See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: Countries That Use the Most Cash 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 poorest countries rely most on cash: Myanmar (98%), Ethiopia (95%), and Gambia (95%) top the list, reflecting limited banking infrastructure. Wealthy nations are nearly cashless: Sweden (14%), Norway (10%), and South Korea (10%) show how digital payment infrastructure correlates with economic development. The “middle-income trap”: countries like Mexico (80%), India (70%), and Thailand (65%) show that moderate economic development doesn’t automatically mean digital adoption. Did you know that entire economies still run on cash, pretty much day to day? This infographic ranks 123 countries by the share of daily transactions completed with physical banknotes and coins, spotlighting where cash is still king, and where it’s becoming a relic. The data for this visualization comes from Forex.se. Poverty and Limited Banking Fuel Cash Dependence Myanmar tops the ranking at 98% cash usage, followed closely by Ethiopia and Gambia at 95% each. RankCountryISO CodeShare of daily transactions in cash 1 MyanmarMMR98% 2 EthiopiaETH95% 3 The GambiaGMB95% 4 AlbaniaALB90% 5 CambodiaKHM90% 6 LaosLAO90% 7 LebanonLBN90% 8 NepalNPL90% 9 PakistanPAK90% 10 IraqIRQ85% 11 IranIRN85% 12 CubaCUB85% 13 MongoliaMNG85% 14 EgyptEGY80% 15 FijiFJI80% 16 GabonGAB80% 17 JamaicaJAM80% 18 JordanJOR80% 19 MexicoMEX80% 20 MoldovaMDA80% 21 Sri LankaLKA80% 22 TanzaniaTZA75% 23 Trinidad & TobagoTTO75% 24 ArgentinaARG70% 25 ColombiaCOL70% 26 HaitiHTI70% 27 IndiaIND70% 28 IndonesiaIDN70% 29 MadagascarMDG70% 30 The MaldivesMDV70% 31 UkraineUKR70% 32 VietnamVNM70% 33 NicaraguaNIC69% 34 MaltaMLT67% 35 MaliMLI65% 36 MoroccoMAR65% 37 SerbiaSRB65% 38 ThailandTHA65% 39 ItalyITA62% 40 South AfricaZAF62% 41 AustriaAUT61% 42 AzerbaijanAZE60% 43 Bosnia & HerzegovinaBIH60% 44 ChileCHL60% 45 Dominican RepublicDOM60% 46 JapanJPN60% 47 Cape VerdeCPV60% 48 KosovoXKX60% 49 PeruPER60% 50 VenezuelaVEN60% 51 SlovakiaSVK57% 52 SloveniaSVN57% 53 SpainESP57% 54 BelizeBLZ55% 55 GreeceGRC55% 56 NamibiaNAM55% 57 North MacedoniaMKD55% 58 San MarinoSMR55% 59 TunisiaTUN55% 60 HungaryHUN55% 61 GermanyDEU51% 62 BahamasBHS50% 63 BarbadosBRB50% 64 BermudaBMU50% 65 BotswanaBWA50% 66 BulgariaBGR50% 67 Cayman IslandsCYM50% 68 CyprusCYP50% 69 CroatiaHRV50% 70 LithuaniaLTU50% 71 MauritiusMUS50% 72 MontenegroMNE50% 73 OmanOMN50% 74 PortugalPRT50% 75 SeychellesSYC50% 76 BelgiumBEL47% 77 IrelandIRL45% 78 PolandPOL45% 79 PhilippinesPHL44% 80 Costa RicaCRI40% 81 EcuadorECU40% 82 FranceFRA40% 83 KenyaKEN40% 84 LatviaLVA40% 85 TurkeyTUR40% 86 MalaysiaMYS32% 87 EstoniaEST30% 88 GeorgiaGEO30% 89 KuwaitKWT30% 90 LuxembourgLUX30% 91 PanamaPAN30% 92 Saint Vincent & the GrenadinesVCT30% 93 Saudi ArabiaSAU30% 94 SwitzerlandCHE30% 95 TaiwanTWN30% 96 Czech RepublicCZE30% 97 UruguayURY30% 98 FinlandFIN27% 99 QatarQAT25% 100 BrazilBRA22% 101 AndorraAND20% 102 BahrainBHR20% 103 BruneiBRN20% 104 UAEARE20% 105 Hong KongHKG20% 106 MonacoMCO20% 107 The NetherlandsNLD20% 108 RomaniaROU20% 109 SingaporeSGP20% 110 U.S.USA16% 111 IsraelISR15% 112 CanadaCAN15% 113 New ZealandNZL15% 114 SwedenSWE14% 115 DenmarkDNK12% 116 EnglandN/A12% 117 ScotlandN/A12% 118 AustraliaAUS10% 119 IcelandISL10% 120 ChinaCHN10% 121 NorwayNOR10% 122 South KoreaKOR10% Note: The FOREX Cash Index aggregates data from Statista, Numbeo, and other global reports, along with annual publications from central and national banks. The reported figure is an approximate average derived from sources including Cash Essentials, G4S, Euro Monitor, the World Bank, Statrys, and the Federal Reserve. In these countries, a large share of the population remains unbanked, internet penetration is low, and merchants cannot afford card terminals. Consequently, physical currency provides the simplest, cheapest, and most trusted medium of exchange, even if it limits consumers’ ability to save securely or access credit. Generally speaking, cash remains virtually ubiquitous in lower-income nations and starts to drop as a country’s economy develops. Even middle-income countries see high usage, Cambodia, Laos, and Nepal all post 90% cash usage, while neighboring India manages to bring it down to 70% thanks to its government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Related: See how economic development correlate with cash use by looking at this map categorizing countries by income groups. Countries That Are Cashless At the opposite end of the spectrum, advanced economies with mature fintech ecosystems are rapidly phasing out bills and coins. Norway and South Korea sit at 10%, the lowest amongst the lot, with the the U.S. at 16%. Universal broadband, high smartphone penetration, and robust consumer protection frameworks give shoppers confidence to go fully digital. Meanwhile, merchants benefit from faster settlement and reduced security risks. Countries That Are Outliers in Cash Use Japan at 60% is remarkably high for such a technologically advanced nation, helped by more use in rural areas. Similarly, Germany at 51% is an anomaly among wealthy European nations, but this may be more due to privacy reasons and mistrust in big banking institutions. On the other hand, upper-middle-income China at just 10% reflecting its leapfrog to mobile payments (Alipay/WeChat Pay), bypassing traditional card infrastructure entirely. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The 25 Richest Countries in the World in Three Metrics on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualizing the Cost of the American Dream 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 Achieving the American Dream now carries a price tag of over $5 million per household. A 20-year retirement is the largest expense, requiring an estimated $1.6 million in minimum savings. The American Dream isn’t cheap. Owning a home, raising a family, and retiring comfortably now total over $5 million across a lifetime for a household. This milestone has grown increasingly out of reach as the median age of a U.S. homebuyer has risen to 56, up from 31 in 1981. Meanwhile, U.S. fertility rates have hit record lows amid rising unaffordability. This graphic shows the cost of the American dream in 2025, based on analysis from Investopedia. The full methodology that shows how Investopedia calculated each of these costs can be found here. The American Dream Costs $5 Million Over a Lifetime Below, we show the lifetime cost for a household of each key markers of the American Dream: GoalLifetime CostDescription% Americans Who SayIt's Their Dream Retirement$1,636,881Estimated minimum savings for 20 year retirement86% Healthcare$414,208Total spending from ages 22-8586% Owning a home$957,59430-year mortgage, 20% down payment85% Raising two children$876,092Raising to age 18, plus four-year public college78% Owning a new car$900,346Buying/financing two new cars every 10 years72% Yearly vacation$180,621Annual vacation from ages 22-8571% Pets$39,381One dog and one cat for 11-13 years66% Wedding$38,200Engagement ring, ceremony, and reception55% Retirement is set to cost $1.6 million, the biggest expense overall. This was calculated by taking $63,609 in average U.S. retirement spending per year, while factoring a 2.5% rate of inflation over 20 years. Today, 86% of Americans say its their dream to retire comfortably. Home ownership has an average lifetime cost of $957,594. To calculate these costs, Investopedia applied the median U.S. home price of roughly $415,000 with a 20% down payment. Then, payments for a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.69% were calculated, excluding maintenance and Homeowners Association fees. As we can see, car ownership also comes at a large cost—estimated at $900,346. However, it’s worth noting that this applies to a household buying two new cars every 10 years. While this includes insurance costs, maintenance, and monthly payments, it does not factor in the proceeds from selling your car. Meanwhile, raising two children will total $876,092 (including a four-year degree at a public college). If your dream is to have a wedding, the average cost now stands at $38,200, including the ring, ceremony, and reception. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on America’s home buyers by generation.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Every Country’s GDP Growth Forecast for 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 Real global GDP growth is projected to be 3.2% in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) October update. In America, GDP growth is forecast to slow to 2% this year, but rise slightly to 2.1% in 2026. In its latest global economic growth forecast, the IMF sees world real GDP rising 3.2% in 2025. This represents a modest but meaningful upgrade from its April projection of 2.8%. In many ways, tariffs have not impacted the global economy as much as anticipated. At the same time, asset markets are being fueled by the AI rally, further supporting growth. This graphic shows GDP growth projections in 2025, based on data from the IMF’s October 2025 World Economic Outlook. The Global Economic Growth Forecast by Country Here are real GDP growth forecasts across 191 economies in 2025: CountryReal GDP Growth Projection 2025 (%) South Sudan24.3 Libya15.6 Guyana10.3 Ireland9.1 Kyrgyz Republic8.0 Tajikistan7.5 Ethiopia7.2 Georgia7.2 Guinea7.2 Rwanda7.1 Benin7.0 Bhutan6.8 Uzbekistan6.8 India6.6 Niger6.6 Vietnam6.5 Côte d'Ivoire6.4 Uganda6.4 Djibouti6.0 Senegal6.0 Tanzania6.0 The Gambia6.0 Zimbabwe6.0 Kazakhstan5.9 Zambia5.8 Mongolia5.5 Philippines5.4 Democratic Republic of the Congo5.3 Cabo Verde5.2 Togo5.2 Guinea-Bissau5.1 Mali5.0 Indonesia4.9 Armenia4.8 Cambodia4.8 China4.8 Kenya4.8 Maldives4.8 United Arab Emirates4.8 Papua New Guinea4.7 Liberia4.6 Argentina4.5 Malaysia4.5 Palau4.5 Burundi4.4 Morocco4.4 Paraguay4.4 Sierra Leone4.4 St. Vincent and the Grenadines4.4 Egypt4.3 Eswatini4.3 Nepal4.3 Dominica4.2 Burkina Faso4.0 Ghana4.0 Mauritania4.0 Panama4.0 Saudi Arabia4.0 Kiribati3.9 Kosovo3.9 Malta3.9 Nigeria3.9 Seychelles3.9 Timor-Leste3.9 Bangladesh3.8 Cameroon3.8 Comoros3.8 Guatemala3.8 Honduras3.8 Madagascar3.8 Taiwan3.7 Costa Rica3.6 Namibia3.6 Lao P.D.R.3.5 Türkiye3.5 Albania3.4 Algeria3.4 North Macedonia3.4 Chad3.3 Grenada3.3 Ecuador3.2 Fiji3.2 Mauritius3.2 Montenegro3.2 Poland3.2 Sudan3.2 Croatia3.1 Azerbaijan3.0 Bulgaria3.0 Central African Republic3.0 Dominican Republic3.0 Nicaragua3.0 Somalia3.0 Tuvalu3.0 Bahrain2.9 Cyprus2.9 Oman2.9 Peru2.9 Qatar2.9 São Tomé and Príncipe2.9 Spain2.9 Barbados2.7 Jordan2.7 Lithuania2.7 Pakistan2.7 Republic of Congo2.7 Samoa2.7 Solomon Islands2.7 Suriname2.7 Tonga2.7 Kuwait2.6 Macao SAR2.6 Antigua and Barbuda2.5 Chile2.5 Colombia2.5 El Salvador2.5 Israel2.5 Marshall Islands2.5 Mozambique2.5 Tunisia2.5 Uruguay2.5 Andorra2.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina2.4 Brazil2.4 Hong Kong SAR2.4 Malawi2.4 Serbia2.4 St. Lucia2.4 Norway2.3 Turkmenistan2.3 Singapore2.2 The Bahamas2.2 Angola2.1 Belarus2.1 Jamaica2.1 Nauru2.1 Aruba2.0 Greece2.0 Thailand2.0 Ukraine2.0 United States2.0 Gabon1.9 Portugal1.9 Australia1.8 Brunei Darussalam1.8 Denmark1.8 Moldova1.7 St. Kitts and Nevis1.7 Vanuatu1.7 Belize1.5 Iceland1.4 Lesotho1.4 The Netherlands1.4 United Kingdom1.3 Canada1.2 Czech Republic1.2 Luxembourg1.2 Belgium1.1 Japan1.1 Slovenia1.1 South Africa1.1 Latvia1.0 Liechtenstein1.0 Mexico1.0 Micronesia1.0 Romania1.0 San Marino1.0 Trinidad and Tobago1.0 Korea0.9 Slovak Republic0.9 Switzerland0.9 New Zealand0.8 France0.7 Sweden0.7 Bolivia0.6 Hungary0.6 Iran0.6 Russia0.6 Estonia0.5 Finland0.5 Iraq0.5 Italy0.5 Venezuela0.5 Austria0.3 Germany0.2 Puerto Rico-0.8 Botswana-0.9 Yemen-1.5 Equatorial Guinea-1.6 Myanmar-2.7 Haiti-3.1 As the above table shows, five of the top 10 fastest growth rates are projected to be in Africa. Notably, the resumption of oil exports is set to boost South Sudan’s economy by 24.3%. Beyond Africa, Guyana’s ongoing oil boom continues to drive its double-digit growth in 2025, while front-loaded pharmaceutical exports are fueling Ireland’s projected 9.1% rise. America’s economy is expected to grow 2% in 2025, as the full-effects of tariffs have yet to hit consumers and businesses. In 2026, GDP growth is set to rise moderately to 2.1%, however several risks—from rising inflation to an asset bubble correction—could shift the outcome. In China, growth is set to be 4.8%, down from 5% in 2024. Despite U.S. tariffs and weak domestic consumption, its economy has been resilient as it expands exports to other global regions and strategically focuses on advanced manufacturing. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the $124 trillion world economy in 2026.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Wealthiest Nations 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 Liechtenstein is the richest country worldwide, with a GDP per capita of $213,713. Average earnings exceed $100,000 in Luxembourg, Ireland, and Switzerland. Today, seven of the top 10 wealthiest nations per capita are in Europe, characterized by their small populations and strong social welfare systems. While examining wealth is difficult to truly measure, one common measure is GDP per capita, which divides an economy’s total output by the number of its citizens. By this metric, America ranks eighth globally, with average earnings of $89,599 per person. This graphic shows the countries with the highest GDP per capita in 2025, based on data from the IMF’s World Economic Outlook October Update. The Top 30 Wealthiest Nations Here are the richest countries, based on average earnings in U.S. dollars: RankCountryGDP Per Capita 2025(Current $USD)Region 1 Liechtenstein$231,713Europe 2 Luxembourg$146,818Europe 3 Ireland$129,132Europe 4 Switzerland$111,047Europe 5 Iceland$98,150Europe 6 Singapore$94,481Asia 7 Norway$91,884Europe 8 U.S.$89,599North America 9 Denmark$76,581Europe 10 Macao$74,921Asia 11 Netherlands$73,174Europe 12 Qatar$71,441Middle East 13 Australia$65,946Oceania 14 San Marino$65,269Europe 15 Sweden$62,036Europe 16 Austria$61,694Europe 17 Belgium$60,418Europe 18 Israel$60,009Asia 19 Germany$59,925Europe 20 Hong Kong$56,844Asia 21 UK$56,661Europe 22 Finland$56,084Europe 23 Canada$54,935North America 24 UAE$51,348Middle East 25 Andorra$49,451Europe 26 New Zealand$49,383Oceania 27 Malta$49,277Europe 28 France$48,982Europe 29 Italy$43,161Europe 30 Cyprus$42,413Europe With a GDP per capita of $213,713, Liechtenstein ranks highest globally. Nearly 60% of Liechtenstein’s workforce are commuters, which significantly inflates the country’s average earnings. Similarly, second-ranking Luxembourg has a large share of its workforce that live in neighboring countries. Ireland comes in third, with average earnings of $129,132. Many big tech companies—from Google to Meta—have their European headquarters in the country thanks to its favorable tax regime, further boosting GDP per capita. Switzerland, Iceland, and Singapore follow next in line, each with average earnings less impacted by generous tax policies or commuters. In particular, average earnings in Singapore have ballooned 19-fold since 1980 driven by the nation’s transformation into a global hub for finance and trade. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on where the world’s wealthiest reside in 2025.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: Europe’s Top Economies in 2026 by Projected GDP 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 Germany will lead Europe’s top economies in 2026 with $5.3 trillion (€4.6 trillion) GDP. Western Europe continues to be the region’s largest economic bloc, generating about 40% of Europe’s projected $31 trillion (€27T) output in 2026. After two years of sluggish activity, Europe’s economic engine is forecast to regain traction. The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest World Economic Outlook projects that the region’s combined output will reach $31.4 trillion (€27.0 trillion) in 2026, with the biggest gains concentrated in Western Europe. Data for this visualization comes from the IMF’s World Economic Outlook database. It ranks every European country by projected nominal GDP in current U.S. dollars and euros. Regions are assigned by the UN Geoscheme. Germany Leads Europe’s Largest Economies Germany is expected to reclaim momentum, adding almost $400 billion to its economy between 2024 and 2026. At $5.3 trillion, it will account for roughly 17% of all European GDP. RankEuropean CountryISO Code2026 GDP (billions USD)Readable Label (USD)Readable Label (EUR) 1 GermanyDEU$5,328$5.3T€4.6T 2 UKGBR$4,226$4.2T€3.6T 3 FranceFRA$3,559$3.6T€3.1T 4 ItalyITA$2,702$2.7T€2.3T 5 RussiaRUS$2,509$2.5T€2.2T 6 SpainESP$2,042$2.0T€1.8T 7 NetherlandsNLD$1,413$1.4T€1.2T 8 PolandPOL$1,110$1.1T€955B 9 SwitzerlandCHE$1,075$1.1T€924B 10 BelgiumBEL$761$761B€655B 11 IrelandIRL$750$750B€645B 12 SwedenSWE$712$712B€612B 13 AustriaAUT$604$604B€520B 14 NorwayNOR$548$548B€471B 15 DenmarkDNK$500$500B€430B 16 RomaniaROU$445$445B€383B 17 CzechiaCZE$417$417B€359B 18 PortugalPRT$365$365B€313B 19 FinlandFIN$336$336B€289B 20 GreeceGRC$305$305B€262B 21 HungaryHUN$270$270B€232B 22 UkraineUKR$224$224B€193B 23 SlovakiaSVK$168$168B€144B 24 BulgariaBGR$142$142B€122B 25 CroatiaHRV$113$113B€97B 26 SerbiaSRB$112$112B€96B 27 LuxembourgLUX$108$108B€93B 28 LithuaniaLTU$105$105B€90B 29 BelarusBLR$91$91B€78B 30 SloveniaSVN$86$86B€74B 31 LatviaLVA$52$52B€45B 32 EstoniaEST$51$51B€44B 33 IcelandISL$43$43B€37B 34 Bosnia & HerzegovinaBIH$36$36B€31B 35 AlbaniaALB$32$32B€28B 36 MaltaMLT$30$30B€26B 37 MoldovaMDA$21$21B€18B 38 North MacedoniaMKD$21$21B€18B 39 MontenegroMNE$10$10B€9B 40 AndorraAND$5$5B€4B 41 San MarinoSMR$2$2B€2B N/A Western EuropeW EUR$12,848$12.8T€11.0T N/A Northern EuropeN EUR$7,322$7.3T€6.3T N/A Southern Europe EuropeS EUR$5,861$5.9T€5.0T N/A Eastern EuropeE EUR$5,397$5.4T€4.6T N/A EuropeEUR$31,427$31.4T€27.0T Note: Euro figures from exchange rate conversion. 1 USD = 0.86 EUR Close behind, the U.K. and France are projected at $4.2 trillion and $3.6 trillion, respectively. Together, the trio will generate over 40% of Europe’s total economic activity. This underscores how the big markets dominate the regional picture. Related: In fact, the German economy is as big as the entire Eastern European economy ($5.4T). Southern and Eastern Europe Show Diverging Paths The continent can effectively be divided into two halves: the Northern and Western half and the Southern and Eastern half. Italy and Spain, Southern Europe’s heavyweights, are on course for modest expansion, at $2.7 trillion and $1.8 trillion in 2026. RankEuropean Region2026 GDP (billions USD)Readable Label (USD)Readable Label (EUR) 1 Western Europe$12,848$12.8T€11.0T 2 Northern Europe$7,322$7.3T€6.3T 3 Southern Europe Europe$5,861$5.9T€5.0T 4 Eastern Europe$5,397$5.4T€4.6T N/A Europe$31,427$31.4T€27.0T In Eastern Europe, Russia is projected at $2.5 trillion, aided by energy exports, while Poland breaks into the continental top 10 at $1.1 trillion. However, despite a decade of super-charged growth that has lifted real GDP per capita in the East, there’s still a ways to go to close the income gap with the West. Related: Take a look at where living standards have grown the most in Europe in the last decade. Europe’s Economic Outlook for 2026 The IMF has good and bad news for Europe. The good news is that the pandemic and energy shocks have passed and the continent is officially in recovery mode thanks to “good policy decisions.” This had led to higher real wages that have boosted consumption, particularly in Germany, the largest economy. The bad news is that Donald Trump’s trade war is causing uncertainty and will shave off 0.5% of growth, which will be somewhat offset by higher infrastructure and defense spending. However, in turn this higher government spending is coming at the expense of debt. Learn More on the Voronoi App How does Europe’s economy look when accounting for local prices? Check out Breaking Down Europe’s Economy, Adjusted for Living Costs on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Chart: Electric Vehicle Sales in China Hit a Major Milestone 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. Sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in China peaked in 2017 at over 24 million units. Electric vehicles (EVs) now make up nearly half of all new car sales in the country. Government policies, local incentives, and falling EV prices have all contributed to this rapid transformation. Sales of ICE vehicles in China reached their high-water mark in 2017, topping out at just over 24 million units. Since then, demand for traditional petrol and diesel cars has steadily declined—while electric vehicles (EVs), including battery-electric and plug-in hybrids, have rapidly grown in market share. This transition is captured in the latest chart from Our World in Data, using data from the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Global EV Outlook 2025. Here is a closer look at the data: YearShare of new cars in China that are electric (%) 20120.1 20130.1 20140.4 20151 20161.5 20172.4 20184.7 20195 20205.7 202115 202229 202338 202448 As shown above, ICE car sales have declined from their 2017 peak, while electric vehicle sales have grown sharply, especially since 2021. In 2024, EVs were projected to account for nearly 48% of all new cars sold in China. China’s Rapid EV Adoption, Explained The question then becomes: how did China achieve this dramatic shift in less than a decade? Multiple factors played a role: Government support: Aggressive subsidies and quotas helped jumpstart the EV industry. Local incentives: Cities like Shanghai offered perks such as free license plates for EVs. Battery dominance: China became a global hub for battery manufacturing, reducing costs. Improved infrastructure: China now has more EV charging stations than any other country. Additionally, as explored in our previous post Why EVs Are Now Cheaper Than Gas Cars in China, lower upfront prices have helped EVs outcompete traditional vehicles on cost alone. What Comes Next? While nearly one in two new cars sold in China is now electric, the question remains whether the country will hit a further inflection point in the near future. The IEA forecasts that EV adoption will continue to grow, though at a slower pace as market saturation approaches in major urban areas. Emerging challenges include: Stalling demand in rural regions with less charging infrastructure Increased competition among domestic and foreign EV makers Policy adjustments as subsidies wind down Still, China remains a dominant force in the global EV market, accounting for 60% of all EV sales worldwide. Its trajectory will likely shape global trends for years to come. Learn More on the Voronoi App Explore more insights in our related post on Voronoi: The World Will Have 234 Million EVs by 2030.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Infrastructure Investment by Region and Sector (2025–2040) 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 By 2040, the world is projected to invest $106 trillion in infrastructure projects across all sectors. Asia is expected to account for two-thirds of total investment, or roughly $70 trillion. The transportation and energy sectors are projected to dominate global infrastructure spending, together representing more than 50% of total investment. Infrastructure forms the backbone of every economy, connecting people, powering industries, and supporting growth. With rapid urbanization and digital transformation, global infrastructure needs are accelerating faster than ever before. This infographic breaks down the estimated $106 trillion in infrastructure investment expected between now and 2040, both by sector and by region, based on data from McKinsey & Company. Infrastructure Investment by Region Through 2040 At a macro level, infrastructure spending will be driven by growing populations, urban expansion, and the global shift toward low-carbon and digital systems. RegionForecasted Infrastructure Investment by 2040 (trillions) Asia$70T Americas$16T Europe$13T Africa$5T Oceania$2T Asia is the clear leader by region, with an estimated $70 trillion in projected investment, thanks to continued growth in economies like China and India. The Americas are expected to account for $16 trillion, while Europe will see $13 trillion in spending. Africa is projected to attract $5 trillion, and Oceania roughly $2 trillion—reflecting smaller economies but growing urban infrastructure demand. Infrastructure Investment Forecast by Sector On a sectoral level, global infrastructure spending is forecasted to be concentrated in a few key areas, as the table below shows: SectorForecasted Infrastructure Investment by 2040 (trillions) Transportation$36T Energy$23T Digital$19T Social$16T Waste and water$6T Agriculture$5T Aerospace and defense$2T The transportation sector leads with $36 trillion expected to be invested in roads, ports, airports, railways, and other projects. Overall, transportation accounts for around one-third of global infrastructure investment through 2040. According to McKinsey, the energy sector will require massive capital flows for renewable energy projects, grid modernization, and growing energy needs, racking up $23 trillion in estimated investment by 2040. Digital infrastructure is the third-biggest sector attracting investment, with an estimated $19 trillion flowing into fiber networks, telecoms, data centers, satellites, and associated services by 2040. Social infrastructure (health, education, and public facilities) will see another $16 trillion, while waste and water systems and agriculture together add $11 trillion more. The aerospace and defense sector rounds out the list at $2 trillion. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, see Global Renewable Energy Capacity Through Time on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualized: Millionaires per Capita 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 Switzerland leads globally with 145.6 millionaires per 1,000 adults—meaning roughly one in seven Swiss adults is a millionaire. Hong Kong (96.1), Australia (85.2), and the United States (84.8) follow, forming a tight cluster just below the 100 threshold. The world’s millionaire class continues to expand in 2025, but which countries have the most millionaires per capita? This visualization showcases where millionaires are most common relative to the adult population, offering a clearer picture of wealth density rather than absolute counts. Data & Discussion The data for this visualization comes from the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025, with population data (15 years and older) from The World Bank. It measures the number of millionaires per 1,000 adults—essentially, the share of adults with a net worth above $1 million (USD). The data table below shows the number of millionaires per capita for the 25 countries with the highest number of absolute millionaires in 2025: RankCountryMillionaires per 1,000 Adults in 2025 1 Switzerland145.6 2 Hong Kong96.1 3 Australia85.2 4 United States84.8 5 Netherlands82.9 6 Denmark74.6 7 Norway74.5 8 Singapore62.1 9 Canada59.9 10 Sweden55.8 11 Belgium55.0 12 France50.6 13 United Kingdom45.8 14 Taiwan37.3 15 Germany37.2 16 Spain28.3 17 South Korea28.1 18 Italy25.9 19 Japan24.9 20 Saudi Arabia12.6 21 China5.3 22 Mexico4.0 23 Russia3.6 24 Brazil2.5 25 India0.8 This ratio provides insight into how widespread wealth is within a given society, distinguishing countries with broad-based affluence from those where wealth is concentrated among a few. Switzerland Has the Most Millionaires per Capita Switzerland remains the undisputed leader in millionaire concentration among the top 25 countries with the most millionaires. With 145.6 millionaires per 1,000 adults, about one in every seven Swiss adults is a millionaire. This dominance reflects a combination of high savings rates, robust financial institutions, a strong currency, and the country’s legacy as a private banking hub. Below Switzerland, the next group of countries—Hong Kong (96.1), Australia (85.2), and the United States (84.8)—illustrate different wealth dynamics. Hong Kong’s high density of millionaires stems from its real estate and financial sectors and relatively smaller population, while Australia’s figure reflects widespread property ownership and strong pension assets. The U.S. ranks highly largely due to its high overall wealth, as it’s also the country with the world’s most millionaires in 2025. Countries With Few Millionaires per Capita At the other end of the spectrum, countries like India (0.8), Brazil (2.5), and Russia (3.6) have the fewest millionaires per capita—with fewer than four per 1,000 adults. Even major economies such as China (5.3) and Saudi Arabia (12.6) remain far below Western peers, despite hosting some of the world’s fastest-growing populations of high-net-worth individuals. This disparity highlights the concentration of millionaires in developed economies, where asset ownership, stock markets, and housing values have compounded over decades. In contrast, emerging markets still face structural challenges such as lower household savings and less mature financial systems, which limit the proportion of individuals crossing the millionaire threshold. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about where millionaires are moving in 2025, check out this graphic which shows the countries set to gain and lose the most millionaires this year.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Real GDP Growth by U.S. State (1990-2024) See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways North Dakota (+164%) and Texas (+141%) posted the most real GDP growth since 1990, powered largely by the shale boom. Several Rust Belt and industrial states—including Louisiana, Michigan, and West Virginia—lagged with growth under 35% over the same period. The 1990s were a different time. Dial-up internet, gas costing a dollar, and many states still leaning on manufacturing. Even then, new tech clusters and improved drilling methods were starting to reshape the map, setting up today’s energy-rich and tech-focused states for the strongest economies. The visualization ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia by inflation-adjusted GDP growth between 1990–2024. Data for real GDP growth by U.S. state is sourced from Bureau of Economic Analysis. Real GDP growth measured from chained 2017 dollars. America’s Shale Boom in One Map North Dakota’s economy more than doubled thanks to the Bakken shale boom, which lifted its real output by 164%—twice the U.S. average. Texas, already the nation’s largest oil-producing state, followed closely with 141% growth. RankStateState CodeGDP Growth (1998–2024)CAGR2024 GDP (Billions) 1North DakotaND164%3.8%$80,058 2UtahUT157%3.7%$299,471 3IdahoID144%3.5%$129,018 4TexasTX141%3.4%$2,769,766 5WashingtonWA134%3.3%$856,014 6ArizonaAZ126%3.2%$570,089 7ColoradoCO117%3.0%$557,633 8CaliforniaCA115%3.0%$4,048,108 9FloridaFL113%3.0%$1,726,710 10OregonOR102%2.7%$330,250 11NevadaNV102%2.7%$269,011 12South DakotaSD101%2.7%$76,796 13NebraskaNE96%2.6%$189,243 14MontanaMT93%2.6%$78,441 15North CarolinaNC89%2.5%$844,209 16MassachusettsMA87%2.4%$778,523 17GeorgiaGA85%2.4%$881,508 18South CarolinaSC84%2.4%$357,074 19OklahomaOK83%2.4%$263,695 20TennesseeTN83%2.3%$561,201 21VirginiaVA81%2.3%$761,734 22New MexicoNM76%2.2%$147,085 23MarylandMD74%2.2%$546,028 24New HampshireNH73%2.1%$119,337 25IowaIA71%2.1%$265,795 26MinnesotaMN68%2.0%$507,688 27New YorkNY65%2.0%$2,322,139 28District of ColumbiaDC65%1.9%$184,298 29ArkansasAR64%1.9%$188,340 30VermontVT63%1.9%$46,276 31MaineME62%1.9%$99,174 32KansasKS61%1.9%$230,522 33WyomingWY60%1.8%$51,498 34AlabamaAL59%1.8%$325,345 35IndianaIN58%1.8%$519,517 36HawaiiHI56%1.7%$117,627 37WisconsinWI53%1.6%$453,299 38DelawareDE51%1.6%$110,972 39PennsylvaniaPA50%1.6%$1,007,874 40New JerseyNJ47%1.5%$846,000 41KentuckyKY44%1.4%$295,375 42MissouriMO42%1.4%$448,714 43IllinoisIL41%1.3%$1,148,106 44Rhode IslandRI40%1.3%$80,381 45OhioOH39%1.3%$923,141 46AlaskaAK39%1.3%$71,567 47MississippiMS36%1.2%$158,192 48ConnecticutCT35%1.2%$356,835 49West VirginiaWV34%1.1%$106,475 50MichiganMI30%1.0%$702,467 51LouisianaLA23%0.8%$329,173 N/AU.S.USA81%2.3%$29,298,013 New Mexico and Oklahoma also landed in the top 20. Cheap feedstock, rising exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and associated midstream build-out helped these states capture much of the value created by soaring U.S. energy production. Related: New Mexico overtook North Dakota as the second-largest oil producing U.S. state. Tech & Tourism Hubs Sustain Rapid Expansion Utah (+157%), Idaho (+144%), and Washington (+134%) show how a diversified tech sector can supercharge state-level GDP. Microsoft’s cloud push, Idaho’s semiconductor fabs, and Utah’s “Silicon Slopes” collectively fostered high-wage job growth and attracted inbound migration. Even the giant economies of California (+115%) and Florida (+113%) managed to outpace the national average rate of GDP growth by U.S. states. This shows how tech and professional-services clusters spill over into broader economic activity. Rust Belt and Coastal Laggards Manufacturing-heavy states in the Midwest and Appalachia largely underperformed. Michigan (+30%) and West Virginia (+34%) never fully recovered the industrial output lost after the early-2000s recession and the Great Financial Crisis. Connecticut (+35%) and New Jersey (+47%) illustrate how high costs and slow demographic growth weighed on East Coast economies. Louisiana, hit by multiple hurricanes and refinery shutdowns, posted the slowest gain at just 23%, one-quarter of the national pace. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Largest Economies, Including U.S. States on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization BRICS vs G7: Comparing 2026 GDP Growth Forecasts 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 eleven BRICS nations are forecast to see average growth of 3.8% in 2025 and 3.7% in 2026. Average growth across G7 countries is expected to be 1% this year, rising moderately to 1.1% next year, particularly due to slower growth in Europe. Today, BRICS countries represent half of the global population, a coalition with growing economic heft. Unlike many Western powers, many BRICS countries are seeing rapid GDP growth driven by significant investment, trade, and demographic change. In an increasingly multipolar world, this group is exerting more influence as it expands. This graphic compares real GDP growth projections of BRICS vs G7 countries, based on data from the IMF’s World Economic Outlook October Update. BRICS vs G7 Real GDP Growth Below, we show GDP growth forecasts for BRICS nations in 2025 and 2026: BRICS Real GDP Growth 2025P (%)Real GDP Growth 2026P (%) Brazil2.41.9 Russia0.61.0 India6.66.2 China4.84.2 South Africa1.11.2 Saudi Arabia4.04.0 Egypt4.34.5 UAE4.85.0 Ethiopia7.27.1 Indonesia4.94.9 Iran0.61.1 Average3.83.7 As we can see, India is projected to see one of the fastest growth rates across the bloc, at 6.6% in 2025 and 6.2% in 2026. In China, 4.8% growth is forecast for 2025 as the country strengthens trade across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Like India, growth is forecast to decline in 2026. On average, BRICS growth will exceed G7 rates by more than threefold in both 2025 and 2026—a stark contrast visible in the table below. G7Real GDP Growth 2025P (%)Real GDP Growth 2026P (%) Canada1.21.5 France0.70.9 Germany0.20.9 Italy0.50.8 Japan1.10.6 UK1.31.3 U.S.2.02.1 Average1.01.2 With just 1% average growth for G7 countries, many countries are facing headwinds of aging populations and trade uncertainty. Notably, Germany is forecast to see one of the world’s slowest GDP growth rates in 2025, rising just 0.2%. However, it is set to pick up to 0.9% in 2026—a trend mirrored in several other G7 nations. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on BRICS share of GDP compared with G7 countries.

Published 2 hours ago on November 3, 2025 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Lebon Siu Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Terzo The United States of Unemployment Key Takeaways As of August 2025, unemployment rates vary widely across the United States. The District of Columbia now has the highest unemployment rate at 6.0%, up from 5.3% in January. The national unemployment rate for the U.S. rose to 4.3% in August 2025. But that figure masks vast differences in local labor market health across states. In this Markets in a Minute graphic, created in partnership with Terzo, we map all 50 states and the District of Columbia by their August 2025 unemployment rates. Data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The National Picture The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in August, up slightly from 4.2% in July. This was the second consecutive monthly increase and the highest level since October 2021. Long-term unemployment, which tracks the share of those unemployed for 27 weeks or more, rose for the third month in a row in August.  According to Reuters, the uptick reflects a softening economy, as higher tariffs and widespread public-sector layoffs strain the labor market amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Unemployment Rates by State At the top of the list with the lowest unemployment rates are South Dakota (1.9%), North Dakota (2.5%), and Vermont (2.5%). StateUnemployment Rate (%)Rank South Dakota1.91 North Dakota2.52 Vermont2.52 Hawaii2.74 Alabama2.95 Montana2.95 Nebraska3.07 New Hampshire3.07 Oklahoma3.19 Wisconsin3.19 Maine3.211 Wyoming3.211 Utah3.313 Georgia3.414 Indiana3.615 Maryland3.615 Minnesota3.615 Tennessee3.615 Virginia3.615 Idaho3.720 North Carolina3.720 Arkansas3.822 Connecticut3.822 Florida3.822 Iowa3.822 Kansas3.822 West Virginia3.822 Mississippi3.928 New York4.029 Pennsylvania4.029 Arizona4.131 Missouri4.131 New Mexico4.131 Texas4.131 Colorado4.235 Delaware4.336 South Carolina4.336 Illinois4.438 Louisiana4.438 Washington4.540 Rhode Island4.641 Alaska4.742 Kentucky4.742 Massachusetts4.844 New Jersey5.045 Ohio5.045 Oregon5.045 Michigan5.248 Nevada5.349 California5.550 District of Columbia6.051 National4.3 Conversely, California (5.5%), Nevada (5.3%), and Michigan (5.2%) are facing slower job growth. Tech layoffs and a weakening consumer spending profile are weighing on employment. What’s Ahead Economists and policymakers are closely watching for the delayed September employment report, postponed by the ongoing government shutdown. The report is a key indicator for investors, offering a clear read on the nation’s economic pulse and signaling areas of strength or weakness. Stay in tune with your company’s spending, revenue, and risk with Terzo’s AI-powered financial platform. More from Terzo Markets1 week ago Ranked: The Economies Most Dependent on International Trade A trade war has threatened economic ties in 2025. Which economies are most exposed to these shifts in international trade? Economy2 weeks ago Top Countries Behind U.S. Tariff Revenue Tariff rates vary by country, as does the value of goods each nation exports to the U.S. Which countries contribute the most? Business3 weeks ago Industries Hiring and Firing the Most Employees As the U.S. labor market cools, which industries are still hiring—and which are cutting back their workforces? 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See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The Top Countries by Military Spending in Three Metrics 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 America’s military budget is the largest in the world, at $949 billion in 2024. North Korea has the highest military spending per capita in purchasing power parity terms, at $9,929. In 2024, the U.S., China, and Russia were the top countries by military spending, representing more than half of the global total. Overall, global military expenditures hit a record $2.7 trillion, a 9.4% increase over the year. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, all five regions of the world increased their military spending for the second consecutive year. This graphic shows the most militarized countries across three metrics, based on data from the Institute of Economics and Peace. The Top 10 Countries by Military Spending in 2024 In the table below, we show the countries with the largest military budgets in 2024. Figures are represented in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms: Top 10 CountriesTotal Military Expenditures 2024 (PPP) United States$949B China$450B Russia$352B India$282B North Korea$263B Saudi Arabia$135B Germany$107B Ukraine$103B UK$91B Japan$80B With a $949 billion budget, America has 1.5 million active duty personnel across 4,790 military sites globally. China follows next, with $450 billion in spending. Overall, Taiwan stands as a top priority for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with widespread U.S. intelligence suggesting that Xi Jinping wants to be capable of seizing the country by force by 2027. Ranking in third is Russia, which increased expenditures by an estimated 38% in 2024 amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Top 10 Countries by Military Spending Per Capita When it comes to military spending on a per capita basis, North Korea ranks first by a wide margin. Top 10 CountriesMilitary Expenditures Per Capita 2024 (PPP) North Korea$9,929 Qatar$5,621 Singapore$4,162 Saudi Arabia$3,984 Israel$3,459 UAE$3,113 U.S.$2,748 Ukraine$2,720 Oman$2,572 Kuwait$2,485 Qatar, a small gulf state bordering Saudi Arabia, stands in second, driven by broad-based modernization of its military, navy, and air force. Interestingly, Singapore comes in third by this measure, despite being known as a neutral state. In fact, Singapore has consistently spent around 3% of GDP on defense for decades, higher than most European countries. The Top 10 Countries by Military Spending as a Share of GDP Once again, North Korea leads globally in terms of military spending as a share of GDP, reaching 34% in 2024. Top 10 CountriesMilitary Expenditures % of GDP 2024 (PPP) North Korea34% Ukraine17% Afghanistan15% Algeria9% Palestine9% Saudi Arabia7% Israel7% Oman7% Mali6% Russia6% Standing in second place is Ukraine, at 17% of GDP, totalling $103 billion. In comparison, Russia’s military budget was 6% of GDP, at $352 billion in 2024. Today, Russia has the largest army in Europe, with 1.3 million active duty personnel, while Ukraine follows with 900,000 active troops. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on military spending by country in 2024.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Median Rent Price by U.S. State See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Coastal states have the highest median rents with California leading at $2,104, followed by Hawaii ($1,942) and Massachusetts ($1,848). The District of Columbia ranks third among the states at $1,931. While coastal states tend to have the highest rents, Colorado ($1,822) and Nevada ($1,709) are among the few landlocked states far above the national median of $1,487. Across the United States, median rent varies by more than $1,000 between the highest and lowest states. This map compares the median gross rent (including utilities) in each state in 2024 using data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2024 1-Year Estimates, providing a snapshot of rental affordability nationwide. U.S. States with the Highest Rent The Census Bureau data shows that California has the highest median rent at $2,104, edging out Hawaii ($1,942) and Massachusetts ($1,848). The District of Columbia—while not a state—ranks third overall at $1,931, reflecting its dense urban housing market and limited supply. The data table below shows the median rent by state in 2024, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. national median: RankStateMedian gross rent in 2024 (includes utilities) 1California$2,104 2Hawaii$1,942 3District of Columbia$1,931 4Massachusetts$1,848 5Washington$1,824 6Colorado$1,822 7Florida$1,812 8New Jersey$1,800 9Maryland$1,721 10Nevada$1,709 11Arizona$1,672 12Virginia$1,646 13New York$1,634 14Oregon$1,597 15Utah$1,593 16New Hampshire$1,558 17Connecticut$1,550 18Delaware$1,530 19Georgia$1,506 20Texas$1,475 21Alaska$1,444 22Rhode Island$1,418 23Idaho$1,384 24North Carolina$1,338 25Illinois$1,322 26Vermont$1,319 27Minnesota$1,291 28Tennessee$1,284 29South Carolina$1,272 30Pennsylvania$1,252 31Maine$1,210 32Montana$1,177 33Michigan$1,168 34Wisconsin$1,142 35New Mexico$1,117 36Indiana$1,104 37Nebraska$1,102 38Ohio$1,090 39Kansas$1,079 40Alabama$1,077 41Missouri$1,067 42Louisiana$1,064 43Oklahoma$1,044 44South Dakota$999 45Kentucky$998 46Wyoming$998 47Mississippi$990 48Arkansas$982 49Iowa$981 50North Dakota$980 51West Virginia$883 --U.S. Median Rent$1,487 Other high-rent states include Washington ($1,824) and Colorado ($1,822), underscoring how tech hubs and lifestyle destinations command premium rents. Rents remain particularly elevated across the West Coast and the Northeast Corridor as states like New Jersey ($1,794), New York ($1,771), and Oregon ($1,765) continue to face upward price pressure due to limited housing inventory and strong demand near metropolitan centers. States With the Lowest Median Rent The lowest median rents are found in West Virginia ($883), followed by North Dakota ($980) and Iowa ($981). Even when including utilities, median rent in these states is $500 below the national median of $1,487, underscoring their housing cost advantage. Many Midwestern states, including Wyoming ($998) and South Dakota ($999), also maintain some of the lowest rents in the nation, less than half of California’s. However, lower rents often correspond with slower wage growth and fewer high-paying job opportunities, balancing the affordability equation. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about the state of U.S. housing affordability, check out this graphic which shows the average mortgage rate by state.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The Cost of a Healthy Diet Around 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 Globally, a healthy diet costs an average of $4.46 per person per day. The most expensive regions are the Caribbean and Latin America, while North America and Oceania are the cheapest. Roughly 2.6 billion people—one-third of the global population—can’t afford a healthy diet. Healthy diets remain out of reach for billions of people worldwide, largely due to the costs associated with nutritious food. This infographic shows the daily cost of a healthy diet by region and the number of people who cannot afford one, based on the latest available data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The costs are expressed in purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars to account for regional cost-of-living differences. How Much Does Eating Healthy Cost? A “healthy diet” is defined as providing 2,330 kilocalories per day, drawn from six food groups: fruits, vegetables, starchy staples, oils, legumes, and animal-sourced foods. Globally, maintaining a healthy diet costs about $4.46 per person per day, but there are large differences across regions. The table below shows the cost of a healthy diet for each region, along with the number of people who can’t afford one: RegionAverage daily cost per person for a healthy dietShare of population that can't afford a healthy dietPopulation that can't afford a healthy diet Caribbean$5.4850.1%22.5M Latin America$4.8726.1%159.4M Northern Africa$4.7641.3%112.4M Asia$4.4328.1%1.35B Sub-Saharan Africa$4.3772.1%896.5M Europe$4.035.3%39.4M Oceania$3.8619.6%9.0M Northern America$3.854.3%16.7M World$4.4631.9%2.6B The Caribbean faces the highest cost at $5.48 per person per day, followed by Latin America ($4.87) and Northern Africa ($4.76). In contrast, healthy diets are cheapest in North America ($3.85) and Oceania ($3.86). In terms of access, Asia has the highest number of people affected, with 1.35 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet—about 28% of the region’s population. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet at 72%. By comparison, Northern America has 16.7 million people affected, representing 4.3% of its population. Oceania has the fewest number of people—9 million—unable to afford a healthy diet, though these differences are influenced by population size. Why Healthy Food Costs More Healthy food tends to be more expensive than calorie-rich but nutrition-poor unhealthy food. In fact, a UK-based study by the Food Foundation found that healthy food options are more than twice as expensive as unhealthier alternatives on a per-calorie basis. In each region, the affordability of a healthy diet depends not only on global food prices, but also on local factors like import dependence and agricultural self-sufficiency for staple foods. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Where Groceries Cost the Most Worldwide on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization How Big Is Australia? Visualizing How Many Countries Fit Inside 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 Australia is the 6th-largest country in the world at nearly 3.0 million mi² (7.7 million km²), and it’s large enough to fit nine other countries, including 7th-ranked India. Around 40% of Australia is uninhabitable due to harsh desert conditions in the interior. Most of its 27 million residents live along the coast. Australia ranks 54th by population, 14th by gross domestic product…and sixth by size? The infographic below puts its staggering scale in context by showing how many familiar nations could sit comfortably inside its outline. The data for this visualization comes from UN Statistics Division, using total area estimates. Australia’s True Size Revealed Covering nearly 3.0 million square miles (7.73 million km²), Australia is the sixth-largest country, sitting just behind Brazil. CountryArea (mi²)Area (km²)Population (2025) Australia2,988,9007,741,22127,740,000 India1,269,2193,287,2651,460,000,000 Mexico758,4491,964,375133,370,000 Spain195,120505,35949,720,000 Japan145,914377,916123,290,000 Germany138,063357,58283,600,000 UK94,354244,37669,870,000 Ukraine233,030603,54532,860,000 Vietnam127,930331,337102,160,000 Ireland27,13370,2745,490,000 9 Countries2,989,2127,742,0292,054,875,000 Note: Population data sourced from the International Monetary Fund. Its landmass is roughly equivalent to the combined size of nine other countries, including 7th-ranked India. For an American perspective, it’s the size of the contiguous U.S. west of the Mississippi River. Humans often underestimate continental scale when viewing Mercator maps, so stacking countries gives a more intuitive sense of magnitude. Related: For more on the Mercator projection, check out: The Problem With Our Maps. Yet with only 27 million residents, Australia’s average population density is nine people per square mile. The average population density of the combined nine countries is 687 people per square mile. Why So Much of Australia Is Empty The emptiness stems largely from the notorious Outback. Roughly two-fifths of the continent is classified as arid or semi-arid desert, encompassing the Simpson, Tanami, and Great Victoria deserts. Summer highs above 110°F (43°C) and some of the lowest rainfall on Earth make permanent settlement costly and risky. Consequently, more than 85% of Australians cluster in coastal metro areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Visualizing Africa’s True Size on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: 35 Countries With the Largest Forests 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 Russia has 833 million hectares of forest, about 20% of the entire world’s forests. Brazil (486M ha) and Canada (369M ha) rank second and third respectively. With the U.S. (309M ha) and China (227M ha), just five countries have half of the world’s forests Forest landscapes shape climates, absorb carbon, and support millions of species. The visualization ranks the countries with the largest forests in 2025, revealing how woodland is distributed across the planet. Data for this visualization comes from the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), released this October. Five Countries Have Half the World’s Forests Russia tops the list with 833 million hectares (ha) of forest, one-fifth of global tree cover. RankCountry/TerritoryISO CodeForest Area (1,000 Hectares, 2025)Share of World's Forests (2025) 1 RussiaRUS832,629.9320.11% 2 BrazilBRA486,086.6411.74% 3 CanadaCAN368,818.858.91% 4 U.S.USA308,895.007.46% 5 ChinaCHN227,153.005.49% 6 DRCCOD139,189.053.36% 7 AustraliaAUS133,561.593.23% 8 IndonesiaIDN95,969.302.32% 9 IndiaIND72,739.001.76% 10 PeruPER67,159.761.62% 11 MexicoMEX66,265.591.60% 12 AngolaAGO63,262.331.53% 13 ColombiaCOL59,456.861.44% 14 BoliviaBOL54,370.271.31% 15 VenezuelaVEN47,088.241.14% 16 ArgentinaARG46,598.001.13% 17 Central African RepublicCAF45,094.871.09% 18 ZambiaZMB44,874.291.08% 19 TanzaniaTZA43,400.001.05% 20 Papua New GuineaPNG34,028.960.82% 21 MozambiqueMOZ32,242.900.78% 22 SwedenSWE27,934.000.67% 23 MyanmarMMR27,095.320.65% 24 EthiopiaETH26,747.100.65% 25 JapanJPN24,908.000.60% 26 GabonGAB23,555.310.57% 27 South AfricaZAF22,881.420.55% 28 TürkiyeTUR22,805.760.55% 29 FinlandFIN22,543.000.54% 30 SudanSDN21,980.400.53% 31 CongoCOG21,853.800.53% 32 ThailandTHA19,647.480.47% 33 CameroonCMR19,143.220.46% 34 SpainESP19,132.780.46% 35 MalaysiaMYS18,884.740.46% 36 GuyanaGUY18,377.190.44% 37 ChileCHL18,161.900.44% 38 FranceFRA17,795.000.43% 39 NigeriaNGA17,129.960.41% 40 BotswanaBWA15,730.200.38% 41 VietnamVNM14,790.080.36% 42 SurinameSUR14,674.200.35% 43 ParaguayPRY14,297.390.35% 44 MongoliaMNG14,178.330.34% 45 ZimbabweZWE13,766.010.33% 46 LaosLAO13,036.040.31% 47 EcuadorECU12,310.320.30% 48 NorwayNOR12,108.640.29% 49 GermanyDEU11,481.400.28% 50 IranIRN10,751.000.26% 51 MaliMLI10,479.250.25% 52 New ZealandNZL10,303.030.25% 53 UkraineUKR10,090.000.24% 54 MadagascarMDG9,922.080.24% 55 PolandPOL9,495.000.23% 56 ItalyITA9,421.960.23% 57 BelarusBLR8,975.400.22% 58 SenegalSEN8,649.320.21% 59 NamibiaNAM8,042.960.19% 60 French GuianaGUF7,981.950.19% 61 North KoreaPRK7,727.930.19% 62 PhilippinesPHL7,438.640.18% 63 South SudanSSD7,160.000.17% 64 GhanaGHA7,056.360.17% 65 RomaniaROU6,957.130.17% 66 CambodiaKHM6,333.170.15% 67 LiberiaLBR6,326.520.15% 68 South KoreaKOR6,279.130.15% 69 NepalNPL6,266.250.15% 70 HondurasHND5,861.330.14% 71 MoroccoMAR5,695.340.14% 72 GuineaGIN4,857.310.12% 73 SomaliaSOM4,829.750.12% 74 NicaraguaNIC4,780.700.12% 75 GreeceGRC4,762.800.12% 76 PanamaPAN4,614.610.11% 77 BulgariaBGR3,959.000.10% 78 KenyaKEN3,913.810.09% 79 AustriaAUT3,903.910.09% 80 UzbekistanUZB3,894.190.09% 81 Côte d'IvoireCIV3,774.130.09% 82 CubaCUB3,622.380.09% 83 ChadTCD3,611.320.09% 84 GuatemalaGTM3,535.650.09% 85 KazakhstanKAZ3,520.510.09% 86 SerbiaSRB3,475.200.08% 87 LatviaLVA3,466.960.08% 88 PortugalPRT3,362.630.08% 89 UKGBR3,278.000.08% 90 Burkina FasoBFA3,236.970.08% 91 PakistanPAK3,192.460.08% 92 BeninBEN3,133.270.08% 93 GeorgiaGEO3,100.500.07% 94 Costa RicaCRI2,989.640.07% 95 Czech RepublicCZE2,968.360.07% 96 Saudi ArabiaSAU2,775.550.07% 97 BhutanBTN2,674.740.06% 98 Solomon IslandsSLB2,513.930.06% 99 EstoniaEST2,446.750.06% 100 Sierra LeoneSLE2,436.270.06% 101 Equatorial GuineaGNQ2,406.620.06% 102 UgandaUGA2,367.670.06% 103 TurkmenistanTKM2,330.000.06% 104 Dominican RepublicDOM2,257.460.05% 105 LithuaniaLTU2,216.340.05% 106 Bosnia and HerzegovinaBIH2,162.080.05% 107 Sri LankaLKA2,120.690.05% 108 Guinea-BissauGNB2,099.590.05% 109 HungaryHUN2,087.370.05% 110 MalawiMWI2,031.700.05% 111 UruguayURY2,024.000.05% 112 CroatiaHRV1,946.200.05% 113 Slovak RepublicSVK1,940.490.05% 114 BangladeshBGD1,873.420.05% 115 AlgeriaDZA1,691.360.04% 116 EritreaERI1,442.020.03% 117 BelizeBLZ1,315.050.03% 118 SwitzerlandCHE1,267.020.03% 119 Kyrgyz RepublicKGZ1,255.480.03% 120 SloveniaSVN1,243.550.03% 121 TogoTGO1,224.460.03% 122 AzerbaijanAZE1,213.660.03% 123 AfghanistanAFG1,209.440.03% 124 FijiFJI1,136.600.03% 125 NigerNER1,055.100.03% 126 Timor-LesteTLS1,054.330.03% 127 North MacedoniaMKD1,026.100.02% 128 MauritaniaMRT1,019.130.02% 129 AlbaniaALB941.000.02% 130 VanuatuVUT907.440.02% 131 New CaledoniaNCL892.610.02% 132 IrelandIRL832.850.02% 133 MontenegroMNE827.000.02% 134 IraqIRQ692.550.02% 135 TunisiaTUN687.490.02% 136 El SalvadorSLV684.840.02% 137 BelgiumBEL670.520.02% 138 DenmarkDNK642.560.02% 139 RwandaRWA634.630.02% 140 JamaicaJAM616.310.01% 141 YemenYEM549.000.01% 142 Western SaharaESH529.220.01% 143 SyriaSYR527.810.01% 144 BahamasBHS509.860.01% 145 Puerto RicoPRI436.060.01% 146 EswatiniSWZ433.070.01% 147 TajikistanTJK424.500.01% 148 Brunei DarussalamBRN380.000.01% 149 HaitiHTI372.100.01% 150 MoldovaMDA370.300.01% 151 NetherlandsNLD369.330.01% 152 ArmeniaARM334.100.01% 153 UAEARE324.580.01% 154 BurundiBDI279.640.01% 155 Trinidad & TobagoTTO226.050.01% 156 GambiaGMB209.470.01% 157 LibyaLBY205.330.00% 158 CyprusCYP171.700.00% 159 SamoaWSM159.760.00% 160 IsraelISR150.000.00% 161 French PolynesiaPYF149.460.00% 162 LebanonLBN141.320.00% 163 LuxembourgLUX88.700.00% 164 RéunionREU77.150.00% 165 GuadeloupeGLP75.600.00% 166 JordanJOR70.700.00% 167 MicronesiaFSM64.570.00% 168 IcelandISL61.480.00% 169 DominicaDMA57.350.00% 170 Sao Tome & PrincipeSTP55.280.00% 171 MartiniqueMTQ52.670.00% 172 Cabo VerdeCPV51.060.00% 173 PalauPLW41.870.00% 174 MauritiusMUS38.290.00% 175 LesothoLSO34.520.00% 176 ComorosCOM33.370.00% 177 Saint LuciaLCA32.840.00% 178 Saint Vincent & the GrenadinesVCT28.560.00% 179 GuamGUM28.270.00% 180 SeychellesSYC26.520.00% 181 Northern Mariana IslandsMNP24.360.00% 182 U.S. Virgin IslandsVIR20.660.00% 183 NiueNIU18.870.00% 184 AndorraAND18.220.00% 185 GrenadaGRD17.700.00% 186 American SamoaASM15.850.00% 187 SingaporeSGP15.800.00% 188 Cook IslandsCOK15.590.00% 189 Cayman IslandsCYM12.720.00% 190 PalestinePSE11.100.00% 191 Saint Kitts & NevisKNA11.000.00% 192 Wallis & Futuna IslandsWLF10.820.00% 193 Turks and Caicos IslandsTCA10.520.00% 194 British Virgin IslandsVGB9.970.00% 195 Marshall IslandsMHL9.710.00% 196 MayotteMYT9.600.00% 197 TongaTON8.730.00% 198 Antigua & BarbudaATG7.790.00% 199 KuwaitKWT6.300.00% 200 BarbadosBRB6.300.00% 201 LiechtensteinLIE5.980.00% 202 DjiboutiDJI5.930.00% 203 AnguillaAIA5.500.00% 204 BahrainBHR4.370.00% 205 Bonaire, Sint Eustatius & SabaBES4.210.00% 206 EgyptEGY4.110.00% 207 MaldivesMDV3.720.00% 208 Pitcairn IslandsPCN3.690.00% 209 Isle of ManIMN3.670.00% 210 MontserratMSR2.420.00% 211 Ascension, Saint Helena and Tristan da CunhaSHN2.020.00% 212 OmanOMN1.600.00% 213 QatarQAT1.400.00% 214 Saint MartinMAF1.240.00% 215 Saint Pierre & MiquelonSPM1.100.00% 216 KiribatiKIR1.070.00% 217 TuvaluTUV1.030.00% 218 San MarinoSMR1.000.00% 219 BermudaBMU0.780.00% 220 JerseyJEY0.680.00% 221 ArubaABW0.490.00% 222 Norfolk IslandNFK0.490.00% 223 GuernseyGGY0.470.00% 224 MaltaMLT0.470.00% 225 Sint MaartenSXM0.300.00% 226 GreenlandGRL0.220.00% 227 Saint BarthélemyBLM0.170.00% 228 Faroe IslandsFRO0.080.00% 229 CuraçaoCUW0.070.00% 230 GibraltarGIB0.000.00% 231 Holy SeeVAT0.000.00% 232 MonacoMCO0.000.00% 233 Svalbard and Jan Mayen IslandsSJM0.000.00% 234 NauruNRU0.000.00% 235 TokelauTKL0.000.00% 236 Falkland IslandsFLK0.000.00% N/A WorldN/A4,140,216.55N/A Note: For reference, one hectare is equal to 2.47 acres, or roughly two (American) football fields. Together with Brazil (486M ha) and Canada (369M ha), the top three nations account for more than 40% of global forests. Add the U.S. (309M ha) and China (227M ha), and the share rises to 50%. This concentration underlines how policy decisions in a handful of capitals can sway the fate of the world’s woodland. Tropical Forests Keep Planet Cool Brazil’s Amazon rainforest alone stores roughly one-quarter of all land-based carbon, making its preservation a climate priority. Other equatorial nations, including the DRC, Indonesia, and Peru, also appear in the top 10. Their moist, biodiverse forests act as vital “lungs,” recycling water and stabilizing rainfall patterns far beyond their borders. Yet these countries are simultaneously hotspots for logging, agriculture, and mining, highlighting the tension between economic growth and conservation. Related: The health of the Amazon rainforest is critical for global food security. Reforestation Makes a Mark in Asia and Europe China’s fifth-place ranking is backed by decades of large-scale tree-planting initiatives, such as the “Great Green Wall.” Across Europe, Sweden and Finland show how sustainable forestry can coexist with vigorous timber industries, each maintaining roughly 28 million hectares of managed woodland. Türkiye and Spain, further down the list, also owe their sizable forest footprints to ambitious reforestation programs that reversed 20th-century declines. These examples spotlight policy tools—like afforestation incentives and strict harvest limits—that other nations could adopt. Despite these initiatives, preserving primary forests (that is, not planted by humans) remains a critical environmental goal in combating climate change. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Major World Cities by Climate Type on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Top 30 Countries by Quality of Life 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 Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index measures overall living conditions in countries, combining data on costs, safety, healthcare, pollution, and more from user surveys. Switzerland remains one of the highest-rated countries, while others such as the Netherlands and Norway have climbed places. Canada has seen the largest decline in living standards, falling from 9th to 27th over the past decade. The Numbeo Quality of Life Index aggregates survey data from people around the world to gain insight into how they perceive life in their country. To see how these perceptions have changed over time, we’ve visualized the 30 countries with the best quality of life in 2015 and 2025. The comparison reveals a number of significant movements up and down the ranking, with Canada losing the most ground. Data & Discussion The data for this visualization comes from Numbeo, which compiles user-reported data on eight factors: Purchasing Power Pollution House Price to Income Ratio Cost of Living Safety Health Care Traffic Commute Time Climate Each country’s quality of life score is calculated based on these factors, with higher scores representing better overall conditions. Rank (2015)CountryQuality of Life Index (2015)Rank (2025)CountryQuality of Life Index (2025) 1 Switzerland222.91 Luxembourg218.2 2 Germany195.92 Netherlands216.5 3 Sweden193.93 Denmark215.1 4 U.S.192.54 Oman215.1 5 Finland190.25 Switzerland210.9 6 Denmark190.26 Finland208.3 7 Austria182.67 Norway199.2 8 Australia180.88 Iceland198.0 9 Canada177.69 Austria197.7 10 New Zealand175.510 Germany195.2 11 Norway175.111 Australia195.1 12 Saudi Arabia169.412 New Zealand194.7 13 Japan168.313 Sweden192.2 14 Netherlands166.814 U.S.192.1 15 Turkmenistan157.115 Estonia189.8 16 UK156.916 Qatar189.4 17 Cyprus154.917 Japan188.8 18 UAE153.718 Spain187.2 19 Ireland148.919 Slovenia182.4 20 Qatar144.920 Croatia181.7 21 Estonia144.621 Lithuania178.8 22 France139.322 UK177.2 23 Belgium13623 Czech Republic176.3 24 Spain134.924 UAE174.2 25 Slovenia134.525 Saudi Arabia173.7 26 Portugal129.226 Belgium173.7 27 Czech Republic127.527 Canada170.5 28 Puerto Rico125.728 Ireland169.6 29 Kuwait123.429 France169.5 30 Israel120.430 Israel169.5 Europe Boasts High Quality of Life European countries topped the ranking in both 2015 and 2025, perhaps a reflection of the region’s strong social welfare systems, safety, and infrastructure. The Netherlands stands out, climbing 12 places since 2015. Not all European countries have maintained their ranking, though, with Sweden falling 10 places (3rd to 13th). Sweden, once regarded as one of Europe’s safest countries, has seen an alarming rise in organized-crime networks. It’s estimated that 62,000 individuals are connected to these networks, primarily dealing in drugs, human smuggling, and money laundering. Canada’s Declining Living Standards Canada has fallen the most spots over the time period, from 9th to 27th. Housing affordability is one of the most pressing issues in the country, as real house prices rise much faster than incomes. According to a 2024 survey by Statistics Canada, 45% of Canadians are “very concerned” about their ability to afford housing. Another challenge is healthcare, where the median wait time between a referral from a doctor (general practitioner) and the receipt of treatment is 30 weeks. According to the Fraser Institute, this is 222% longer than the 9.3 week timeline observed in 1993. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Global Happiness by Country in 2025 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualized: The Most Common Master’s Degrees in 43 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 Business & law are the most common master’s fields across 43 OECD countries. Certain countries diverge from the pattern, such as Japan, where engineering is the top field (33%). According to new OECD data, the world’s graduate students are primarily focused on just a few key disciplines. In this graphic, we visualize the most common master’s degrees in 43 countries, revealing how business and law is the most common choice globally. A few countries buck the trend, including Japan, Sweden, Spain, and Brazil, where a larger share of graduate students specialize in fields like engineering and education. Data & Discussion The data for this visualization comes from OECD’s Education at a Glance 2025. It categorizes graduate students by field of study across OECD and partner countries. Each country’s figures represent the share of enrolled master’s students in each discipline. CountryField of education% of Students AustraliaBusiness & law37% AustraliaHealth19% AustraliaOther15% AustraliaEducation11% AustraliaEngineering9% AustraliaInformation technology9% AustriaBusiness & law32% AustriaOther21% AustriaEngineering14% AustriaHealth13% AustriaEducation10% AustriaSocial sciences10% BelgiumBusiness & law24% BelgiumHealth22% BelgiumOther16% BelgiumSocial sciences15% BelgiumEngineering13% BelgiumArts and humanities11% BrazilOther37% BrazilHealth16% BrazilEducation13% BrazilEngineering12% BrazilArts and humanities12% BrazilBusiness & law11% BulgariaBusiness & law26% BulgariaEducation21% BulgariaHealth17% BulgariaOther18% BulgariaEngineering10% BulgariaSocial sciences9% CanadaBusiness & law29% CanadaHealth21% CanadaOther20% CanadaEngineering12% CanadaSocial sciences11% CanadaEducation8% ChileBusiness & law34% ChileHealth26% ChileEducation16% ChileOther11% ChileSocial sciences9% ChileEngineering5% ColombiaBusiness & law53% ColombiaEducation17% ColombiaOther8% ColombiaSocial sciences7% ColombiaEngineering9% ColombiaHealth6% Costa RicaBusiness & law51% Costa RicaEducation24% Costa RicaHealth10% Costa RicaOther6% Costa RicaSocial sciences5% Costa RicaSciences & math3% CroatiaOther27% CroatiaBusiness & law25% CroatiaEngineering15% CroatiaHealth14% CroatiaEducation10% CroatiaArts and humanities9% CzechiaOther27% CzechiaBusiness & law19% CzechiaEducation17% CzechiaEngineering13% CzechiaHealth13% CzechiaSocial sciences11% DenmarkBusiness & law25% DenmarkOther24% DenmarkSocial sciences17% DenmarkEngineering14% DenmarkHealth10% DenmarkSciences & math10% EstoniaOther28% EstoniaBusiness & law24% EstoniaEducation14% EstoniaEngineering12% EstoniaHealth12% EstoniaInformation technology10% FinlandOther27% FinlandBusiness & law20% FinlandEngineering16% FinlandHealth15% FinlandArts and humanities12% FinlandSocial sciences11% FranceBusiness & law34% FranceHealth16% FranceOther20% FranceEngineering13% FranceSciences & math9% FranceEducation8% GermanyOther25% GermanyBusiness & law22% GermanyEngineering18% GermanyArts and humanities15% GermanySciences & math11% GermanyEducation9% GreeceOther26% GreeceBusiness & law24% GreeceSocial sciences19% GreeceHealth14% GreeceSciences & math9% GreeceEngineering8% HungaryBusiness & law28% HungaryOther20% HungaryHealth13% HungarySocial sciences13% HungaryEducation14% HungaryEngineering11% IcelandBusiness & law30% IcelandEducation25% IcelandHealth15% IcelandOther14% IcelandSocial sciences9% IcelandSciences & math7% IrelandBusiness & law30% IrelandHealth17% IrelandOther20% IrelandEducation14% IrelandInformation technology12% IrelandSocial sciences8% IsraelBusiness & law30% IsraelEducation21% IsraelHealth15% IsraelOther13% IsraelSocial sciences12% IsraelArts and humanities9% ItalyBusiness & law20% ItalyOther19% ItalyHealth17% ItalyEngineering15% ItalySocial sciences15% ItalyArts and humanities15% JapanEngineering33% JapanHealth27% JapanOther13% JapanBusiness & law10% JapanSciences & math9% JapanArts and humanities8% KoreaOther23% KoreaBusiness & law21% KoreaEducation16% KoreaEngineering15% KoreaHealth11% KoreaArts and humanities13% LatviaBusiness & law29% LatviaHealth29% LatviaOther16% LatviaEngineering10% LatviaSocial sciences9% LatviaArts and humanities7% LithuaniaBusiness & law29% LithuaniaHealth28% LithuaniaOther14% LithuaniaEngineering12% LithuaniaSocial sciences11% LithuaniaArts and humanities7% LuxembourgBusiness & law62% LuxembourgOther12% LuxembourgEducation7% LuxembourgSciences & math7% LuxembourgEngineering6% LuxembourgSocial sciences6% MexicoBusiness & law41% MexicoEducation25% MexicoHealth13% MexicoOther10% MexicoSocial sciences7% MexicoEngineering4% NetherlandsBusiness & law30% NetherlandsOther22% NetherlandsSocial sciences19% NetherlandsEngineering10% NetherlandsSciences & math9% NetherlandsHealth9% New ZealandBusiness & law27% New ZealandOther25% New ZealandSocial sciences13% New ZealandHealth12% New ZealandEngineering12% New ZealandEducation11% NorwayOther22% NorwayBusiness & law18% NorwayEducation18% NorwaySocial sciences17% NorwayHealth12% NorwayEngineering12% PolandBusiness & law26% PolandHealth19% PolandOther22% PolandEngineering12% PolandSocial sciences12% PolandEducation10% PortugalBusiness & law22% PortugalEngineering22% PortugalOther20% PortugalHealth17% PortugalSocial sciences11% PortugalEducation8% RomaniaOther26% RomaniaBusiness & law23% RomaniaHealth20% RomaniaEngineering16% RomaniaSocial sciences8% RomaniaArts and humanities8% Slovak RepublicOther23% Slovak RepublicBusiness & law22% Slovak RepublicHealth19% ? Slovak RepublicEducation14% ? Slovak RepublicEngineering12% ? Slovak RepublicSocial sciences10% SloveniaBusiness & law24% SloveniaEngineering18% SloveniaHealth15% SloveniaEducation16% SloveniaSocial sciences9% SloveniaOther19% SpainEducation27% SpainHealth21% SpainOther17% SpainBusiness & law18% SpainSocial sciences9% SpainEngineering9% SwedenEngineering23% SwedenHealth20% SwedenEducation17% SwedenBusiness & law15% SwedenSocial sciences11% SwedenOther15% SwitzerlandBusiness & law28% SwitzerlandOther24% SwitzerlandEngineering13% SwitzerlandHealth11% SwitzerlandSocial sciences11% SwitzerlandEducation14% TürkiyeBusiness & law31% TürkiyeOther22% TürkiyeEducation13% TürkiyeEngineering13% TürkiyeSocial sciences11% TürkiyeArts and humanities11% U.S.Business & law26% U.S.Health26% U.S.Other19% U.S.Education14% U.S.Information technology8% U.S.Social sciences8% UKBusiness & law35% UKHealth13% UKOther21% UKSocial sciences12% UKEducation10% UKEngineering9% Business & Law Are the Most Common Master’s Fields From Australia to Colombia, business and law attracts the largest share of graduate students around the world. These programs are often linked to high employability and upper-level management roles, particularly in service-oriented economies. This trend also spans across developed (e.g. Luxembourg) and developing (e.g. Mexico) economies, highlighting the universal career-advancing potential of an MBA. Nations Bucking the Trend We can identify several countries where business and law is not the clear favorite. In Spain and Norway, for instance, education-related master’s programs are equally or more popular. Health fields also represent a major share in countries like the U.S. and Japan, possibly driven by their aging populations and growing healthcare demand. And lastly, Japan and Sweden stand out as the only countries in this sample where engineering fields are the most popular choice for graduate students. These differences could boil down to cultural factors, institutional incentives, or simply greater employment opportunities. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Median Annual Salary by Education Level on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The World’s Highest Incarceration Rates (Including U.S. States) 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 El Salvador has the highest incarcertion rate globally, fueled by anti-crime crackdowns with little due process. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas follow next in line with significantly higher rates than the U.S. average. If U.S. states each represented a country, they would make up nine of the top 10 highest incarceration rates worldwide. Not only that, each of these states—spanning from Louisiana to Washington, D.C.—have a higher incarceration rate than Cuba. For decades, Cuba has been known for its political repression and arbitrary detentions for citizens criticizing the political regime. This graphic shows the countries with the highest incarceration rates compared with U.S. states, based on data from the Prison Policy Initiative. Ranked: The Top 30 Highest Incarceration Rates Below, we show the number of prisoners per 100,000 people. Country data is as of 2024, while state data uses 2021 ratios applied to the 2024 U.S. prison population. Country/ StateIncarceration Rate (per 100,000) El Salvador1,086 Louisiana1,067 Mississippi1,020 Arkansas912 Oklahoma905 Alabama898 Kentucky889 Georgia881 Tennessee817 D.C.816 South Dakota812 Cuba794 Wyoming785 Montana758 Texas751 Alaska744 Indiana721 Idaho720 Missouri713 Arizona710 Florida705 Virginia679 West Virginia674 Kansas648 New Mexico647 Rwanda637 Ohio621 Wisconsin615 U.S.614 Nevada610 South Carolina606 Under President Bukele’s mass incarceration, tens of thousands of El Salvadorans have been imprisoned. Many faced sentences with minimal evidence or fair trial, as the country’s authoritarian leader aims to crack down on crime. Since 2022, 8% of the young male population in El Salvador have faced jail time. Louisiana follows closely after El Salvador, with incarceration rates of 1,067 per 100,000 people. Several other states in the South also feature among the highest rates globally. Texas, ranked #15, has the nation’s largest prison population, with approximately 219,000 inmates. Overall, America’s incarceration rate has grown more than sixfold since 1972—reaching 614 prisoners per 100,000 people. It stands only after El Salvador, Cuba, and Rwanda, all low-income, developing countries. By contrast, Finland has incarceration rates of 51 per 100,000 people while the rate in its northern neighbor, Canada, is 88. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on costs per prisoner by U.S. state.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Mapped: Which States Have the Strongest Halloween Spirit? 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. West Virginia ranks #1 for Halloween spirit, scoring 666 out of 1000. States in the Appalachian and Midwest regions dominate the top 10. Hawaii and Alaska showed the least interest in Halloween-related searches. Using search data from Google Trends, the team at Attraction Tickets analyzed Halloween-related interest across the United States to determine which states embody the most Halloween spirit. The analysis covered 10 popular search terms like “Halloween costumes,” “haunted house,” and “Halloween Horror Nights,” assigning each state a score out of 100 for each term. These were then combined to give a total “Halloween spirit” score out of 1,000. Below is a look at how each U.S. state ranked: RankStateTotal Score (out of 1000) 1West Virginia666 2Kentucky642 3Ohio640 4Utah592 5Louisiana577 6Alabama551 7Michigan551 8Pennsylvania538 9Tennessee532 10Indiana528 11Nevada525 12Missouri521 13Florida517 14Illinois502 15South Carolina500 16Mississippi485 17Arizona479 18New Jersey470 19California463 20Arkansas459 21Texas456 22Kansas455 23Nebraska447 24Wisconsin442 25Iowa430 26Oklahoma430 27North Carolina416 28New York411 29New Mexico408 30Virginia403 31Georgia399 32Colorado388 33Maine388 34Massachusetts384 35Oregon384 36New Hampshire363 37Maryland360 38Rhode Island341 39Connecticut340 40Minnesota340 41Delaware325 42Washington325 43Idaho298 44South Dakota284 45Wyoming261 46Montana252 47North Dakota249 48Vermont226 49Alaska211 50Hawaii200 Unsurprisingly, the state with the most Halloween spirit, scoring a devilish 666, is West Virginia. At the opposite end, Hawaii takes the bottom spot with a score of just 200. Which States Love Halloween the Most? West Virginia residents show a clear passion for Halloween, possibly driven by regional traditions and love for all things spooky. Following closely are Kentucky (642), Ohio (640), and Utah (592), all of which scored above 590. The regional breakdown is telling. Many top-ranking states like Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are clustered in the Midwest and Appalachian regions, suggesting that cooler weather, fall foliage, and small-town celebrations may all play a role in boosting Halloween enthusiasm. States with the Least Halloween Spirit On the lower end of the list are Hawaii (200), Alaska (211), and North Dakota (249). These states may not see the same level of Halloween engagement due to geographic isolation, warmer climates, or lower population densities. States like Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota also had scores below 300, reflecting minimal online interest in traditional Halloween activities. Learn More on the Voronoi App Check out related insights like America’s Happiest States in 2025 and explore even more cultural and lifestyle data.