The Five Countries to Land on the Moon, and When They Did It Key Takeaways Only five countries have achieved a successful soft landing on the Moon since 1966. The U.S. remains the only nation to land astronauts on the lunar surface. Several countries have reached lunar orbit or attempted landings, but only a handful have completed controlled touchdowns. Roughly 200 countries exist today, but only five have successfully landed a spacecraft on the Moon. Achieving a controlled lunar landing remains one of the most difficult feats in space exploration, requiring decades of engineering expertise, precision navigation, and advanced propulsion systems. While many nations have reached the Moon or attempted landings, only a select group has completed a successful soft landing. Using data from HowStuffWorks, this map highlights the five countries that have joined this exclusive club. Russia is shown in place of the USSR, which officially dissolved in 1991. First Successful Moon Landings: A Chronology Each country reached the Moon during a different era of space exploration, spanning nearly six decades from the Cold War space race to today’s renewed global competition. Here’s when each nation completed its first successful soft landing: YearNationMissionNotes Feb 3, 1966☭ USSRLuna 9Seven years after the previous Luna 2 reached the Moon (but crashed into it), Luna 9 landed and transmitted data from the lunar surface. Jun 2, 1966 United StatesSurveyor 1Surveyor 1 landed and took over 11,000 pictures. Between 1969-1972, the U.S. then had six successful crewed missions through its Apollo program. Dec 14, 2013 ChinaChange'e 3China landed its first soft rover on the Moon. This was the world's first celestial landing since August 1976. Aug 13, 2023 IndiaChandrayaan-3 India's ISRO became the fourth space agency to land on the Moon, and the first to land at the lunar south pole. Jan 19, 2024 JapanSLIMNicknamed the "Moon Sniper", Japan's entry was designed to be the first hyper-accurate Moon landing. It arrived within 100 m of its target. And here is a map of all 28 successful Moon landings by country: Nearly every successful landing has occurred on the Moon’s near side, where communication with Earth is much easier. China is the only country to achieve successful soft landings on the lunar far side, with its Chang’e 4 and Chang’e 6 missions marking major milestones in robotic exploration. The nature of lunar exploration is also changing. In 2025, Firefly Aerospace became the first privately funded company to complete a successful Moon landing with its Blue Ghost M1 mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Failed Landings and Other Missions Even though achieving a soft, controlled landing is rare, there have been many more lunar missions by other countries. Here are two recent missions that attempted soft landings but failed: Israel: The country’s Beresheet mission successfully entered lunar orbit in 2019, but ended with a crash landing. Russia: In its first attempt since the dissolution of the USSR, Russia’s Luna 25 mission crash landed in 2023. Russia is expected to have another go with Luna 27 in 2029-2030. Meanwhile, several other countries and agencies have completed successful non-landing missions to the Moon, including Pakistan, Canada, Italy, the European Space Agency, and South Korea. Private companies have also become more active in lunar exploration. Future Attempts The race to join the Moon landing club is far from over. Several countries, along with a growing number of private companies, are developing lunar missions as governments and businesses prepare for a new era of Moon exploration tied to scientific research, resource prospecting, and future crewed missions. Not every mission reaches the launch pad. For example, Canada’s planned lunar rover mission targeting 2029 was cancelled in March 2026, illustrating just how technically and financially challenging lunar exploration remains.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Which U.S. States Have the Most Vehicles Per 1,000 People? Key Takeaways Montana has 2,174 registered vehicles per 1,000 residents, making it the only state with more than two vehicles per person. Great Plains states dominate the top of the ranking, with South Dakota, Wyoming, and North Dakota all above 1,300 vehicles per 1,000 people. The U.S. averages 875 registered highway vehicles per 1,000 people, according to 2024 federal data. Americans have nearly 298 million registered highway vehicles, but some states have far more vehicles than residents, while others have fewer than one vehicle for every person. This map highlights the number of registered highway vehicles in each state per 1,000 people, using official 2024 highway data sourced from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The differences reflect a mix of population density, commercial fleet registrations, and the types of vehicles counted in federal registration data. Montana: More Than Two Cars Per Person Montana is the nation’s biggest outlier, with 2,174 registered highway vehicles per 1,000 residents. In total, the state recorded nearly 2.5 million vehicles in 2024, despite having a population of just 1.1 million people. The following data table lists states by their per-capita vehicle rates in 2024. RankStateVehicles Per 1,000 People 1Montana2,174 2South Dakota1,518 3Wyoming1,495 4North Dakota1,357 5Iowa1,194 6Alabama1,095 7Arkansas1,087 8New York1,049 9Vermont1,038 10Minnesota1,024 11Idaho1,015 12Oregon997 13Kentucky995 14Nebraska992 15Tennessee990 16Louisiana987 17New Hampshire987 18Wisconsin980 19Ohio958 20Michigan951 21Washington948 22Alaska927 23South Carolina923 24Utah916 25New Mexico908 26Virginia905 27Oklahoma905 28Arizona886 29Hawaii885 30Colorado881 31Indiana880 32United States875 33Missouri868 34Maine857 35Florida847 36West Virginia837 37Georgia831 38Illinois830 39Pennsylvania813 40North Carolina802 41Maryland795 42California786 43Connecticut765 44Rhode Island755 45Texas754 46Mississippi751 47Nevada734 48Massachusetts714 49Kansas677 50New Jersey658 51District of Columbia438 52Delaware426 Montanans do not necessarily have two to three vehicles apiece. Instead, several factors help explain how the state became such an outlier. For one, a lack of sales tax makes the state attractive to many businesses registering commercial vehicle fleets, including businesses from outside Montana. This is especially relevant given the state’s large trucking, logging, mining, and agricultural sectors. Notably, over 60% of the vehicles on Montana’s highways are trucks. There’s also the trailer component: livestock, RV, and utility trailers are all counted as vehicles under Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) registration. Montana had nearly as many trailers on its highways in 2024 as passenger cars. The Great Plains and the City Part of the Montana story is also a broader regional divide between larger, more rural states in the country’s interior and more densely populated coastal states. States like North Dakota (1,357) and South Dakota (1,518) are characterized by smaller towns separated by longer distances, making driving, especially on highways, a practical necessity. This pattern appears across the Great Plains, including in Montana, Iowa (1,194), and Wyoming (1,495). On the other end of the spectrum are denser, more urbanized states where people have more transportation options. For example, the Northeast corridor links cities like Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia through passenger rail and other transit options, reducing the need for household vehicle ownership. The same applies in New York (1,049), where car ownership costs are high in the country’s largest city, as well as in Washington, D.C. (438). Delaware (426), a small and heavily urbanized state, has the lowest per-capita vehicle rate in the country. Learn More on the Voronoi App What’s the carbon footprint of some of this trucking traffic? Learn more with Road transport makes up most of the carbon footprint of food miles on Voronoi.

Published 8 hours ago on July 7, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Jennifer West Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Hinrich Foundation The Leading Producers of Space Race Materials The modern space race depends on far more than rockets and launch pads. Satellites, spacecraft, and launch vehicles all rely on a steady supply of critical minerals, metals, gases, and fuels sourced from around the world. This visualization, created in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation, shows the leading producers of the materials powering the space race, highlighting the countries shaping one of the world’s most strategic supply chains. China Leads the Space Race Materials Supply Chain China is the largest producer of four of the eight materials shown. It accounts for the production of 99% of gallium, 78% of graphite, 70% of titanium, and 69% of global rare earth elements. Top Producers Mineral/Commodity123 Rare Earth Elements China U.S. Australia % share69.2%13.1%7.4% Gallium China Russia Japan % share99.0%0.7%0.3% Titanium China Japan Russia % share70.3%14.3%6.8% Graphite China Madagascar Tanzania % share77.8%4.4%4.2% Helium & Rare Gases U.S. Qatar Russia % share42.6%33.2%9.5% Rhenium Chile China Poland % share37.0%24.7%12.3% Beryllium U.S. Brazil China % share53.5%18.6%17.9% Oil U.S. Saudi Arabia Russia % share21.5%10.9%10.6% These materials underpin today’s space technologies. Rare earth elements power high-performance magnets used in satellites. Gallium is essential for semiconductors and solar cells. Graphite is used in rocket components and batteries, while titanium provides the lightweight strength needed for aerospace applications. The Space Race Extends Beyond Mining China’s advantage doesn’t stop at production. It also dominates the processing and refining of many critical minerals, including rare earth elements, graphite, and gallium. China plays an outsized role across the global supply chain—even when other countries mine the raw materials. In many cases, countries rely on China not just for the minerals themselves, but also for the refined materials needed to manufacture space technologies. Other Countries Powering the Space Economy China isn’t the only major supplier. The United States produces 43% of the world’s helium and rare gases and 54% of global beryllium, both critical inputs for spacecraft and satellites. Rocket manufacturers use helium for testing and manufacturing, while aerospace engineers rely on beryllium for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Elsewhere, Chile accounts for 37% of global rhenium production, a metal used in heat-resistant rocket and jet engines. The United States also leads global oil production, supplying the fuel that powers many of today’s launches. Critical Materials Are Becoming a Battleground As governments and private companies accelerate investment in the space race, competition is expanding beyond launch capability to the materials that make those launches possible. Production of many critical materials is highly concentrated, while refining is even more so. As countries work to secure resilient supply chains, access to these resources is becoming a strategic advantage—and a new front in the global space race. Visit the Hinrich Foundation to learn more about space dominance and its importance in global trade. You may also like Economy3 weeks ago Mapped: The World’s Space Launch Sites (2016-2026) The U.S. leads the world in space launch activity, but China is rapidly closing the gap. See the sites behind the orbital launches since 2016. Economy1 month ago Charted: Annual Space Launches by Superpowers (1957–2025) From the Cold War to today’s “third space age,” launch data shows the U.S. still leading, while China is rapidly and consistently accelerating its space ambitions. Economy2 months ago Ranked: Top 12 Countries with Digital Trade Agreements As digital trade expands, governments are moving quickly to set the rules that govern how it operates. Economy3 months ago Ranked: The Fastest-Growing Major Economies in 2025 & 2026 As the global economy adjusts elevated levels of geopolitical uncertainty, growth is becoming increasingly uneven, with India leading the charge. Environment5 months ago Which Economies Have the Largest Ecological Footprints? The Ecological Footprint reveals how consumption strains the planet. Which countries leave the biggest mark? Economy6 months ago How Balanced Is Economic Growth Within Countries? Levels of economic development differ not only from one country to another, but also dramatically within their own borders. Which countries lead versus lag? Markets8 months ago Ranked: Number of Trade Agreements Across 30 Economies Based on data from the World Trade Organization, which countries have the highest and lowest number of trade agreements? Markets9 months ago Ranked: The World’s Most Sustainable Economies in 2025 Based on the Hinrich Foundation’s 2025 Sustainable Trade Index, which economies are the most and least sustainable? Economy9 months ago Ranked: Countries Losing the Most (and Least) from Trump’s Tariffs Trump’s tariffs affect all major U.S. trading partners, but what matters is how each country’s tariffs compare to its competitors. Economy11 months ago Charting How U.S. Tariffs Will Hit Key Products U.S. tariffs have climbed to an average rate of 18.6%—the highest since 1933. But what does this mean for everyday consumers? Economy1 year ago Breaking Down the $450 Billion of Trade Destruction from U.S. Tariffs The UN has crunched the numbers projecting the ripple effects of Trump’s May 12th tariffs. Which economies are bracing for the biggest hits? Economy1 year ago Ranked: America’s Services Trade Balances America’s goods trade deficits have dominated headlines, but a critical part of the equation is being ignored: services trade. AI1 year ago Visualized: All of the World’s Data More data will be created, captured, and replicated in the next three years than in the rest of human history. But by how much? Economy1 year ago Visualized: The Growing Opportunities in Global Trade Careers Visual Capitalist has partnered with the Hinrich Foundation to explore the landscape of global trade and find out what students and trade professionals can do to… Green1 year ago Ranked: CO₂ Emissions Per Person in 30 Economies CO₂ emissions are reshaping the flows of international trade. Which countries have the highest and lowest CO₂ emissions per capita? Healthcare1 year ago Mapped: Life Expectancy in Major Economies Which countries have the highest and lowest life expectancies at birth? Markets2 years ago Ranked: Government Debt Across Major Economies Based on data from the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, which countries have the highest and lowest government debt ratios? Markets2 years ago Ranked: The World’s Most Sustainable Economies in 2024 Based on the Hinrich Foundation’s 2024 Sustainable Trade Index, which economies are the most and least sustainable? Oil and Gas2 years ago How Oil Is Adding Fuel to Geopolitical Fragmentation Which countries and regions decreased, banned, or increased Russian oil imports following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine? Politics2 years ago The Start of De-Dollarization: China’s Gradual Move Away from the USD The de-dollarization of China’s trade settlements has begun. What patterns do we see in USD and RMB use within China and globally? Politics2 years ago The Bloc Effect: International Trade with Geopolitical Allies on the Rise Rising geopolitical tensions are shaping the future of international trade, but what is the effect on trading among G7 and BRICS countries? Green2 years ago Ranked: Resource Dependency Across 30 Major Economies High resource dependency in trade makes countries more susceptible to market fluctuations and climate change. Misc3 years ago Visualizing the Global Education Gap This graphic adds visual context to the global education gap, using data from 29 major economies. Money3 years ago Ranking the Credit Ratings of Major Economies This graphic visualizes 30 country’s credit ratings, using data from the 2023 Sustainable Trade Index. Economy3 years ago Ranked: The World’s Most Sustainable Economies in 2023 The Sustainable Trade Index 2023 is an annual ranking of the world’s most sustainable economies. View this infographic to see the results. Economy3 years ago Visualizing the Impact of the G20’s Corporate Subsidies The Hinrich Foundation visualizes the impact of corporate subsidies by G20 nations between 2008 and Q1 2023. Economy3 years ago Economic Coercion: China’s Leverage in Trade The Hinrich Foundation explores China’s use of economic coercion and the implications of its control over the solar energy sector. Politics3 years ago Ranking the Trade Policies of the G20 We analyze recent trade policies implemented by G20 members to determine whether they are liberalizing or harmful. Green3 years ago Global Carbon Markets: Highlights from the Latest Report We highlight key findings from the Hinrich Foundation’s latest report on carbon markets, produced in partnership with Visual Capitalist. Green3 years ago Ranked: Air Pollution by Economy Which economies have hazy air, and which ones enjoy mostly clear skies? Find out in this geographic breakdown of air pollution levels. Politics3 years ago Mapped: Geopolitical Risk by Economy Prior to invading Ukraine, Russia had one of the highest levels of geopolitical risk. How does geopolitical uncertainty vary around the world? Economy3 years ago Ranked: Harmful Tariffs by Economy The U.S. has by far the most harmful tariffs, with nearly 5,000 in force. Which economy has the least tariffs? Business4 years ago Interested in a Career in Global Trade? Global trade is growing across regions and countries which is creating an explosion in new jobs and education opportunities. Economy4 years ago Introducing the 2022 Sustainable Trade Index See which economies have the most sustainable trade policies in the Hinrich Foundation’s 2022 Sustainable Trade Index. Economy4 years ago Global Trade Series: Fragmentation in the Digital Economy In this infographic, we examine the current state of digital fragmentation and it’s implications on the world.  Economy4 years ago Global Trade Series: Asia’s Digital Economy Asia’s digital economy is expanding quicker than ever, but cooperation between governments is needed to reduce barriers. Economy4 years ago Global Trade Series: The Benefits of Free Trade Free trade is a powerful engine for economic growth, but rising protectionism stands in the way. See what the data says in this infographic. Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization How America’s Wealth Distribution Has Changed Since 1989 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 top 1% of U.S. households now own 31.9% of all household wealth, more than the combined share of the bottom 90%. Over the last 36 years, every wealth segment outside of the top 1% lost share, while the top 1% saw its share increase. Wealth reflects the value of everything households own, including homes, stocks, businesses, and savings, minus what they owe. Because different wealth groups own very different mixes of assets, long-term market trends can reshape how the nation’s wealth is divided. This graphic tracks how U.S. household wealth has shifted across wealth groups from Q3 1989 to Q4 2025 using data from the Federal Reserve’s Distributional Financial Accounts. Wealth of the Top 1% vs. the Bottom 90% The table below shows how the wealth distribution has changed over the last 35 years: U.S. Wealth SegmentShare of Total Household Net Worth (Q3 1989)Share of Total Household Net Worth (Q4 2025)Change (Percentage Points) Top 0.1%8.6%14.5%+5.9 points Top 1.0% (excl. top 0.1%)14.2%17.4%+3.2 points Top 10% (excl. top 1%)38.0%36.4%-1.6 points Upper Middle 40%35.7%29.2%-6.5 points Bottom 50%3.5%2.5%-1.0 points The top 1% built its wealth primarily through stocks and businesses, assets that have soared in value for decades. In fact, every group below the top 1% has lost share since 1989: even the next 9% of households, from the 90th to 99th percentiles, slipped from 38.0% to 36.4%. Wealth further down the ladder is tied mostly to the family home, which appreciates far more slowly than the stock market. Much of the bottom 50%’s net worth is home equity, and many households in that group have little or no net worth at all. That’s why the gap between the top and the bottom has widened over the last 36 years. How Markets Move Each Group’s Share Market swings move each group’s share differently, depending on the assets its households own. Every boom rewards whoever holds financial assets, and those gains compound: between 1989 and 2025, the top 0.1% increased its share of household wealth from 8.6% to 14.5%, while the top 1% as a whole climbed from 22.8% to 31.9%. Busts fall hardest on those with the least cushion. The 2008 housing crash crushed the value of ordinary households’ main asset, and the bottom 50%’s share eventually fell to a record low of 0.4% before recovering to 2.5% today. Over the full period, no group lost more ground than the upper-middle 40%, households between the 50th and 90th percentiles, whose share slid from 35.7% to 29.2% as home values trailed the stock market. Wealth Distribution by Income Segment (1989-2025) See all the data for the last 36 years below: Time PeriodTop 0.1%Top 1% (excl. top 0.1%)Top 10% (excl. top 1%)Upper-Middle 40% (excl. top 10%)Bottom 50% Q3 19898.6%14.2%38.0%35.7%3.5% Q4 19898.7%14.2%37.9%35.7%3.4% Q1 19908.6%14.1%37.7%36.1%3.5% Q2 19908.7%14.2%37.6%36.1%3.4% Q3 19908.5%14.0%37.3%36.7%3.5% Q4 19908.7%14.1%37.2%36.4%3.6% Q1 19918.9%14.2%37.0%36.3%3.5% Q2 19918.8%14.2%36.9%36.5%3.5% Q3 19918.8%14.3%36.6%36.6%3.7% Q4 19919.1%14.4%36.5%36.3%3.7% Q1 19929.0%14.4%36.3%36.5%3.8% Q2 19928.9%14.3%36.3%36.7%3.8% Q3 19928.9%14.1%36.2%36.7%4.1% Q4 19929.2%14.3%36.1%36.4%4.0% Q1 19939.5%14.5%36.1%36.1%3.8% Q2 19939.6%14.5%36.0%36.1%3.8% Q3 19939.8%14.7%35.7%36.0%3.8% Q4 199310.1%14.8%35.6%35.8%3.7% Q1 199410.2%14.9%35.5%35.9%3.5% Q2 199410.3%15.0%35.3%35.9%3.4% Q3 199410.5%15.1%35.0%35.9%3.5% Q4 199410.8%15.2%34.8%35.7%3.5% Q1 199510.9%15.4%34.7%35.5%3.5% Q2 199511.1%15.6%34.2%35.5%3.6% Q3 199511.4%15.9%33.9%35.1%3.7% Q4 199511.5%15.9%34.0%34.9%3.6% Q1 199611.5%15.9%34.2%35.0%3.5% Q2 199611.4%15.9%34.2%35.1%3.4% Q3 199611.3%15.8%34.3%35.2%3.4% Q4 199611.4%15.8%34.5%35.0%3.4% Q1 199711.2%15.7%34.6%35.0%3.4% Q2 199711.4%15.9%34.7%34.6%3.4% Q3 199711.4%15.9%34.8%34.4%3.4% Q4 199711.5%16.0%35.0%34.2%3.3% Q1 199811.7%16.1%35.1%33.8%3.3% Q2 199811.7%16.1%35.2%33.8%3.2% Q3 199811.2%15.9%35.1%34.3%3.5% Q4 199811.5%16.2%35.4%33.6%3.3% Q1 199911.2%16.2%35.5%33.7%3.4% Q2 199911.3%16.4%35.6%33.5%3.2% Q3 199911.0%16.3%35.6%33.8%3.3% Q4 199911.3%16.6%35.9%32.9%3.2% Q1 200011.2%16.7%35.9%33.0%3.2% Q2 200010.9%16.6%35.9%33.4%3.2% Q3 200010.7%16.6%35.8%33.6%3.3% Q4 200010.4%16.4%35.8%34.2%3.2% Q1 20019.9%16.2%35.7%35.0%3.2% Q2 20019.9%16.3%35.8%34.9%3.1% Q3 20019.6%16.0%35.8%35.6%3.1% Q4 20019.7%16.2%35.9%35.3%3.0% Q1 20029.6%16.2%36.0%35.3%3.0% Q2 20029.4%16.2%36.0%35.5%2.9% Q3 20029.0%16.0%36.0%36.0%3.0% Q4 20029.0%16.1%36.0%36.0%2.9% Q1 20038.8%16.0%36.2%36.1%2.8% Q2 20039.2%16.2%36.5%35.5%2.6% Q3 20039.2%16.3%36.5%35.3%2.6% Q4 20039.5%16.5%36.6%34.8%2.6% Q1 20049.9%16.7%36.5%34.4%2.5% Q2 20049.9%16.7%36.5%34.3%2.6% Q3 200410.0%16.8%36.5%34.2%2.5% Q4 200410.2%16.8%36.6%33.9%2.5% Q1 200510.2%16.7%36.7%33.9%2.5% Q2 200510.4%16.8%36.9%33.6%2.4% Q3 200510.5%16.8%36.9%33.3%2.5% Q4 200510.5%16.7%36.9%33.3%2.5% Q1 200611.0%16.9%37.1%32.6%2.4% Q2 200611.0%16.8%37.2%32.6%2.4% Q3 200611.1%16.9%37.3%32.4%2.4% Q4 200611.3%16.9%37.4%32.0%2.3% Q1 200711.6%17.0%37.6%31.6%2.2% Q2 200711.7%17.0%37.8%31.3%2.1% Q3 200711.9%17.1%38.0%31.0%2.0% Q4 200711.8%17.0%38.3%31.2%1.7% Q1 200811.6%16.9%38.5%31.5%1.5% Q2 200811.4%17.0%38.6%31.5%1.5% Q3 200811.2%17.0%38.9%31.9%1.2% Q4 200810.6%17.1%38.8%32.5%1.0% Q1 200910.3%17.1%39.0%32.9%0.7% Q2 200910.3%17.3%39.2%32.5%0.7% Q3 200910.6%17.5%39.4%31.9%0.7% Q4 200910.5%17.6%39.6%31.8%0.6% Q1 201010.6%17.6%39.7%31.6%0.5% Q2 201010.5%17.6%39.9%31.5%0.5% Q3 201010.8%17.7%40.0%31.0%0.5% Q4 201011.0%17.8%40.1%30.7%0.4% Q1 201111.3%17.9%40.0%30.5%0.4% Q2 201111.3%17.8%39.9%30.5%0.4% Q3 201111.1%17.7%39.8%31.0%0.4% Q4 201111.3%17.7%39.8%30.8%0.4% Q1 201211.5%17.9%39.7%30.4%0.4% Q2 201211.6%17.8%39.6%30.5%0.6% Q3 201211.8%17.8%39.5%30.3%0.6% Q4 201211.8%17.8%39.4%30.3%0.7% Q1 201312.0%17.8%39.4%30.2%0.7% Q2 201312.0%17.6%39.4%30.2%0.8% Q3 201312.1%17.6%39.3%30.1%0.9% Q4 201312.2%17.6%39.4%30.0%0.9% Q1 201412.3%17.7%39.4%29.7%0.9% Q2 201412.5%17.9%39.3%29.3%1.0% Q3 201412.5%17.9%39.3%29.3%1.0% Q4 201412.6%18.0%39.4%29.1%1.0% Q1 201512.6%18.0%39.3%28.9%1.0% Q2 201512.7%18.1%39.4%28.8%1.1% Q3 201512.5%18.0%39.4%29.0%1.1% Q4 201512.5%18.1%39.3%28.9%1.2% Q1 201612.5%18.1%39.3%28.9%1.2% Q2 201612.6%18.2%39.4%28.7%1.2% Q3 201612.6%18.2%39.2%28.7%1.3% Q4 201612.5%18.2%39.2%28.8%1.3% Q1 201712.5%18.2%39.3%28.7%1.3% Q2 201712.5%18.2%39.3%28.6%1.4% Q3 201712.5%18.2%39.3%28.6%1.4% Q4 201712.5%18.3%39.3%28.4%1.4% Q1 201812.4%18.2%39.3%28.6%1.5% Q2 201812.3%18.2%39.4%28.5%1.6% Q3 201812.4%18.3%39.5%28.4%1.5% Q4 201811.9%18.1%39.6%28.8%1.6% Q1 201912.3%18.3%39.7%28.1%1.6% Q2 201912.3%18.3%39.7%28.2%1.6% Q3 201912.1%18.3%39.7%28.2%1.7% Q4 201912.4%18.2%39.5%28.2%1.7% Q1 202011.7%17.5%39.3%29.6%1.8% Q2 202012.3%17.6%38.9%29.3%2.0% Q3 202012.5%17.5%38.6%29.3%2.1% Q4 202013.0%17.6%38.3%29.0%2.2% Q1 202113.2%17.5%37.9%29.1%2.3% Q2 202113.4%17.4%37.6%29.2%2.3% Q3 202113.5%17.3%37.4%29.4%2.4% Q4 202113.7%17.2%37.2%29.4%2.4% Q1 202213.6%16.9%36.9%30.1%2.5% Q2 202213.1%16.3%36.5%31.3%2.7% Q3 202213.2%16.3%36.4%31.4%2.7% Q4 202213.4%16.5%36.5%31.0%2.6% Q1 202313.5%16.6%36.5%30.8%2.6% Q2 202313.5%16.6%36.4%30.9%2.6% Q3 202313.4%16.5%36.4%31.1%2.5% Q4 202313.6%16.7%36.5%30.7%2.5% Q1 202413.7%16.8%36.5%30.5%2.5% Q2 202413.7%16.8%36.4%30.6%2.5% Q3 202414.0%16.9%36.5%30.2%2.4% Q4 202414.0%17.0%36.4%30.1%2.5% Q1 202513.9%16.9%36.4%30.3%2.5% Q2 202514.1%17.1%36.4%30.1%2.5% Q3 202514.4%17.3%36.4%29.4%2.5% Q4 202514.5%17.4%36.4%29.2%2.5% Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Global Wealth Pyramid in 2025 on Voronoi.

Use This Visualization Mapped: Where Unemployment Is Rising Fastest in America See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Unemployment has increased in more than half of U.S. states since January 2025, though changes vary widely across the country. Connecticut recorded the largest increase, while Florida also saw one of the sharpest rises as hiring cooled. The Midwest bucked the national trend, led by falling unemployment in Indiana and Ohio. Labor markets are diverging across the United States. Since January 2025, unemployment has risen in more than half of states, while key regional clusters have moved in the opposite direction. Cooling housing markets have weighed on labor demand in Florida and Arizona. Meanwhile, parts of the Midwest have proved more resilient, supported by a diverse industrial base. This map shows how unemployment rates changed across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. between January 2025 and May 2026, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment Changes by State The table below ranks every state by the change in its unemployment rate since 2025. State or DistrictUnemployment RateJan 2025Unemployment RateMay 2026Change (Percentage Points) Connecticut3.3%5.1%+1.8 Delaware3.6%5.1%+1.5 Maryland3.0%4.4%+1.4 Minnesota3.0%4.4%+1.4 Florida3.5%4.8%+1.3 Washington4.3%5.2%+0.9 Arizona3.9%4.8%+0.9 District of Columbia5.3%6.1%+0.8 Oklahoma3.3%4.1%+0.8 Oregon4.4%5.2%+0.8 Virginia3.0%3.8%+0.8 Arkansas3.6%4.2%+0.6 Montana2.8%3.4%+0.6 New Mexico4.4%4.9%+0.5 Utah3.2%3.7%+0.5 Pennsylvania3.8%4.2%+0.4 Massachusetts4.2%4.5%+0.3 South Carolina4.3%4.6%+0.3 West Virginia4.0%4.3%+0.3 South Dakota1.9%2.1%+0.2 Texas4.1%4.3%+0.2 Mississippi3.6%3.8%+0.2 Wisconsin3.2%3.4%+0.2 Illinois4.9%5.1%+0.2 New York4.4%4.6%+0.2 New Jersey4.6%4.7%+0.1 Nebraska2.9%3.0%+0.1 New Hampshire2.9%3.0%+0.1 Missouri3.7%3.8%+0.1 Kansas3.8%3.8%+0.0 Louisiana4.5%4.5%+0.0 North Carolina3.7%3.7%+0.0 Vermont2.6%2.6%+0.0 Iowa3.3%3.2%-0.1 Idaho3.8%3.7%-0.1 Tennessee3.7%3.6%-0.1 Alaska4.7%4.6%-0.1 California5.4%5.3%-0.1 Georgia3.6%3.4%-0.2 Michigan5.3%5.1%-0.2 North Dakota2.6%2.4%-0.2 Wyoming3.6%3.4%-0.2 Alabama3.3%3.0%-0.3 Rhode Island4.6%4.3%-0.3 Maine3.5%3.1%-0.4 Hawaii3.0%2.5%-0.5 Nevada5.8%5.2%-0.6 Kentucky5.3%4.5%-0.8 Colorado4.7%3.9%-0.8 Ohio4.6%3.7%-0.9 Indiana4.4%3.3%-1.1 U.S. Average4.0%4.3%+0.3 Connecticut saw the sharpest increase in unemployment, with its jobless rate climbing 1.8 percentage points to 5.1% in May. Delaware, Maryland, and Minnesota followed, with each recording unemployment rates above the U.S. average of 4.3%. California, meanwhile, saw unemployment edge slightly lower. Despite the improvement, its 5.3% jobless rate remained among the highest in the nation amid subdued hiring across the tech and entertainment sectors. Why Some States Are Cooling Faster Than Others The biggest increases weren’t concentrated in a single region, but several states tied to the post-pandemic growth boom are losing momentum. Florida saw one of the largest jumps, with unemployment rising 1.3 percentage points over the period. Arizona and Washington also posted notable increases, while Texas saw unemployment edge up 0.2 percentage points. Part of the shift reflects the same industries that powered growth in recent years. States lifted by rapid population growth, housing construction, tourism, and consumer spending are now more exposed as elevated interest rates weigh on real estate activity and households pull back on discretionary spending. The Midwest Sees Momentum The strongest labor market improvements weren’t found in the states with the biggest or fastest-growing economies. Instead, they were concentrated across the Midwest. Indiana posted the nation’s largest decline in unemployment, followed by Ohio. Neighboring Kentucky and Michigan also recorded lower jobless rates, bucking the trend seen across much of the Sun Belt and Northeast. The region has benefited from a broad industrial base, with advanced manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare helping support employment. Indiana has continued to see strength in pharmaceutical manufacturing, while Ohio has attracted billions in reshoring and advanced manufacturing investment. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the best college degrees for finding a job.

Use This Visualization Where Americans Still Tip 20% (and Where They Don’t) Key Takeaways: The average restaurant tip in America has fallen to 18.8%, suggesting that the long-standing 20% benchmark is no longer the norm. Delaware leads the country with an average tip of 22.1%, while California ranks last at 17.3%. Full-service restaurants receive much larger gratuities than quick-service restaurants, averaging 19.3% versus 15.8%. For decades, a 20% tip has been viewed as the standard for dining out in America. But according to new data from Toast, diners now leave an average gratuity of just 18.8%, suggesting that benchmark is becoming less common. Based on millions of digital restaurant transactions across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the data reveals where Americans tip the most, where they tip the least, and how gratuity habits differ between full-service and quick-service restaurants. America’s Best (and Worst) Tippers Below is the average restaurant tip by state, based on Toast’s transaction data. RankState or DistrictOverallFSRQSR 1Delaware22.1%22.5%18.8% 2West Virginia21.0%21.4%18.9% 3New Hampshire20.9%21.7%15.5% 4Wyoming20.7%20.9%19.0% 5Ohio20.7%21.1%17.7% 6Indiana20.7%21.1%17.0% 7Kentucky20.6%20.9%18.0% 8Maine20.5%21.3%15.9% 9Wisconsin20.2%20.5%17.6% 10South Carolina20.2%20.6%16.8% 11Pennsylvania20.2%20.7%16.3% 12Rhode Island20.1%21.1%14.6% 13Montana20.1%20.7%17.3% 14Iowa20.1%20.4%17.4% 15Michigan20.0%20.6%15.9% 16Nebraska19.9%20.3%16.7% 17South Dakota19.8%20.1%17.1% 18Missouri19.8%20.2%16.9% 19Kansas19.8%20.4%15.5% 20Vermont19.6%20.2%16.7% 21Massachusetts19.6%20.3%15.0% 22Minnesota19.5%20.0%16.0% 23Idaho19.5%20.1%16.2% 24Tennessee19.4%20.0%16.3% 25Oklahoma19.4%19.8%16.6% 26North Dakota19.4%19.8%17.0% 27North Carolina19.4%19.8%16.9% 28Maryland19.4%19.7%15.9% 29Connecticut19.4%19.9%15.2% 30Colorado19.4%19.9%16.8% 31Alaska19.3%19.5%17.1% 32Alabama19.3%19.9%16.3% 33Virginia19.2%19.7%15.6% 34Oregon19.2%19.7%17.4% 35Arizona19.2%19.7%15.7% 36Illinois19.1%19.5%15.8% 37New Mexico19.0%19.4%17.1% 38Utah18.9%19.6%15.2% 39Arkansas18.9%19.3%15.8% 40Georgia18.8%19.1%16.0% 41New York18.7%19.1%15.3% 42New Jersey18.7%19.2%13.4% 43Mississippi18.7%19.0%16.4% 44Texas18.6%19.1%16.0% 45Hawaii18.6%19.0%15.7% 46Louisiana18.5%19.0%15.7% 47Florida18.3%18.6%15.4% 48Nevada18.2%18.6%15.8% 49Washington17.8%18.2%15.7% 50District of Columbia17.5%17.8%14.6% 51California17.3%17.7%14.8% Delaware tops the rankings with an average tip of 22.1%, followed by West Virginia (21.0%), New Hampshire (20.9%), and Indiana (20.7%). At the other end of the spectrum, California (17.3%), Washington, D.C. (17.5%), and Washington (17.8%), record the lowest average gratuities. One notable pattern is that several of the country’s highest-tipping states are relatively small by population. Delaware, West Virginia, New Hampshire, and Indiana all average more than 20.5%, suggesting generous tipping habits aren’t necessarily concentrated in America’s largest dining markets. Why Full-Service Restaurants Get Bigger Tips Not every restaurant experience comes with the same expectations. Full-service restaurants (FSRs) offer table service, where servers take orders, bring food, and check in throughout the meal. Quick-service restaurants (QSRs), meanwhile, typically rely on counter ordering, kiosks, or drive-thrus with limited staff interaction. The difference reflects how diners continue to distinguish between traditional table service and counter-service dining. While full-service restaurants receive an average tip of 19.3%, quick-service restaurants average just 15.8%, indicating that service level remains a major factor in how much customers choose to leave. Tipping Fatigue Continues to Fuel Debate The widening use of digital payment screens has expanded tipping requests well beyond traditional restaurants, prompting debate over when gratuities are appropriate. Many consumers say they’re experiencing “tip fatigue” as prompts appear at coffee shops, bakeries, self-checkout kiosks, and other businesses where tipping was once uncommon. Critics argue the American system places too much responsibility on customers to supplement workers’ incomes, while supporters contend tips remain essential because many restaurant employees still rely on them for a significant share of their earnings. The debate has even become an issue for international visitors, with reports that some travelers planning trips for major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup have expressed confusion over U.S. tipping expectations. Meanwhile, labor costs continue to evolve across the industry, alongside broader discussions around fast food wages across the United States and how restaurants balance rising expenses with customer expectations. Learn More on the Voronoi App Want to see how tipped workers are compensated across America? Check out U.S. States with the Highest Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees on the Voronoi app, where you can explore more data-driven stories through interactive visualizations.

Use This Visualization The World’s Most Profitable Companies, by Country Key Takeaways Over half of the 30 most profitable companies worldwide are based in the United States, with $1 trillion in annual profits. Alphabet is the world’s most profitable company as of 2026, with $160 billion in annual profit. Saudi Aramco’s $99 billion of profits is more than any other non-American firm worldwide. The world’s most profitable company is from the United States. As are the second-most, third-most, and in fact a majority of the top 30. This visualization uses the latest Forbes Global 2000 list to rank the world’s 30 most profitable companies as of 2026 based on their most recent 12-month financial results. Beyond the United States, top firms are overwhelmingly located in Asia, although the Swiss National Bank ($24 billion), Switzerland’s central bank, also makes an appearance. America: The Profit Center of the World Of the top 30 most profitable companies worldwide, 16 are based in the United States. This includes 80% of the top 10 and the top four, all of which are West Coast-headquartered technology firms. Google parent company Alphabet ($160 billion) leads in annual profits, followed by Microsoft ($125 billion), Apple ($123 billion), and NVIDIA ($120 billion). This data table lists the world’s most profitable companies in 2026 alongside their industry. RankNameSectorProfit (billions $) 1 AlphabetTechnology160.2 2 MicrosoftTechnology125.2 3 AppleTechnology122.6 4 NVIDIATechnology120.1 5 Saudi AramcoEnergy99.3 6 AmazonRetail90.8 7 Berkshire HathawayFinancials72.5 8 Meta PlatformsTechnology70.6 9 TSMCTechnology62.5 10 JPMorganChaseFinancials58.6 11 SamsungTechnology58.5 12 SK HynixTechnology52.7 13 ICBCFinancials51.3 14 China Construction BankFinancials48.2 15 Agricultural Bank of ChinaFinancials39.2 16 Bank of ChinaFinancials34.5 17 Tencent HoldingsTechnology33.1 18 SoftbankTechnology33.1 19 Bank of AmericaFinancials31.8 20 Toyota MotorAutos25.5 21 ExxonMobilEnergy25.3 22 Eli LillyHealth Care25.3 23 BroadcomTechnology25.0 24 Micron TechnologyTechnology24.1 25 Schweizerische NationalbankFinancials23.6 26 PetroChinaEnergy22.4 27 VisaFinancials22.0 28 WalmartRetail21.9 29 Wells FargoFinancials21.7 30 China Life InsuranceFinancials21.5 Beyond the tech firms, the U.S. is also home to the world’s largest retailers, including Amazon ($91 billion) and Walmart ($22 billion), as well as the most profitable finance companies, Berkshire Hathaway ($72 billion) and JPMorgan Chase ($59 billion). Generations of high-skilled immigration, coupled with favorable corporate tax rates and world-class universities, has made the U.S. the home of most of the world’s most profitable firms. In addition, many startups are able to access more financing in the U.S. than in nearly any other country worldwide, aiding them to grow at critical points to leapfrog competition. In sum: the country’s combination of capital and innovation allows it to maintain its edge. East Asia’s Corporate Behemoths Unsurprisingly, China is home to many of the most profitable non-U.S. firms, including massive state-backed banks like ICBC ($51 billion) and Bank of China ($35 billion) as well as tech or energy firms like Tencent ($33 billion) and PetroChina ($22 billion). The rest of East Asia’s major economies are well-represented too. Taiwan’s national champion TSMC ($62 billion), the world’s largest chip manufacturer, appears in the rankings, as do South Korean competitors like Samsung ($58 billion) and SK Hynix ($53 billion). In Japan, meanwhile, major tech-financial firm SoftBank ($33 billion) is followed closely by automaker giant Toyota ($26 billion). The Outlier in the Gulf Saudi Aramco is notable as the only non-American company ranked among the top five. The Saudi-owned oil company, which has the world’s largest oil reserves, brought in $99 billion in annual profits in the most recent fiscal year With oil production of nearly 13 million barrels per day, Saudi Aramco is a major player in the oil and gas business. The firm saw lower profits in 2025 than in prior years owing to a drop in crude oil prices. In 2026, meanwhile, it has needed to deal with the volatility of its primary oil production region as a result of the Iran War. Learn More on the Voronoi App Want to contextualize U.S. corporate profits over the last 35 years? Check out U.S. Corporate Profits Growth Rate (Quarterly, 1990–2025) on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Use This Visualization Women Over 40 Are Now Having More Babies Than Teenagers Key Takeaways Women ages 40 and older now have more babies than U.S. teenagers, reflecting a major shift in when Americans start families. Birth rates among women ages 40–49 increased 24% nationwide between 2015 and 2024. Washington, D.C., New York, and New Jersey recorded the nation’s highest birth rates among women ages 40–49. Americans are increasingly reaching major life milestones later than previous generations, and parenthood is no exception. While overall U.S. fertility rates have fallen for decades, births among women over 40 are moving in the opposite direction. Rising education levels, delayed marriage, and high housing costs have all contributed to a growing share of women waiting longer to have children. Using newly published research based on National Vital Statistics System data, this map shows where births among women ages 40–49 are most common across the country. Births After 40 Are Growing Nationwide For the first time, women over 40 are having more babies than teenagers. Since 1990, the share of U.S. births to women 40 and older has more than tripled, reaching 4.3% in 2025, while birth rates among women ages 40–49 rose 24% over the past decade. The table below highlights where births among women ages 40–49 were most common in 2024. Washington, D.C., recorded the highest rate in the nation at 13.6 births per 1,000 women, followed by New York, New Jersey, and Hawaii. StateBirths per 1,000 Women2015 (Ages 40-49)Births per 1,000 Women2024 (Ages 40-49)% Change District of Columbia13.113.64% New York8.310.527% New Jersey7.49.832% Hawaii8.69.713% California8.49.614% Maryland7.09.231% Massachusetts6.99.030% Connecticut6.08.542% Virginia6.38.027% Delaware5.07.856% Alaska5.87.733% Washington6.47.619% Florida5.87.529% Colorado6.17.320% Minnesota5.57.333% Rhode Island5.27.238% Illinois6.06.915% Texas5.96.815% Georgia5.36.523% Nebraska5.56.518% Nevada6.06.58% Utah6.46.52% Pennsylvania4.76.436% Oregon5.86.39% Vermont3.76.370% North Carolina4.66.235% Arizona5.76.17% Idaho5.26.117% New Hampshire4.26.043% South Dakota4.85.821% Maine3.55.763% North Dakota4.55.727% South Carolina4.15.739% Wisconsin4.35.630% Tennessee3.85.545% Indiana4.05.435% Kansas4.65.417% Iowa4.05.333% Michigan4.25.326% Montana4.95.38% Ohio4.05.230% New Mexico4.35.119% Louisiana3.95.028% Missouri3.74.932% Kentucky3.44.635% Alabama3.14.545% Oklahoma4.04.513% Wyoming4.44.52% Arkansas3.34.330% Mississippi2.83.836% West Virginia2.93.314% U.S. Average5.87.224% Many of the highest-ranking states are both highly educated and expensive, with steep housing costs increasingly delaying homeownership and parenthood. By contrast, Southern states account for seven of the 10 lowest birth rates among women in their 40s, including West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Still, most have seen double-digit growth since 2015, highlighting how later parenthood is rising even in lower-rate states. How Education Is Reshaping America’s Birth Rates The average age of first-time mothers reached a record 27.5 years in 2023, rising from 21 in 1972. Compared with previous decades, Americans are also spending more years in higher education. With more time spent attaining degrees and advancing their careers, women are increasingly deferring childbirth into their 30s and 40s. Researchers have also found that older parents often bring greater financial resources. Studies suggest that children of older mothers perform better on math and behavioral assessments, largely due to higher levels of parental education and income rather than age itself. Later Parenthood Is Becoming More Visible Births after 40 remain uncommon compared with women in their 20s or 30s. Yet their rapid growth highlights how much the timeline of adulthood has changed. Previous generations often married, purchased homes, and started families in their 20s. Today, many Americans spend longer pursuing education, building careers, and saving for housing before reaching those milestones. As those timelines shift, later parenthood is becoming a more visible part of the American family landscape. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the cost of raising a child in every state.

Use This Visualization Ranked: The 50 Highest-Paid Creators in 2026 Key Takeaways: Forbes estimates the world’s 50 highest-earning creators made a combined $1.02 billion between March 2025 and March 2026. MrBeast led the ranking with an estimated $300 million, earning roughly 4.6 times more than second-place Dhar Mann. The list spans entertainers, educators, gamers, podcasters, and business creators, reflecting the growing diversity of the creator economy. From YouTubers to podcasters and educators, today’s biggest creators are building businesses that extend far beyond social media. Many now generate revenue from consumer brands, subscriptions, live events, licensing, and other ventures alongside their online content. Forbes’ Top Creators 2026 ranking measures that evolution using estimated earnings, audience size, engagement, and entrepreneurial success. The result is a snapshot of how digital creators are becoming some of the most influential media entrepreneurs in the world. The World’s Highest-Earning Creators Here’s a look at the biggest earners in the creator economy, based on the latest rankings. RankCreatorMarch 2025 to March 2026 Estimated Earnings ($M)Followers (Millions) 1MrBeast300873.0 2Dhar Mann65171.0 3Steven Bartlett5238.7 4Markiplier3876.8 5Rhett & Link3745.6 6Codie Sanchez3110.0 7IShowSpeed30184.0 8Mark Rober3090.7 9Ms. Rachel2634.2 10Jesser2554.9 11MrBallen2431.4 12Druski2038.5 13Charli D'Amelio18209.8 14Jacksepticeye1848.9 15Adam W17.367.2 16Rebecca Zamolo1545.3 17Jake Shane146.0 18Nick DiGiovanni1465.4 19Brent Rivera13.7120.8 20Typical Gamer1331.6 21Stokes Twins12.4177.5 22Jordan The Stallion12.449.1 23Alix Earle1214.5 24Marques Brownlee10.933.6 25Alan Chikin Chow10.5131.4 26Ashton Hall1038.1 27Khaby Lame9.9252.1 28James Dumoulin9.923.2 29Haley Baylee9.637.4 30Mikayla Nogueira921.8 31Vivian Tu8.210.7 32Dani Austin8.13.8 33Tana Mongeau822.8 34Nara Smith7.517.3 35Nurse John7.219.2 36Leah Kateb7.111.4 37Dixie D'Amelio772.9 38Erika Kullberg6.821.0 39Lexi Rivera6.756.3 40Josh Richards634.7 41Hannah Stocking5.874.4 42Katie Fang5.48.2 43Brooke Monk5.272.2 44Anwar Jibawi583.9 45Anna Sitar4.427.7 46iJustine3.412.9 47Tini Younger316.3 48Drew Afualo2.713.4 49Steven He229.6 50Logan Moffitt1.310.6 The ranking reveals a winner-take-most creator economy. MrBeast sits in a league of his own, while the gap between the remaining top creators is much narrower. MrBeast’s Empire Continues to Expand Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, earned $300 million over the year measured. His income is roughly 4.6 times higher than second-place creator Dhar Mann and accounts for nearly 30% of the combined earnings of the entire Top 50. Much of that success comes from building businesses beyond YouTube itself. Beast Industries now spans viral entertainment, consumer products, food brands, and large-scale productions, transforming what began as a YouTube channel into a diversified media company. YouTube Still Leads the Creator Economy Although today’s biggest personalities publish across multiple platforms, YouTube remains the foundation for many of the highest earners. Long-form video provides opportunities to build loyal audiences that can later support podcasts, merchandise, subscription businesses, consumer brands, and licensing deals. TikTok, however, continues to close the gap. Creators like Charli D’Amelio, Khaby Lame, Alix Earle, Jordan The Stallion, and Alan Chikin Chow have expanded beyond viral videos into beauty brands, television projects, live events, licensing deals, and major advertising campaigns. The result is an industry where creators increasingly resemble modern media companies rather than individual influencers. Why Brands Are Investing More in Creators Consumers, particularly younger audiences, increasingly discover products and entertainment through creators rather than traditional advertising Audiences view creators as more authentic and relatable than celebrities, making recommendations feel more trustworthy and personal. At the same time, brands gain measurable engagement and direct access to highly targeted communities. Today’s most successful creators are also entrepreneurs. Instead of relying solely on ad revenue, many operate portfolios that include consumer brands, podcasts, books, subscription communities, live tours, licensing deals, and production studios. That diversification has made creator-led businesses increasingly attractive to advertisers and investors alike. As audiences spend more time with creator-led content, individual personalities are evolving into full-scale media businesses. Rather than depending on a single platform, many now generate revenue across commerce, entertainment, live events, and licensing, blurring the line between influencer, entrepreneur, and traditional media company. Learn More on the Voronoi App Want to explore more charts on entertainment, music, and pop culture? Check out Ranked: Spotify’s Most Streamed Albums Ever on the Voronoi app, where you can discover thousands of data-driven visualizations from trusted sources around the world.

Use This Visualization Mapped: America’s Favorite Dog Breed, By State See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Labrador Retrievers are the top breed in 16 states, but no breed comes close to dominating nationwide. Eight different breeds rank first across the U.S., revealing surprisingly regional preferences. Chihuahuas lead much of the Southwest, while Labrador Retrievers are strongest across the Northeast. Americans own more than 56 million dogs, but there’s no single breed that dominates the country. Instead, favorite breeds change dramatically from one state to the next. Using an analysis of more than 1.2 million dog insurance records collected between 2022 and 2025 by U.S. News & World Report, this map reveals the most popular dog breed in every state. The Most Popular Dog Breed in Every State The table below shows each state’s favorite dog breed. StateMost Popular Dog Breed AlabamaChihuahua AlaskaGerman Shepherd ArizonaChihuahua ArkansasChihuahua CaliforniaFrench Bulldog ColoradoGolden Retriever ConnecticutLabrador Retriever DelawareLabrador Retriever FloridaFrench Bulldog GeorgiaAmerican Pit Bull Terrier HawaiiChihuahua IdahoLabrador Retriever IllinoisGerman Shepherd IndianaGerman Shepherd IowaLabrador Retriever KansasChihuahua KentuckyChihuahua LouisianaAmerican Pit Bull Terrier MaineLabrador Retriever MarylandLabrador Retriever MassachusettsLabrador Retriever MichiganAmerican Pit Bull Terrier MinnesotaGolden Retriever MississippiChihuahua MissouriAmerican Pit Bull Terrier MontanaGolden Retriever NebraskaLabrador Retriever NevadaChihuahua New HampshireLabrador Retriever New JerseyShih Tzu New MexicoChihuahua New YorkYorkshire Terrier North CarolinaAmerican Pit Bull Terrier North DakotaGolden Retriever OhioAmerican Pit Bull Terrier OklahomaChihuahua OregonChihuahua PennsylvaniaLabrador Retriever Rhode IslandChihuahua South CarolinaLabrador Retriever South DakotaLabrador Retriever TennesseeAmerican Pit Bull Terrier TexasChihuahua UtahLabrador Retriever VermontGolden Retriever VirginiaLabrador Retriever WashingtonLabrador Retriever West VirginiaChihuahua WisconsinLabrador Retriever WyomingGerman Shepherd No Breed Dominates America Labrador Retrievers rank first in 16 states, more than any other breed, but they still lead in fewer than one-third of states. Chihuahuas follow closely with 14 states, while six other breeds claim the top spot elsewhere. Altogether, eight different breeds finish first somewhere in America, showing there’s no single nationwide favorite. Regional Preferences Emerge The map reveals several clear geographic patterns. Labrador Retrievers are especially popular across much of the Northeast, Chihuahuas dominate the Southwest, and American Pit Bull Terriers lead in several Southern states. These clusters suggest that local lifestyles, housing, and long-standing breed popularity continue to influence which dogs Americans bring home. America’s love of dogs may be universal, but its favorite breeds to own are anything but. From French Bulldogs in California to Yorkshire Terriers in New York, the map highlights how regional tastes shape the dogs people choose across the country. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on favorite dog breeds in the U.S. from a more national perspective.

Use This Visualization Mapped: Only 36 Countries Are Still Majority Rural Key Takeaways: Only 36 countries still have more than half of their population living in rural areas. Nearly two-thirds of these countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa. The global rural population share has fallen from roughly two-thirds in 1960 to about 43% today. Today, most people live in cities, but that wasn’t always the case. Decades of industrialization and economic development have steadily shifted populations toward urban centers, making majority-rural countries increasingly uncommon. The map above highlights the 36 countries where more than half of the population still lives in rural areas, using the latest available World Bank data. While most are concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, a handful remain across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Caribbean. The Most Rural Populations Below, we show all countries sorted by rural population share: RankCountriesRural population (%, 2024) 1 Papua New Guinea86.12 2 Liechtenstein85.29 3 Burundi84.84 4 Niger82.77 5 Samoa82.58 6 Rwanda81.92 7 Malawi81.40 8 Saint Lucia80.69 9 Sri Lanka80.58 10 Nepal77.63 11 Tonga76.79 12 Micronesia76.44 13 Ethiopia76.34 14 Chad75.31 15 Swaziland74.99 16 Cambodia73.96 17 Vanuatu73.85 18 Solomon Islands73.51 19 Afghanistan72.74 20 Guyana72.68 21 Uganda72.61 22 Tajikistan71.48 23 Kenya69.95 24 Comoros69.58 25 Lesotho69.10 26 Barbados68.45 27 Burma67.53 28 Zimbabwe67.33 29 Burkina Faso66.83 30 Sudan63.25 31 India63.13 32 Grenada62.73 33 Tanzania61.86 34 Kyrgyzstan61.83 35 Pakistan61.63 36 Guinea61.48 37 Laos61.09 38 Mozambique60.67 39 Vietnam59.81 40 Yemen59.52 41 Mauritius59.06 42 Bangladesh58.77 43 Madagascar58.77 44 Maldives57.59 45 Faroe Isl.56.79 46 Egypt56.74 47 Moldova56.40 48 Eritrea56.09 49 Central African Republic55.87 50 Aruba55.53 51 Sierra Leone55.22 52 Bhutan55.00 53 Togo54.94 54 Guinea-Bissau54.11 55 Belize53.16 56 Zambia53.09 57 Mali53.07 58 Democratic Republic of the Congo51.94 59 Somalia51.48 60 Philippines51.39 61 Senegal49.92 62 Uzbekistan49.37 63 Benin49.33 64 Bosnia & Herzegovina49.29 65 Guatemala46.46 66 Trinidad & Tobago46.44 67 Ivory Coast46.36 68 Liberia45.92 69 Slovakia45.83 70 Thailand45.68 71 Turkmenistan45.48 72 St. Vincent & the Grenadines45.28 73 Romania45.12 74 Nigeria44.97 75 Namibia44.21 76 Slovenia43.56 77 Serbia42.63 78 Jamaica42.24 79 Azerbaijan42.00 80 Syria41.96 81 Kazakhstan41.61 82 Kiribati41.55 83 Mauritania41.54 84 Croatia41.06 85 Fiji40.81 86 Indonesia40.80 87 Seychelles40.76 88 Austria40.18 89 Ghana40.15 90 North Macedonia40.13 91 Cameroon40.11 92 Nicaragua39.85 93 Poland39.67 94 Haiti39.53 95 Honduras39.18 96 Georgia38.84 97 Paraguay36.51 98 North Korea36.50 99 Armenia36.07 100 Ireland35.24 101 Ecuador34.97 102 Gambia34.92 103 Albania34.62 104 China34.46 105 Morocco34.36 106 Suriname33.47 107 Tuvalu33.07 108 Cyprus32.92 109 Cape Verde31.59 110 Portugal31.58 111 Latvia31.18 112 Montenegro31.16 113 Lithuania31.06 114 Mongolia30.74 115 Angola30.72 116 South Africa30.70 117 Republic of Congo30.36 118 Panama30.11 119 Estonia29.98 120 Ukraine29.72 121 Tunisia29.12 122 Bolivia28.45 123 Iraq28.15 124 Italy27.71 125 Dominica27.69 126 New Caledonia26.89 127 Hungary26.82 128 Botswana26.51 129 Switzerland25.67 130 Czechia25.26 131 Equitorial Guinea25.13 132 Russia24.45 133 Algeria24.25 134 El Salvador24.00 135 Bulgaria22.96 136 Iran22.3 137 Palestine22.12 138 Turkey22.11 139 Germany22.10 140 Djibouti21.27 141 Peru20.86 142 Malaysia20.8 143 Brunei20.56 144 Greece19.02 145 Belarus18.88 146 South Korea18.50 147 Spain18.20 148 Mexico18.14 149 Libya18.09 150 Canada18.02 151 France17.96 152 Colombia17.35 153 Palau17.16 154 Costa Rica16.83 155 USA16.49 156 Bahamas16.24 157 Norway15.68 158 United Kingdom15.12 159 Dominican Republic14.99 160 Saudi Arabia14.83 161 Finland14.13 162 Australia13.25 163 New Zealand12.91 164 Andorra12.25 165 UA Emirates11.99 166 Brazil11.98 167 Chile11.88 168 Venezuela11.49 169 Denmark11.37 170 Sweden11.02 171 Oman11.00 172 Lebanon10.4 173 Bahrain10.00 174 Gabon8.69 175 Japan7.87 176 Jordan7.79 177 Luxembourg7.73 178 Argentina7.42 179 Israel7.05 180 Netherlands6.55 181 Iceland5.91 182 Malta4.99 183 Uruguay4.15 184 San Marino2.07 185 Belgium1.78 186 Qatar0.61 187 Bermuda0 188 Gibraltar0 189 Hong Kong0 190 Kuwait0 191 Macao0 192 Monaco0 193 Singapore0 Africa dominates the ranking, with countries like Burundi, Malawi, Niger, and South Sudan among the world’s most rural. Outside Africa, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Cambodia also remain predominantly rural. The World Has Become Increasingly Urban Urbanization has been one of the defining demographic shifts of the past century. As countries develop, employment opportunities, education, healthcare, and infrastructure often become concentrated in cities, drawing millions of people away from rural communities. According to Our World in Data, about two-thirds of the global population lived in rural areas in 1960. Today, that share has fallen to roughly 43%, with urban residents now accounting for the majority of humanity. The transition has been particularly rapid across East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, where urban populations have grown dramatically over the past several decades. Why Africa Still Has So Many Rural Countries Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the overwhelming majority of countries on this list. Although many African cities are among the fastest-growing in the world, agriculture remains a major employer across the continent, and a significant share of the population continues to live in villages and smaller communities. Many of these nations also have relatively young populations and lower levels of industrialization compared to more urbanized regions, meaning rural livelihoods remain central to their economies. Many majority-rural countries also feature prominently in our ranking of the countries with the most agricultural land, reflecting the continued importance of farming and rural industries. Will Majority-Rural Countries Become Rarer? Current demographic projections suggest the answer is yes. Global population growth over the coming decades is expected to be concentrated in urban areas, with cities continuing to absorb most new residents. That said, the pace of urbanization differs widely across countries. In many lower-income nations, especially across Africa, rural populations are expected to remain substantial for years to come, even as cities continue to expand. The result is a world that is steadily becoming more urban, while rural communities continue to play a vital role in feeding populations, supporting livelihoods, and shaping national economies.

Visualizing Every FIFA World Cup Champion (1930–2022) 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: Only eight countries have won the FIFA Men’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1930. Brazil leads all nations with five titles, followed by Germany and Italy with four each. Europe and South America have exclusively produced every World Cup champion, a trend that remains intact heading into 2026. The FIFA World Cup has crowned just eight different champions across 22 tournaments, highlighting how difficult it is to reach, and stay at, the summit of international soccer. Created by Harris Saleem, the following visualization tracks every winner from Uruguay’s triumph in 1930 through Argentina’s dramatic victory over France in 2022. The data comes from Fox Sports, which maintains a comprehensive archive of every tournament, champion, and podium finisher throughout World Cup history. A Small Group of Nations Has Dominated World Cup History Here’s a complete list of every FIFA World Cup winner since the tournament’s inception in 1930. CountryNo. of TitlesYears Brazil51958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 Germany41954, 1974, 1990, 2014 Italy41934, 1938, 1982, 2006 Argentina31978, 1986, 2022 France21998, 2018 Uruguay21930, 1950 England11966 Spain12010 Brazil remains the tournament’s most successful nation with five titles, while Germany and Italy have each lifted the trophy four times. Argentina’s victory in Qatar earned the country its third championship, leaving just eight nations to have ever won the competition. The concentration of winners is remarkable given the World Cup’s global reach. More than 200 national teams compete during qualification, yet only a handful have consistently possessed the combination of elite player development, tactical continuity, and tournament experience needed to win it all. Why Europe and South America Continue to Rule Every World Cup champion has come from either Europe or South America. Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay account for 10 titles between them, while Germany, Italy, France, England, and Spain have combined for 12. Several of these victories also defined entire eras of the sport. Brazil’s legendary teams of 1958, 1962, and 1970 established the country’s attacking identity, Italy became the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups in 1934 and 1938, and France emerged as a modern powerhouse after claiming titles in 1998 and 2018.

Visualizing Every El Niño and La Niña Since 1979 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 The ENSO record since 1979 includes 17 El Niño, 19 La Niña, and 12 neutral winter seasons. NOAA says a new El Niño developed in June 2026 and is expected to strengthen through the 2026-27 winter. The strongest El Niño events have coincided with major droughts, floods, marine heat stress, and record global temperatures. El Niño is one of Earth’s most closely watched climate patterns because even modest changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures can reshape weather around the world. This visualization tracks every Northern Hemisphere winter ENSO phase from 1979-80 through the forecast 2026-27 season, highlighting nearly five decades of alternating El Niño, La Niña, and neutral conditions. Created by Julie R. Peasley using data from Golden Gate Weather Services, the National Centers for Environmental Information, and NOAA, the graphic places the developing 2026 El Niño into historical context alongside some of the strongest events on record. Nearly Five Decades of El Niño and La Niña Cycles From 1979-80 through the forecast 2026-27 season, the Pacific has alternated between warmer, cooler, and neutral conditions. The full winter-by-winter dataset is shown below. Year (Winter Season)TypeIntensity 2026-27El NiñoUnknown but forecasted to be Strong 2025-26La NiñaWeak 2024-25La NiñaWeak 2023-24El NiñoModerate 2022-23La NiñaModerate 2021-22La NiñaModerate 2020-21La NiñaModerate 2019-20Neutral- 2018-19El NiñoWeak 2017-18La NiñaModerate 2016-17La NiñaModerate 2015-16El NiñoVery Strong 2014-15El NiñoWeak 2013-14Neutral- 2012-13Neutral- 2011-12La NiñaWeak 2010-11La NiñaStrong 2009-10El NiñoModerate 2008-09La NiñaWeak 2007-08La NiñaStrong 2006-07El NiñoWeak 2005-06La NiñaWeak 2004-05El NiñoWeak 2003-04Neutral- 2002-03El NiñoModerate 2001-02Neutral- 2000-01La NiñaWeak 1999-00La NiñaStrong 1998-99La NiñaStrong 1997-98El NiñoVery Strong 1996-97Neutral- 1995-96La NiñaWeak 1994-95El NiñoModerate 1993-94Neutral- 1992-93El NiñoWeak 1991-92El NiñoVery Strong 1990-91Neutral- 1989-90Neutral- 1988-89La NiñaStrong 1987-88El NiñoModerate 1986-87El NiñoModerate 1985-86Neutral- 1984-85La NiñaWeak 1983-84La NiñaWeak 1982-83El NiñoVery Strong 1981-82Neutral- 1980-81Neutral- 1979-80El NiñoWeak Although La Niña has occurred slightly more often since 1979, the strongest El Niño episodes have generally produced the most widespread global impacts. This highlights that an event’s intensity often matters more than how frequently it occurs. The ENSO phases shown in the visualization are based on tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies. Neutral conditions range from roughly -0.4°C to +0.4°C, while El Niño begins above +0.5°C and reaches the “very strong” category at +2.0°C or higher. The El Niño Events Shaping Modern Climate History Several El Niño episodes stand out for their global consequences. The 1982-83 event brought severe drought across Australia and Indonesia while triggering flooding across parts of the southern United States. It also fueled Hawaii’s strongest hurricane on record at the time. The 1997-98 “super” El Niño became one of the strongest ever observed, contributing to floods, droughts, and wildfires across multiple continents. Record ocean heat during that event is estimated to have killed roughly 16% of the world’s coral reefs. More recently, the powerful 2015-16 El Niño coincided with record global temperatures, destructive North Pacific hurricanes, Indonesian wildfires, drought in Ethiopia and parts of the Caribbean, and the largest annual increase in atmospheric CO₂ measured at the time. These climate swings also help explain longer-term shifts in global emissions. What Is Happening in 2026? According to NOAA, a new El Niño officially developed during June 2026 after tropical Pacific waters warmed beyond the threshold for El Niño conditions. Forecasters expect the event to strengthen through the 2026-27 Northern Hemisphere winter, although its ultimate intensity remains uncertain. El Niño does not cause the same weather everywhere, but it raises the likelihood of climate extremes across many regions. NOAA and the World Meteorological Organization say the developing 2026 event could influence heat, rainfall, and storm patterns through the coming Northern Hemisphere winter, with impacts varying by location. With oceans already experiencing exceptional warmth, scientists are watching closely to see whether this latest El Niño amplifies global temperatures further during late 2026 and into 2027. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you’re interested in how climate patterns translate into real-world economic impacts, check out U.S. Climate Disasters Have Cost Nearly $1 Trillion So Far This Decade on the Voronoi app, where you’ll find more data-driven visualizations covering weather, climate, and the environment.

Use This Visualization Countries With the Fastest Immigration Growth (2019–2024) 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 Poland recorded the fastest growth in permanent immigration across the OECD, up 129% since 2019. Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, and Ireland also saw immigration rise sharply, showing growth is extending beyond traditional destinations. Several OECD countries moved in the opposite direction, led by Colombia (-73%), Latvia (-59%), and Czechia (-36%). Permanent immigration has accelerated across much of the OECD, but not always in the countries people might expect. Using OECD data, this ranking compares how permanent immigration changed between 2019 and 2024. Poland led by a wide margin, while Mexico, Spain, and Costa Rica also posted some of the largest increases. The data includes foreign nationals granted long-term residence. How Permanent Immigration Changed Across the OECD The table below shows the change in permanent migration by country between 2019 and 2024: RankCountryChange in Permanent Migration 2019–2024 1 Poland129% 2 Lithuania97% 3 Mexico79% 4 Spain50% 5 Costa Rica49% 6 Ireland48% 7 Canada42% 8 New Zealand39% 9 Iceland38% 10 U.S.38% 11 Portugal29% 12 Japan29% 13 Switzerland27% 14 Finland24% 15 UK22% 16 Australia22% 17 Austria22% 18 Israel20% 19 Denmark19% 20 Belgium12% 21 Netherlands11% 22 Luxembourg8% 23 France5% 24 South Korea4% 25 Italy1% 26 Germany-9% 27 Hungary-11% 28 Estonia-14% 29 Slovakia-22% 30 Norway-23% 31 Sweden-24% 32 Slovenia-27% 33 Greece-32% 34 Czechia-36% 35 Chile-56% 36 Latvia-59% 37 Colombia-73% --OECD Average13% Poland’s permanent immigration rose 129% between 2019 and 2024, the fastest increase across the OECD. Lithuania ranked second (+97%), while Mexico (+79%), Spain (+50%), and Costa Rica (+49%) rounded out the top five. While Western Europe has traditionally attracted the largest numbers of migrants, Poland’s strong labor market, rising wages, and rapid economic expansion have made it one of the continent’s fastest-growing destinations for international workers. Migration Growth Is Becoming Less Concentrated One of the clearest trends is that immigration growth is no longer concentrated in the OECD’s traditional destinations. While Canada, the U.S., and Australia all continued to attract more permanent migrants, some of the fastest growth occurred in smaller and emerging destination countries. This suggests migration patterns are broadening as workers respond to changing labor demand and economic opportunities. Not every OECD nation experienced rising inflows. Colombia (-73%), Latvia (-59%), Czechia (-36%), Sweden (-24%), and Norway (-23%) all recorded declines in permanent immigration. Colombia’s decline reflects a stabilization after a record wave of Venezuelan arrivals peaked around 2019. Although migration has slowed, Colombia continues to host Latin America’s largest migrant population. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on projected population change by country through 2050.

Use This Visualization Mapped: Income Needed to Live Comfortably in U.S. Cities See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways A family of four needs more than $400,000 annually to live comfortably in both San Francisco and San Jose. California is home to six of the 10 highest-income cities in the ranking. Even the most affordable city analyzed still requires nearly $200,000 under the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. This map ranks 56 major U.S. cities by the annual income a family of four needs to live comfortably. Using data from SmartAsset, based on the MIT Living Wage Calculator updated in February 2026, the estimates apply the 50/30/20 budgeting framework: 50% of income for necessities, 30% for discretionary spending, and 20% for savings. The results highlight how much the cost of maintaining the same standard of living varies across the country. Bay Area Cities Lead the Ranking San Francisco tops the ranking, with a family of four needing about $408,000 annually to live comfortably. Nearby San Jose follows at roughly $403,000, while Oakland ranks third at $371,000. RankCityFamily Income Need to Live Confortably 1San Francisco, CA$407,597 2San Jose, CA$402,771 3Oakland, CA$371,488 4Boston, MA$368,742 5Arlington, VA$368,326 6New York, NY$337,875 7Seattle, WA$334,131 8Irvine, CA$327,226 9Honolulu, HI$321,069 10Washington, DC$319,405 11Portland, OR$313,747 12San Diego, CA$312,915 13Denver, CO$303,514 14Jersey City, NJ$297,606 15Minneapolis, MN$288,787 16Anchorage, AK$285,210 17Los Angeles, CA$281,466 18Sacramento, CA$279,802 19Newark, NJ$278,221 20St. Paul, MN$278,221 21Riverside, CA$270,566 22Colorado Springs, CO$270,566 23Tacoma, WA$264,742 24Madison, WI$263,245 25Philadelphia, PA$252,845 26Reno, NV$251,264 27Boise, ID$251,181 28Raleigh, NC$249,434 29Buffalo, NY$247,853 30Indianapolis, IN$247,021 31Phoenix, AZ$245,523 32Chicago, IL$242,278 33Charlotte, NC$241,446 34Pittsburgh, PA$238,534 35Columbus, OH$238,534 36Durham, NC$237,619 37Virginia Beach, VA$237,702 38Atlanta, GA$232,378 39Omaha, NE$232,294 40Miami, FL$231,130 41Kansas City, MO$230,131 42Plano, TX$230,464 43Austin, TX$229,050 44Tampa, FL$226,720 45Baltimore, MD$224,224 46Richmond, VA$223,974 47Fort Worth, TX$217,235 48Tulsa, OK$215,238 49Dallas, TX$214,490 50Orlando, FL$214,157 51Nashville, TN$213,408 52Jacksonville, FL$211,578 53Houston, TX$204,672 54New Orleans, LA$197,766 55Memphis, TN$193,939 56San Antonio, TX$192,608 High housing costs are the biggest driver behind these income requirements. California dominates the top of the ranking, with six cities appearing among the 10 most expensive places for families. The Northeast and Pacific Coast Remain Costly Boston, Arlington, New York, Seattle, Honolulu, and Washington, D.C. also rank among the most expensive cities. These metro areas combine high housing costs with above-average expenses for transportation, childcare, and other necessities. Many of these cities also offer higher wages than the national average, but elevated living costs often offset those income gains. Southern Cities Offer Lower Income Thresholds The lowest income requirements are concentrated in the South. San Antonio ranks last, requiring about $193,000 for a family of four to live comfortably, followed by Memphis, New Orleans, and Houston. The ranking highlights how expensive “living comfortably” has become across the United States. Under the 50/30/20 budgeting framework, every metro area analyzed requires a six-figure household income, with the highest-cost cities demanding more than $400,000 per year. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The States Where Housing Prices Have Surged the Most (2021–2026) on Voronoi.

Use This Visualization Charted: How China Reshaped Global Oil Trade 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 is now the world’s largest crude oil importer, with net imports reaching 11.5 million barrels per day in 2025. North America has transformed from a major importer into a net exporter following the U.S. shale boom. Despite shifting demand toward Asia, the Middle East remains the world’s largest crude oil exporting region. Over the past three decades, the geography of global crude oil trade has been fundamentally reshaped. Rapid economic growth across Asia fueled a surge in oil demand, while advances in North American production altered long-established trade flows. This visualization tracks net crude oil imports and exports by region from 1990 to 2025, using data from OPEC, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the UN Comtrade Database. Asia Has Become the Center of Global Oil Demand China experienced the largest change of any region in the dataset. After importing almost no crude oil in the early 1990s, China’s net imports climbed to 11.5 million barrels per day in 2025, making it the world’s largest importer. YearEurope (Oil Imports, Mb/d) ChinaIndiaS. KoreaJapanRest of Asia Pacific 19908.8—0.40.84.00.8 19918.4—0.51.14.10.6 19928.4—0.61.44.30.9 19938.3—0.61.54.31.1 19947.8—0.61.64.61.2 19957.6—0.61.74.61.5 19967.70.00.72.04.51.9 19977.80.30.72.44.62.0 19988.50.20.82.34.31.9 19997.60.61.22.44.21.7 20007.61.21.52.54.31.8 20017.81.11.62.44.21.9 20027.71.21.72.24.12.0 20038.41.71.82.24.21.9 20049.12.41.92.34.02.2 20059.62.41.92.44.22.6 20069.72.82.22.54.12.6 20079.73.22.42.44.02.7 200810.23.52.62.34.02.5 20099.04.02.62.33.42.3 20109.34.72.82.43.52.6 20119.35.03.42.53.52.8 20129.65.43.72.63.53.2 20139.25.63.82.53.43.1 20149.16.23.82.53.23.1 20159.86.73.92.83.22.9 20169.57.64.32.93.23.0 2017108.34.33.03.23.2 20189.79.24.53.03.13.3 20199.810.24.52.93.03.3 20208.110.84.02.72.52.8 20218.310.24.22.62.52.9 20229.210.14.62.82.73.4 20238.911.34.72.72.53.5 20248.911.04.82.82.33.5 20258.711.55.02.82.43.7 India also saw rapid growth, with imports rising from 0.8 to 5.0 million barrels per day over the same period. Together, China and India have become the primary drivers of global crude oil demand growth. North America’s Energy Revolution In the early 1990s, North America was a significant net importer of crude oil. By 2019, however, the region had become a net exporter, reaching 2.5 million barrels per day by 2025. YearMiddle East (Oil Exports - Mb/d)CISAfricaSouth & Central AmericaNorth America 199011.62.13.80.2— 199112.21.44.10.4— 199213.01.64.00.4— 199313.61.73.90.6— 199413.52.04.00.8— 199513.52.04.11.2— 199613.42.24.31.3— 199714.12.44.41.5— 199815.22.64.71.6— 199914.72.84.31.4— 200015.63.34.61.5— 200114.73.44.51.5— 200213.44.04.61.1— 200314.14.65.21.0— 200415.95.25.91.0— 200516.55.65.91.8— 200616.45.85.91.3— 200716.26.16.51.5— 200817.06.35.81.4— 200914.96.46.51.4— 201015.66.56.71.8— 201117.46.25.62.0— 201217.76.26.42.3— 201317.16.15.92.0— 201416.46.05.12.7— 201516.66.45.33.0— 201618.96.64.93.0— 201718.36.75.33.0— 201818.56.95.52.6— 201917.16.95.52.50.4 202015.86.24.42.41.6 202115.56.04.92.01.4 202217.76.34.52.21.8 202316.66.24.72.72.4 202415.76.14.63.12.2 202516.36.24.63.72.5 The shift was largely driven by the U.S. shale revolution, which increased domestic oil production. Combined with growing exports from Canada, North America has become an increasingly important supplier to global markets. The Middle East Remains the World’s Export Hub Even as oil demand has shifted toward Asia, the Middle East remains the dominant crude oil exporting region. Net exports stood at 16.3 million barrels per day in 2025, far exceeding those of the CIS and Africa. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Charted: The World’s Biggest Oil Producers on Voronoi.

How the World’s Biggest Economies Trade With the U.S. and China 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: Most of the world’s largest economies run a trade surplus with the U.S. while importing more from China, reflecting America’s role as a consumer market and China’s position as a manufacturing powerhouse. Taiwan and Ireland stand out by posting trade surpluses with both the U.S. and China, driven by semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, respectively. Vietnam records the largest surplus with the U.S. relative to GDP, highlighting its growing role in global supply chains. Trade flows often reveal relationships that GDP alone cannot. This visualization, created by Iswardi Ishak, charts trade balances with both the U.S. and China across the world’s 40 largest economies, showing which countries depend on American consumers, Chinese manufacturing, or both. Using bilateral trade data from Trade Map, the chart highlights several distinct patterns, from export hubs like Vietnam and Taiwan to commodity suppliers such as Australia and Brazil. Together, they show how countries occupy very different positions within today’s global trading system. Trade Balances Between Major Economies Here’s a look at trade balances with the U.S. and China among the world’s largest economies: CountryNominal GDP ($B)Trade Balance with U.S. as % of GDPTrade Balance with China as % of GDP Argentina637.20.04%-0.89% Australia1,800-1.01%1.78% Austria534.62.31%-0.18% Bangladesh450.51.35%-4.82% Belgium671.70.37%-3.96% Brazil2,190-0.03%1.40% Canada2,2707.08%-1.86% Colombia420.5-0.40%-3.22% Czech Republic347.10.13%-10.35% Denmark424.50.08%-1.38% France3,160-0.18%-1.59% Germany4,6801.67%-1.55% India3,7600.94%-2.51% Indonesia1,4001.03%-0.74% Ireland609.09.10%0.01% Israel542.31.46%-1.97% Italy23801.71%-1.62% Japan41901.35%-1.02% Malaysia422.23.76%-5.64% Mexico183013.15%-6.58% Netherlands1210-1.97%-2.57% Norway500.9-0.38%-1.60% Pakistan372.21.08%-3.66% Philippines461.60.71%-5.43% Poland917.60.06%-3.66% Romania382.70.28%-2.02% Russia21900.11%0.63% Saudi Arabia1250-0.54%-0.71% Singapore572.9-2.05%2.44% South Africa401.10.31%-2.33% South Korea1,8802.98%-0.36% Spain1,730-0.63%-2.25% Sweden604.81.66%-0.67% Switzerland970.24.57%2.28% Taiwan801.58.08%2.20% Thailand529.46.59%-8.70% Turkey1,3600.01%-3.05% United Arab Emirates552.3-2.66%-11.27% United Kingdom3,700-0.60%-1.40% Vietnam459.522.76%-18.09% Rather than splitting into two competing blocs, many economies occupy a middle ground. A common pattern is running a trade surplus with the U.S. while importing more from China, reflecting America’s role as a destination for finished goods and China’s role as a supplier of manufactured inputs. A smaller group, including Taiwan and Ireland, maintains trade surpluses with both economies through high-value exports. China Sits at the Center of Global Supply Chains China records trade surpluses with most of the world’s largest economies, underscoring its position as one of the world’s key manufacturing hubs. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Chinese exports to the U.S. alone span everything from electronics and machinery to consumer goods and industrial components. That helps explain why many countries simultaneously export heavily to the U.S. while importing from China. Rather than competing directly, the two economies often occupy different stages of global supply chains. Even as some multinational firms pursue “China plus one” strategies to diversify manufacturing, China remains deeply embedded in global trade networks. The U.S. Remains the World’s Biggest Buyer On the other side of the equation, the U.S. continues to post persistent trade deficits with many major economies. America imports vast quantities of manufactured goods, consumer electronics, vehicles, and industrial products from overseas. The imbalance has long been a source of political tension in Washington. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, disputes over tariffs, industrial subsidies, intellectual property, and technology access have fueled years of friction between the two superpowers. The contrast between the two systems is striking: China produces and exports at scale, while the U.S. consumes and imports at scale. That imbalance has become a central issue in debates over economic resilience and domestic manufacturing. Why These Trade Patterns Matter Trade balances have become increasingly important as governments seek to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce supply chain risks. Tariffs, export controls, and industrial subsidies have all reshaped trade policy in recent years, yet the chart shows that many countries remain deeply integrated with both the U.S. and China. Global trade has adapted rather than split into separate economic blocs. Many countries still rely on Chinese supply chains, American consumers, or both, even as policymakers push for more resilient and diversified trade relationships. However, both economies remain deeply dependent on bilateral trade despite years of political tensions. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about how countries build global trade networks, check out Number of Trade Agreements Across 30 Economies on the Voronoi app.

Use This Visualization Which U.S. States Depend Most on Manufacturing? 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 Indiana generates nearly one-quarter of its GDP from manufacturing, the highest share of any U.S. state. Manufacturing makes up at least 15% of GDP across much of the Midwest, highlighting the region’s industrial strength. Alaska has the smallest manufacturing footprint, with the sector accounting for just 2% of state GDP. The U.S. is the world’s second-largest manufacturing economy, yet only one state gets more than one-fifth of its GDP from the sector. This map ranks every U.S. state by manufacturing’s share of GDP using 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Indiana: Manufacturing Center of the U.S. No state in the country relies more on manufacturing than Indiana (24%). Louisiana, the runner-up, falls seven percentage points lower at 17% of GDP. The Hoosier State has long been a hub for heavy industry, aided by its central location, plentiful land, and relatively lower wages. Natural gas deposits in the northeast of the state, along with heavy European immigration, helped develop Indiana’s early manufacturing sector at the turn of the 20th century. This table ranks U.S. states based on the share of GDP concentrated in manufacturing. RankStateManufacturing share of Total GDP in 2025 (%) 1Indiana24.0 2Louisiana17.3 3Kentucky15.9 4Iowa15.9 5Wisconsin15.6 6Michigan15.6 7Kansas15.1 8Alabama15.0 9Mississippi14.7 10Ohio13.7 11Arkansas12.9 12South Carolina12.8 13Tennessee11.7 14North Carolina11.6 15Minnesota11.5 16Texas11.4 17Connecticut11.2 18Illinois11.0 19Missouri11.0 20Oregon10.4 21Pennsylvania10.3 22Nebraska10.2 23Utah9.4 24Georgia9.3 25California9.1 26Oklahoma8.7 27North Dakota8.5 28Idaho8.4 29Maine8.3 30New Jersey8.2 31New Hampshire8.2 32West Virginia8.1 33Wyoming7.7 34Massachusetts7.7 35Arizona7.5 36Washington7.3 37Vermont7.0 38South Dakota6.9 39Delaware6.9 40Rhode Island6.5 41Virginia6.4 42Montana5.5 43Maryland5.1 44Colorado5.1 45Florida4.7 46Nevada4.2 47New York3.7 48New Mexico3.1 49Alaska2.2 Indiana’s manufacturing base spans a number of sectors, including the auto, steel, and pharmaceutical industries. Multinational pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, the state’s largest corporation, is headquartered in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, the state’s northwest region, centered around the cities of Gary and East Chicago, is home to some of the largest steel mills and oil refineries in North America. Indiana has been the top steel-producing state in the nation since 1975. Today, the state produces over a quarter of all U.S. steel output. Manufacturing in the Midwest The Midwest dominates the rankings, with nearly every Great Lakes state generating at least 10% of GDP from manufacturing. Together, these states form the country’s largest industrial corridor, anchored by automotive production, machinery, food processing, metals, and chemicals. Michigan (16%) has long been famous for its auto industry. The state is home to both Ford and General Motors, and Stellantis also has its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills. Neighboring Wisconsin (16%), meanwhile, is the nation’s top producer of paper products, as well as a major producer of beer and processed foods. Over one in every 10 working-age Wisconsinites is employed in manufacturing. Deindustrialization and the Future of U.S. Manufacturing While the Midwest remains the manufacturing center of the United States, the region has undergone major changes over the last half-century. Deindustrialization and the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to lower-cost markets such as China, Mexico, and Southeast Asia have led to the shuttering of hundreds of factories. The greater region has even come to be referred to as the Rust Belt in recent decades. Despite decades of factory closures and offshoring, manufacturing remains a cornerstone of many state economies. Recent investments in semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, and reshoring initiatives are helping revive industrial activity in parts of the Midwest and South, although employment remains well below its historical peak. Learn More on the Voronoi App Want to see the loss in U.S. manufacturing supremacy visualized? Check out The Shift in Global Manufacturing Exports: U.S., Germany, and Japan Decline as China Rises on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Use This Visualization Ranked: Which Countries Produce the Most Natural Gas? 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. produced more than 1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas in 2025, nearly twice as much as second-place Russia. North America was the world’s largest producing region, ahead of Eurasia and the Middle East. Iran, China, Canada, and Qatar rounded out the global top six producers. Natural gas remains one of the world’s most important energy sources, powering electricity generation, heavy industry, and home heating. Production is concentrated among a relatively small group of countries, with the U.S. alone accounting for more than one-quarter of global output. This map ranks countries by marketed natural gas production in 2025, measured in billion cubic meters (bcm). The data comes from OPEC. The U.S. Remains the Global Leader The U.S. produced 1,116 bcm of natural gas in 2025, nearly twice Russia’s output and more than the combined production of China, Canada, and Qatar. That lead reflects two decades of rapid growth driven by shale development. Advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing unlocked vast reserves, helping make the U.S. the world’s largest natural gas producer and one of its biggest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG). RankCountryMarketed Natural Gas Production (bcm, 2025) 1 United States1,116 2 Russia625 3 Iran280 4 China256 5 Canada218 6 Qatar212 7 Australia157 8 Norway125 9 Saudi Arabia111 10 Algeria105 11 Turkmenistan96 12 Malaysia81 13 Brazil65 14 Indonesia65 15 United Arab Emirates60 16 Argentina52 17 Nigeria49 18 Egypt42 19 Oman42 20 Uzbekistan40 21 Azerbaijan39 22 India34 23 Pakistan32 24 United Kingdom31 25 Thailand30 26 Trinidad & Tobago27 27 Mexico26 28 Kazakhstan25 29 Venezuela22 30 Bangladesh19 31 Ukraine18 32 Kuwait16 33 Peru15 34 Myanmar13 35 Libya12 36 Iraq12 37 Bolivia10 38 Netherlands10 39 Brunei9.7 40 Romania9.3 41 Angola6.0 42 Equatorial Guinea5.7 43 Vietnam5.1 44 Colombia5.1 45 Germany3.8 46 Japan3.7 47 Denmark3.6 48 Italy3.4 49 Poland3.2 50 Cameroon3.0 51 New Zealand2.6 52 Chile1.4 53 Croatia0.6 54 Gabon0.5 55 Congo0.4 56 Ecuador0.2 57 Bulgaria0.01 Russia and the Middle East Dominate Global Supply Despite major changes in global energy trade since 2022, Russia remained the world’s second-largest natural gas producer. Iran ranked third with 280 bcm, followed by China and Canada. The Middle East continues to play a major role in global gas markets thanks to countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar, in particular, remains one of the world’s leading LNG exporters and is expanding production from its massive North Field gas reserve. North America Leads Regional Production North America produced 1,360 bcm of natural gas in 2025, making it the largest producing region worldwide. Eurasia ranked second with 843 bcm, while the Middle East followed closely at 754 bcm. North America, Eurasia, and the Middle East together produced roughly 68% of the world’s natural gas, underscoring how concentrated global supply remains despite growing production across Asia-Pacific. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Charted: The World’s Biggest Oil Producers on Voronoi.

Use This Visualization Mapped: The Top Agricultural Commodity in Every 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 Cattle is the highest-value agricultural commodity in 18 states, more than any other product. Corn dominates much of the Midwest, while poultry is the leading commodity across much of the Southeast. California’s largest agricultural commodity isn’t almonds or grapes—it’s dairy, which generated $8.6 billion in farm income in 2024. America’s farm economy looks very different from state to state. Using 2024 U.S. Department of Agriculture data, this map shows the highest-value agricultural commodity in every U.S. state based on gross farm income, highlighting the industries behind America’s $573 billion farm economy. The Top Agricultural Commodity in Every State The table below shows each state’s highest-value agricultural commodity by 2024 gross farm income. StateTop Agricultural CommodityGross Farm Income 2024 ArizonaCattle$1.5B ColoradoCattle$5.3B HawaiiCattle$97M KansasCattle$14.8B KentuckyCattle$1.5B MissouriCattle$3.3B MontanaCattle$2.1B NebraskaCattle$17.8B NevadaCattle$564M New MexicoCattle$1.9B OklahomaCattle$5.2B OregonCattle$1.5B South DakotaCattle$3.9B TexasCattle$13.6B UtahCattle$826M WashingtonCattle$2.5B West VirginiaCattle$303M WyomingCattle$1.5B IllinoisCorn$10.2B IndianaCorn$4.5B IowaCorn$11.7B MinnesotaCorn$5.9B CaliforniaDairy$8.6B IdahoDairy$3.9B MichiganDairy$2.7B New YorkDairy$3.8B PennsylvaniaDairy$2.3B VermontDairy$588M WisconsinDairy$7.0B New HampshireEggs$68M Rhode IslandEggs$17M AlaskaNurseries$13M ConnecticutNurseries$170M FloridaNurseries$1.2B MassachusettsNurseries$80M New JerseyNurseries$308M MainePotatoes$227M AlabamaPoultry$4.8B ArkansasPoultry$5.6B DelawarePoultry$1.6B GeorgiaPoultry$6.1B MarylandPoultry$1.5B MississippiPoultry$3.3B North CarolinaPoultry$6.0B South CarolinaPoultry$1.3B TennesseePoultry$1.3B VirginiaPoultry$1.3B OhioSoybeans$2.9B North DakotaSoybeans$2.4B LouisianaSugarcane$1.0B In AK, CT, FL, HI, MA, NJ, OR, and RI, the USDA groups the top category as “miscellaneous crops,” which includes multiple specialty products. To make the map more informative, we show each state’s next-largest individual commodity instead. The results reveal several clear regional patterns. Cattle leads across much of the West and Great Plains, poultry is concentrated in the Southeast, and crops such as sugarcane in Louisiana and potatoes in Maine stand out as state-specific specialties. California’s Biggest Farm Commodity May Surprise You California, America’s largest agricultural producer, is famous for almonds, grapes, strawberries, and lettuce. Yet dairy is its biggest agricultural industry. Dairy generated $8.6 billion in gross farm income in 2024. With 1.7 million dairy cows, or about one-fifth of the U.S. total, California remains America’s largest milk producer. This shows how agricultural value does not always match public perception. California may be known globally for fruits, vegetables, and nuts, but dairy remains its largest agricultural business by value. The Corn Belt Powers More Than the Grocery Store The Midwest produces far more than the corn Americans eat on the cob. Most of the region’s harvest becomes livestock feed, ethanol, or ingredients used throughout the food industry, while soybeans are processed into cooking oil and high-protein animal feed. Together with cattle across the Great Plains and poultry in the Southeast, these commodities support America’s food supply and agricultural exports, illustrating their importance to the U.S. economy. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the states with the most farmland.