit $31.8 trillion in 2026 as growth rises moderately to 2.1%. India is on pace to surpass Japan as the world’s fourth-largest economy. In 2026, global economic output is forecast to reach $123.6 trillion. While the U.S. economy is projected to expand to $31.8 trillion, China’s GDP is set to reach $20.7 trillion. Since 2021, the U.S. and China have added nearly $9 trillion and $4 trillion, respectively, to their total economic output. This graphic ranks the top 50 economies by GDP in 2026, based on projections from the International Monetary Fund. Ranking Projected Country GDPs in 2026 Below, we show global GDP rankings in 2026 based on these IMF projections: RankCountryProjected GDP in 2026 (B) 1 United States$31,821 2 China$20,651 3 Germany$5,328 4 India$4,506 5 Japan$4,464 6 United Kingdom$4,226 7 France$3,559 8 Italy$2,702 9 Russian Federation$2,509 10 Canada$2,421 11 Brazil$2,293 12 Spain$2,042 13 Mexico$2,031 14 Australia$1,948 15 South Korea$1,937 16 Türkiye$1,576 17 Indonesia$1,550 18 Netherlands$1,413 19 Saudi Arabia$1,316 20 Poland$1,110 21 Switzerland$1,075 22 Taiwan$971 23 Belgium$761 24 Ireland$750 25 Sweden$712 26 Argentina$668 27 Israel$666 28 Singapore$606 29 Austria$604 30 UAE$601 31 Thailand$562 32 Norway$548 33 Philippines$534 34 Bangladesh$519 35 Vietnam$511 36 Malaysia$505 37 Denmark$500 38 Colombia$462 39 Hong Kong SAR$447 40 Romania$445 41 South Africa$444 42 Czechia$417 43 Egypt$400 44 Iran$376 45 Portugal$365 46 Chile$363 47 Finland$336 48 Nigeria$334 49 Peru$327 50 Kazakhstan$320 --Global Total$123,585 The U.S., China, and Germany remain the world’s largest economies by GDP, but growth rates diverge. For the U.S., real GDP is set to grow 2.1% in 2026, edging up from 2.0% in 2025. Meanwhile, China’s economy is projected to expand at roughly twice that pace, despite slowing from 4.8% last year. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, trails behind with just 0.9% growth. Notably, India will overtake Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, fueled by 6.2% real GDP growth. Since 2020, India has also surpassed the U.K.’s GDP. Elsewhere, Australia replaces South Korea as the 14th-largest economy, while Bangladesh climbs to 33rd, moving ahead of Vietnam on the back of 4.9% growth. Going further, Egypt jumps two spots to 43rd by GDP, as strategic economic reforms strengthen its position as a regional trade hub. At the same time, Nigeria entered into the list, ranking 48th overall. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on each state’s share of U.S. GDP.

Charted: Are Younger Countries More Optimistic About AI? 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 Younger countries tend to show greater enthusiasm for AI, but there are several key outliers. Thailand and South Korea are surprisingly optimistic about AI despite having older populations. Western nations like Canada, Belgium, and France show the least AI excitement, correlating with older demographics. Does age influence optimism about artificial intelligence? This visualization from Iswardi Ishak charts the relationship between the median age of a country’s population and public sentiment toward AI, based on 2025 data from Ipsos and the UN Population Division. Respondents were asked whether they agreed with the statement: “Products and services using artificial intelligence make me excited.” The results highlight notable geographic and demographic divides. Explore the Full Dataset Here is the full ranking of AI optimism levels across 30 countries, alongside each nation’s median age: CountryOptimism About AI (Ipsos, 2025)Median Age (UN, 2025) Indonesia80%30.4 Thailand79%40.6 Malaysia77%31.0 South Korea69%45.6 Türkiye67%33.5 Singapore67%36.2 Peru66%30.2 Mexico65%29.6 India65%28.8 South Africa61%28.7 Colombia60%32.5 Brazil57%34.8 Chile53%36.9 Poland49%42.5 Italy49%48.2 Japan46%49.8 Spain45%45.9 Germany45%45.5 Hungary44%43.9 Switzerland44%42.9 Argentina43%32.9 Ireland41%39.0 Australia40%38.3 France40%42.3 Netherlands39%41.5 United States38%38.5 Great Britain37%40.1 Sweden34%40.3 Belgium32%41.9 Canada31%40.6 Younger populations in countries like Indonesia (80% agree), Malaysia (75%), and India (67%) lead the global AI optimism chart. Meanwhile, older and more developed economies, particularly in the West, typically express far less excitement. Younger Countries, Higher AI Optimism? The correlation between youth and optimism is strong. Nations with median ages under 35, such as Mexico, Peru, and South Africa, all report optimism levels above 60%. Indonesia tops the list, with 80% of respondents feeling excited about AI products and services. Interestingly, even countries like Türkiye and Colombia, with slightly older populations, maintain high excitement levels. Asian Nations Buck the Trend Despite their aging demographics, countries like Thailand (79%) and South Korea (69%) are among the most enthusiastic about AI. This defies the trend and may reflect a strong emphasis on tech-forward policy and innovation in these regions. In contrast, Japan, which has the highest median age in the dataset, shows much lower excitement at just 46%. The West’s Tepid AI Outlook Western countries generally fall below the global average. Nations such as Canada (36%), Belgium (37%), and France (38%) have older populations and appear less enthused about AI’s promises. This aligns with broader findings from organizations like Pew Research and the UNU’s MACAU Institute, which suggest a cautious, even skeptical, public attitude in many developed nations, fueled by fears over automation, privacy, and misinformation. In some cases, neighboring countries with similar demographics show dramatically different attitudes. Argentina (43%), for instance, has a relatively young population but reports much lower optimism than other Latin American countries like Mexico (67%) and Peru (67%).

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The Largest U.S. Trading Partners 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 The European Union accounted for 18.8% of all U.S. trade in the first 10 months of 2025, valued at $883.3 billion . China ranks as America’s fourth-largest trading partner, with U.S. imports declining 26.7%, given rising tensions. U.S. bilateral trade reached $4.7 trillion between January and October 2025, in a volatile year for trade policy. As the U.S.’s largest trading partner, the EU plays a central role in trade flows. While tariffs linked to Greenland were briefly threatened on eight EU countries before being withdrawn, trade dynamics vary across the bloc. The U.S. runs surpluses with countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, while having deficits with Ireland and Germany. This graphic shows America’s biggest trading partners in 2025 through October, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. A Closer Look at the Largest U.S. Trading Partners Below, we show America’s top trading partners in a year of head-spinning trade policy: RankCountry/RegionTotal Trade Jan-Oct 2025Share of Total Trade 1 EU$883.3B18.8% 2 Mexico$731.2B15.6% 3 Canada$606.7B12.9% 4 China$357.2B7.6% 5 Taiwan$201.1B4.3% 6 Japan$190.7B4.1% 7 Vietnam$170.5B3.6% 8 South Korea$162.1B3.5% 9 Switzerland$154.3B3.3% 10 United Kingdom$133.5B2.8% 11 India$126.4B2.7% -- Other countries$977.2B20.8% --Total Trade (Jan-Oct '25)$4.69 trillion100.0% Trade with the EU stood at $883.3 billion, with Germany ($196.4 billion), Ireland ($140.8 billion), and the Netherlands ($108.7 billion) driving the most trade activity overall. In August 2025, the U.S. and EU agreed to a framework that set a 15% tariff ceiling on most goods, while existing 50% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum were left in place for all global trading partners. Mexico follows, with $731.2 billion in cross-border trade in 2025. After the U.S. announced tariffs on Mexican imports in February 2025, subsequent negotiations led to delays and partial exemptions. Ranking in third is Canada, with $606.7 billion in trade value. Meanwhile, U.S-China trade totaled $357.2 billion, with the U.S. trade deficit with the country sitting at $175.4 billion as of the end of October. Over the period, U.S imports from China sank 26.7%, the largest across U.S. trading partners. In stark contrast, U.S. imports surged 40.4% from Vietnam and 37.4% from Thailand amid shifting trade alignments. When it comes to India, America’s 11th-biggest trading partner, trade increased moderately to $126.4 billion compared to the previous time period. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top import partner of each U.S. state.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualizing the 8.2 Billion World Population by Country See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The global population surpassed 8.2 billion in 2025, up from 8.0 billion in 2022. India drove nearly a quarter of global population growth over the period, with its population now close to 1.5 billion. After reaching 1 billion people in 1804, the world’s population has expanded eightfold over roughly 200 years. Since 2022, the global population has increased by more than 200 million despite widespread declines in birth rates. While the populations of China and Brazil have shrunk, India and Nigeria have been significant drivers of overall population growth. This graphic shows the world population by country, based on data from the United Nations. The World Population by Country in 2025 Below, we show the population of 204 countries and territories in 2025: RankCountryPopulation in 2025(M) 1 India1,463.9 2 China1,416.1 3 U.S.347.3 4 Indonesia285.7 5 Pakistan255.2 6 Nigeria237.5 7 Brazil212.8 8 Bangladesh175.7 9 Russia144.0 10 Ethiopia135.5 11 Mexico132.0 12 Japan123.1 13 Egypt118.4 14 Philippines116.8 15 DR Congo112.8 16 Viet Nam101.6 17 Iran92.4 18 Türkiye87.7 19 Germany84.1 20 Thailand71.6 21 Tanzania70.6 22 UK69.6 23 France66.7 24 South Africa64.8 25 Italy59.2 26 Kenya57.5 27 Myanmar54.9 28 Colombia53.4 29 South Korea51.7 30 Sudan51.7 31 Uganda51.4 32 Spain47.9 33 Algeria47.4 34 Iraq47.0 35 Argentina45.9 36 Afghanistan43.8 37 Yemen41.8 38 Canada40.1 39 Angola39.0 40 Ukraine39.0 41 Morocco38.4 42 Poland38.1 43 Uzbekistan37.1 44 Malaysia36.0 45 Mozambique35.6 46 Ghana35.1 47 Peru34.6 48 Saudi Arabia34.6 49 Côte d'Ivoire32.7 50 Madagascar32.7 51 Cameroon29.9 52 Nepal29.6 53 Venezuela 28.5 54 Niger27.9 55 Australia27.0 56 North Korea26.6 57 Syria 25.6 58 Mali25.2 59 Burkina Faso24.1 60 Sri Lanka23.2 61 Malawi22.2 62 Zambia21.9 63 Chad21.0 64 Kazakhstan20.8 65 Chile19.9 66 Somalia19.7 67 Romania18.9 68 Senegal18.9 69 Guatemala18.7 70 Netherlands 18.4 71 Ecuador18.3 72 Cambodia17.9 73 Zimbabwe17.0 74 Guinea15.1 75 Benin14.8 76 Rwanda14.6 77 Burundi14.4 78 Bolivia 12.6 79 Tunisia12.4 80 South Sudan12.2 81 Haiti11.9 82 Belgium11.8 83 Dominican Republic11.5 84 Jordan11.5 85 UAE11.4 86 Honduras11.0 87 Cuba10.9 88 Papua New Guinea10.8 89 Tajikistan10.8 90 Sweden10.7 91 Czechia10.6 92 Azerbaijan10.4 93 Portugal10.4 94 Greece9.9 95 Togo9.7 96 Hungary9.6 97 Israel9.5 98 Austria9.1 99 Belarus9.0 100 Switzerland9.0 101 Sierra Leone8.8 102 Laos7.9 103 Turkmenistan7.6 104 Libya7.5 105 China7.4 106 Kyrgyzstan7.3 107 Nicaragua7.0 108 Paraguay7.0 109 Bulgaria6.7 110 Serbia6.7 111 Congo6.5 112 El Salvador6.4 113 Denmark6.0 114 Lebanon5.9 115 Singapore5.9 116 Liberia5.7 117 Finland5.6 118 Norway5.6 119 State of Palestine5.6 120 Central African Republic5.5 121 Oman5.5 122 Slovakia5.5 123 Ireland5.3 124 Mauritania5.3 125 New Zealand5.3 126 Costa Rica5.2 127 Kuwait5.0 128 Panama4.6 129 Croatia3.9 130 Georgia3.8 131 Eritrea3.6 132 Mongolia3.5 133 Uruguay3.4 134 Puerto Rico3.2 135 Bosnia and Herzegovina3.1 136 Namibia3.1 137 Qatar3.1 138 Armenia3.0 139 Republic of Moldova3.0 140 Albania2.8 141 Gambia2.8 142 Jamaica2.8 143 Lithuania2.8 144 Botswana2.6 145 Gabon2.6 146 Lesotho2.4 147 Guinea-Bissau2.3 148 Slovenia2.1 149 Equatorial Guinea1.9 150 Latvia1.9 151 North Macedonia1.8 152 Bahrain1.6 153 Trinidad and Tobago1.5 154 Cyprus1.4 155 Timor-Leste1.4 156 Estonia1.3 157 Eswatini1.3 158 Mauritius1.3 159 Djibouti1.2 160 Comoros0.9 161 Fiji0.9 162 Réunion0.9 163 Bhutan0.8 164 Guyana0.8 165 Solomon Islands0.8 166 Macao0.7 167 Luxembourg0.7 168 Malta0.6 169 Montenegro0.6 170 Suriname0.6 171 Western Sahara0.6 172 Brunei Darussalam0.5 173 Cabo Verde0.5 174 Maldives0.5 175 Bahamas0.4 176 Belize0.4 177 Guadeloupe0.4 178 Iceland0.4 179 Barbados0.3 180 French Guiana110.3 181 French Polynesia0.3 182 Martinique0.3 183 New Caledonia0.3 184 Vanuatu0.3 185 Curaçao0.2 186 Guam0.2 187 Saint Lucia0.2 188 Samoa0.2 189 Sao Tome and Principe0.2 190 Antigua and Barbuda0.1 191 Aruba0.1 192 Dominica0.1 193 Grenada0.1 194 Kiribati0.1 195 Micronesia 0.1 196 Saint Kitts and Nevis0.1 197 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines0.1 198 Seychelles0.1 199 Tonga0.1 200 Turks and Caicos Islands0.1 201 United States Virgin Islands0.1 202 San Marino0.03 203 Sint Maarten0.00 204 Tuvalu0.00 India ranks as the world’s most populous country, with a population fast-approaching the 1.5 billion mark. Between 2022 and 2025, India added roughly 53 million people, even as its fertility rate fell below the replacement level to 1.9 births per woman. Over the same period, life expectancy rose to more than 72 years, climbing roughly 10 years since 2000. China, home to over 1.4 billion people, ranks second globally. Since 2022, its population has declined by almost 36 million, and India overtook China in 2023 as aging demographics and record-low fertility accelerated China’s population decline. With 347 million people in 2025, the U.S. ranks third globally. However, Nigeria is projected to surpass it by 2050 as its population doubles given its younger demographic profile. Looking over to Europe, Italy’s population has shrunk by over 1 million people in less than four years, while the population of Greece has declined by roughly 400,000. Both countries have among the highest median ages in the world, at 48 and 47 years, respectively. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on peak population by country.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Charted: Approval of EU Leadership Among Residents 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 Northern and Western European countries show the highest approval of EU leadership, with support above 70% in several states. Approval is lowest in parts of Southern and Eastern Europe, where skepticism toward EU leadership remains elevated. While the European Union plays a central role in trade, regulation, and geopolitics, residents across member states do not view its leadership uniformly. This chart shows how residents in EU member states rate the job performance of European Union leadership. The data for this visualization comes from Gallup. Respondents were asked whether they approve or disapprove of the job performance of the leadership of the European Union. Strong Support in Northern Europe Northern European countries top the rankings for EU leadership approval. Denmark leads with 75% approval, followed closely by Finland and Lithuania at 74%, and Sweden at 73%.  CountryApproveDisapprove Denmark75%21% Finland74%21% Lithuania74%18% Sweden73%23% Portugal72%18% Ireland71%27% Luxembourg71%27% Germany70%29% Malta65%32% Poland65%27% Netherlands64%30% Austria62%37% Belgium62%35% Spain60%38% Latvia59%21% Croatia56%33% Slovenia52%43% Estonia51%38% Italy51%48% France47%50% Romania46%36% Bulgaria44%42% Cyprus44%49% Slovakia44%46% Hungary42%48% Czechia40%41% Greece34%59% Northern European countries tend to combine strong economic performance with high institutional trust, which often translates into more favorable views of EU governance. Support above 70% also appears in Portugal, Ireland, and Luxembourg, reflecting broad confidence in the EU’s direction. Western Europe Shows Solid but Mixed Views Large Western European economies show generally positive but more divided opinions. Germany reports 70% approval, placing it firmly in the upper tier, while the Netherlands and Belgium record approval in the low-to-mid 60% range. France stands out as a notable exception, with approval at 47% and disapproval slightly higher at 50%, underscoring the country’s long-running domestic debates over EU authority and integration. Lower Approval in Southern and Eastern Europe Approval declines sharply in parts of Southern and Eastern Europe. Greece records the lowest approval at 34%, alongside the highest disapproval rate at 59%. Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria also show approval below 45%, reflecting tensions over EU policy, national sovereignty, and economic outcomes. Despite regional differences, approval outweighs disapproval in most EU member states. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s $111 Trillion in Government Debt on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization How Americans Have Viewed U.S. Military Interventions 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 Republicans, Independents, and Democrats differ sharply on whether U.S. military interventions were the right decision, with Republicans consistently more supportive. Partisan divides are especially large on recent and controversial operations, such as Venezuela and Iran nuclear site strikes. A new YouGov survey of U.S. adults finds deep partisan splits on support for major U.S. military interventions, including recent debates over Venezuela and strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. YouGov surveyed 1,097 U.S. adults from January 5–6, 2026. Respondents were asked whether, ‘given what you know now,’ U.S. military intervention in various conflicts was the right decision. Party affiliation reflects respondents’ most recent self-identification and is weighted to match estimated national party distribution. Sharp Partisan Divides on Recent Conflicts For the 2026 operation to remove President Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela, 70.4% of Republicans say it was the right decision, compared with just 7.4% of Democrats. Similarly, on U.S. bombing of Iran nuclear sites, 74.2% of Republicans view it favorably versus 17.4% of Democrats. U.S. Military InterventionsIndependentsDemocratsRepublicans Venezuela (2025-present)20%7%70% U.S. bombing of Iran nuclear sites (2025-present)26%17%74% Yemeni Civil War (2015-present)11%9%28% Syrian Civil War (2011-present)12%12%31% Iraq War (2003-2011)18%16%40% Afghanistan War (2001-2021)20%26%41% The Gulf War (1990-1991)26%24%49% Vietnam War (1955-1975)11%12%25% World War II (1939-1945)63%69%75% World War I (1914-1918)52%61%67% Historical Interventions Show Consistent Patterns Partisan gaps appear across longer-running or historic U.S. engagements. For example, support for the Iraq War is higher among Republicans (40.3%) than Democrats (16.2%), and the same is true for Afghanistan and the Gulf War. Even for major conflicts like Vietnam, Republicans remain more inclined to view intervention as justified than Democrats. Meanwhile, Independents are generally skeptical of U.S. military interventions, showing low approval for most post–Cold War conflicts, with majority support only for World Wars I and II. Broad Agreement on World War Interventions Where clear national consensus exists—such as World War II—both parties are relatively supportive. Support among Republicans is 75.2% and Democrats 68.7%. Similarly, for World War I, Republicans show higher support but Democrats are not far behind. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Most Militarized Economies by 3 Metrics on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The U.S. Dominates NATO Defense Spending See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The U.S. accounts for 62% of NATO’s total $1.59 trillion defense spending. In 2025, all NATO members were estimated to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and renewed concerns about global security, NATO members have accelerated military investment after years of underfunding. This visualization ranks NATO countries by their estimated defense spending in 2025, highlighting how military budgets vary widely across the alliance. While all members now meet NATO’s 2% of GDP guideline, the absolute dollar amounts reveal stark differences in scale and capacity. The data for this visualization comes from the latest NATO report on spending. Germany’s figure reflects 2024 spending, the most recent data available. NATO Countries Ranked by Estimated Spending in 2025 The United States remains the backbone of NATO’s military power, with an estimated $980 billion in defense spending. This represents roughly 62% of NATO’s total defense budget, far exceeding any other member. RankCountry2025e Spending (USD, millions) 1 United States980,000 2 Germany*93,747 3 United Kingdom90,508 4 France66,531 5 Italy48,800 6 Poland44,314 7 Canada43,886 8 Spain35,670 9 Türkiye32,573 10 Netherlands28,107 11 Norway16,490 12 Sweden15,207 13 Denmark14,303 14 Belgium13,739 15 Romania9,308 16 Finland8,587 17 Greece7,673 18 Czechia7,223 19 Portugal6,391 20 Hungary4,807 21 Lithuania3,607 22 Slovak Republic3,094 23 Bulgaria2,389 24 Croatia2,006 25 Latvia1,653 26 Slovenia1,513 27 Estonia1,504 28 Luxembourg1,350 29 Albania570 30 North Macedonia358 31 Montenegro174 — NATO Total1,587,999 *Germany spending data is from 2024. While European allies have increased spending significantly, the U.S. still provides the bulk of the alliance’s capabilities, from advanced weapons systems to global force projection. Europe’s Largest Military Spenders Among European members, the United Kingdom ($90.5 billion), Germany ($93.7 billion), and France ($66.5 billion) lead the pack. Germany’s rapid rise in defense spending marks a historic shift, as the country moves away from decades of military restraint. Poland also stands out, with spending of $44.3 billion, reflecting its frontline position and heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe. Smaller Members, Shared Commitment Smaller NATO members contribute far less in absolute terms, but many are now spending a significant share of national resources on defense. Countries such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—each spending under $4 billion—have among the strongest commitments relative to GDP. Outside Europe, Canada ($43.9 billion) and Türkiye ($32.6 billion) play key strategic roles within the alliance. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Balanced Is Economic Growth Within Countries? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: America’s Healthiest States, Ranked 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 ranks as the healthiest state in America, followed by Massachusetts and Vermont. Falling in last place is Louisiana, influenced by low physical activity rates and high levels of food insecurity. “Blue Zones” are regions of the world where people live longer and healthier lives, supported by habits that boost longevity. Loma Linda, California is one of the few recognized Blue Zones, alongside Okinawa, Japan and Ikaria, Greece. Just as place can have a powerful influence on health outcomes, differences vary meaningfully across America. This graphic shows the healthiest U.S. states, based on data from America’s Health Rankings Report by the UnitedHealth Foundation. The Northeast Produces America’s Healthiest States For the analysis, states were measured on 99 indicators such as economic hardship, smoking rates, and mortality rates. Overall values were measured in z-scores, with a score of 0 representing the national average. Below, we show each state’s health rankings in 2025: RankStateOverall Score 2025 1New Hampshire0.99 2Massachusetts0.91 3Vermont0.91 4Connecticut0.68 5Utah0.64 6Minnesota0.63 7Washington0.61 8Maryland0.59 9Hawaii0.54 10Rhode Island0.51 11New Jersey0.51 12Colorado0.51 13Maine0.47 14Virginia0.40 15North Dakota0.37 16Idaho0.26 17Iowa0.24 18Delaware0.23 19Oregon0.21 20Nebraska0.20 21Wisconsin0.16 22North Carolina0.13 23South Dakota0.12 24California0.10 25New York0.09 26Pennsylvania0.07 27Kansas0.03 28Illinois-0.03 29Wyoming-0.04 30Florida-0.05 31Montana-0.05 32Arizona-0.06 33Michigan-0.08 34Ohio-0.11 35Alaska-0.13 36South Carolina-0.18 37Indiana-0.21 38Georgia-0.27 39Missouri-0.29 40Texas-0.32 41New Mexico-0.37 42Nevada-0.39 43Kentucky-0.50 44Tennessee-0.55 45Oklahoma-0.62 46West Virginia-0.73 47Alabama-0.75 48Mississippi-0.77 49Arkansas-0.83 50Louisiana-0.94 The small state of New Hampshire leads the nation with a score of 0.99. The state’s social and economic factors—seeing the lowest food insecurity, homicide rates, and highest high school completion—drive health outcomes. Additionally, it ranks among the top five in indicators like exercise rates and fruit and vegetable consumption. As we can see, the Northeastern states of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut all follow next in line. Utah, ranking in fifth, stands as a regional outlier. Notably, it ranks first nationally across indicators including smoking rates and income inequality. However, factors such as low public health funding and a lack of primary care providers weigh on its ranking. Interestingly, Kansas and Illinois, both Midwestern states, had health scores falling closest to the national average. Where Are the Least Healthy States? Southern states, by contrast, see the lowest scores in health nationwide. Louisiana, with a score of -0.94 ranked worst overall, followed by bordering states, Arkansas (-0.83), and Mississippi (-0.77). Beyond economic hardship, these states see some of the nation’s highest homicide rates, severe income inequality, and low levels of physical activity. Together, this highlights how health outcomes are shaped by a web of social and economic conditions. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on America’s most common drugs.