See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Visualizing the Critical Minerals Powering the AI Boom 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. is 100% import reliant for several critical minerals used in AI-related infrastructure. Core data center components—from circuitry to magnets—depend heavily on foreign-sourced materials. The artificial intelligence boom is driving an unprecedented buildout of data centers across the United States. Behind every AI model and cloud server sits a complex web of minerals that make modern computing possible. From semiconductors to cooling systems, these materials form the backbone of digital infrastructure. This visualization breaks down the critical minerals used in AI data centers—and how reliant the U.S. is on imports for each. The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Semiconductors: America’s Biggest Vulnerability Semiconductors are the “brains” of AI data centers—and they are highly import dependent. The U.S. is 100% reliant on imports for arsenic, fluorspar, gallium, germanium, indium, and tantalum used in chip production. It also imports 85% of its platinum and 36% of its palladium needs, both critical for chip manufacturing. While silicon, the base material for chips, has less than 50% import reliance, many of the trace elements that enable advanced computing are entirely foreign-controlled. Data center componentCritical mineralU.S. import reliance (%) Server boards and circuitrySilver64% Gold0% Copper45% Tin73% Tantalum100% Palladium36% Platinum85% Heat sinksAluminum47% Copper45% Semiconductors and microchipsArsenic100% Fluorspar100% Gallium100% Germanium100% Indium100% Palladium36% Platinum85% Silicon75% Boron0% Rare earth elements80% Circuitry and Server Components Beyond chips, server boards and circuitry require a range of conductive and precious metals. The U.S. imports 64% of its silver and 73% of its tin, both vital for soldering and electrical conductivity. Copper—essential for wiring and connectivity—has a 45% import reliance. Tantalum, used in capacitors, is 100% imported. Gold stands out as a rare exception, with 0% net import reliance, offering a small pocket of domestic security in an otherwise globalized supply chain. Cooling Systems and Data Storage AI servers generate massive heat loads, making cooling systems crucial. Heat sinks rely on aluminum (47% import reliance) and copper (45%). Meanwhile, data storage components such as magnets and drives depend on rare earth elements, with 80% import reliance. Barite—used in storage-related applications—has also more than 75% reliance. China’s Commanding Share Currently, China dominates the production of most of the critical minerals used in data centers. This near-monopoly has become a major concern for other nations, with the U.S. government currently pushing for increased domestic production of these materials. In addition to being the leading producer, China also controls much of the refining capacity for many of these minerals. For example, around 90% of rare earths are refined in China. In the race to dominate AI, access to critical minerals may prove just as important as technological leadership. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Much Control China Has Over the World’s Critical Minerals on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Use This Visualization The Periodic Table of STEM Careers Key Takeaways STEM occupations span eight major groups, from computer science and engineering to life and physical sciences. Computer, math, and data-related roles are among the fastest-growing STEM fields over the next decade. Many high-paying STEM jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, highlighting the strong link between education and earnings. STEM careers are projected to grow steadily over the next decade, with some roles expanding nearly 30% and median salaries topping $170,000 per year. To show how these careers relate to one another, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) created a “periodic table” of STEM occupations. The visual groups jobs into eight major fields and highlights projected employment growth (2024–2034), median wages, and typical education requirements. The Data Behind the Table Below is a snapshot of the data behind the visualization, based on BLS employment projections and wage estimates. 2024 National Employment Matrix titleSTEM GroupEmploy. change (2024–34P, %)Median wage (2024)Typical education needed ChemistsChemistry4.9$84,150Bachelor's degree Chemical techniciansChemistry3.7$57,790Associate's degree Chemistry teachers, postsecondaryChemistry2.2$86,220Doctoral or prof. degree Computer and information systems managersCompSci15.2$171,200Bachelor's degree Information security analystsCompSci28.5$124,910Bachelor's degree Computer network architectsCompSci11.9$130,390Bachelor's degree Chemical engineersEngineering2.6$121,860Bachelor's degree Mechanical engineersEngineering9.1$102,320Bachelor's degree Civil engineering technologists and techniciansEngineering2.1$64,200Associate's degree Enviro. scientists and specialists (inc. health)Enviro. Science4.4$80,060Bachelor's degree Enviro. science and protection technicians (inc. health)Enviro. Science4$49,490Associate's degree Enviro. science teachers, postsecondaryEnviro. Science2.9$87,710Doctoral or prof. degree Geoscientists (ex. hydrologists and geographers)Geoscience3.2$99,240Bachelor's degree HydrologistsGeoscience-0.1$92,060Bachelor's degree Geological technicians (ex. hydrologic technicians)Geoscience1.5$48,390Associate's degree Soil and plant scientistsLife Sciences5.4$71,410Bachelor's degree MicrobiologistsLife Sciences4.1$87,330Bachelor's degree EpidemiologistsLife Sciences16.2$83,980Master's degree ActuariesMathematics21.8$125,770Bachelor's degree MathematiciansMathematics-0.7$121,680Master's degree StatisticiansMathematics8.5$103,300Master's degree AstronomersPhysics2.2$132,170Doctoral or prof. degree PhysicistsPhysics4$166,290Doctoral or prof. degree Physics teachers, postsecondaryPhysics2.5$97,360Doctoral or prof. degree Computer and information systems roles stand out for both pay and growth, while math-heavy fields like actuaries and statisticians also rank near the top in median wages. On the other end, technician roles typically require less formal education but offer lower pay and slower growth. What Qualifies as a STEM Occupation? According to the BLS, STEM occupations are defined by their heavy use of science, engineering, computer, or mathematical principles. This includes not only well-known roles like software developers or engineers, but also educators, technicians, and researchers who support STEM work across industries. The BLS STEM table groups these jobs into eight categories: chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, geosciences, life sciences, mathematics, and physics/astronomy. This structure helps show how closely related roles can differ significantly in education requirements and career outcomes. Which STEM Fields Are Growing the Fastest? Growth is not evenly distributed across STEM. Computer science and mathematics occupations—such as information security analysts, data scientists, and statisticians—are projected to grow much faster than average, driven by digital transformation and data-intensive decision-making. Life sciences and environmental science roles are also expanding as healthcare, public health, and climate-related work increase in importance. These trends reinforce why many of the college degrees with the highest return on investment are concentrated in STEM fields, where demand continues to outpace supply. Education, Pay, and Career Pathways The periodic table also makes one thing clear: education matters. Many of the highest-paying STEM roles require a bachelor’s degree or higher, while positions requiring a master’s or doctoral degree often come with specialized expertise and narrower career tracks. At the same time, associate-level STEM roles can provide accessible entry points into technical careers.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: The World’s Countries by Political System 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 72% of the world’s population now lives under autocratic rule, the highest share since 1978. Electoral autocracies—where elections exist but lack fairness—are now the most common regime type globally. Liberal democracies remain concentrated in Western Europe, North America, Oceania, and parts of East Asia. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population now lives under autocratic rule, according to the V-Dem Institute’s 2024 Regimes of the World report. That’s the highest share since 1978. The map above classifies every country into one of four political systems: closed autocracy, electoral autocracy, electoral democracy, or liberal democracy. The results point to a decades-long shift in global governance, with electoral autocracies now the most common regime type worldwide. The Four Types of Political Regimes -Dem classifies countries based on the competitiveness of elections, protection of civil liberties, and the strength of institutional checks and balances. Here’s how the four categories differ: Closed autocracies have no meaningful multiparty elections and suppress core democratic freedoms. Countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea fall into this group. Electoral autocracies hold multiparty elections, but they are not free or fair. Media restrictions, weakened opposition, and limited civil liberties are common. This category includes countries such as Russia, India, and Turkey. Electoral democracies conduct free and fair elections and protect basic rights, but may lack strong institutional constraints. Examples include Argentina, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Liberal democracies go further, combining competitive elections with robust rule of law and checks and balances. Countries such as Germany, Japan, United States, and Uruguay are classified in this highest tier. Scroll down to see how every country is classified. Autocracy Is the Most Common Regime Electoral autocracy is now the most common regime type in the world. This category spans every continent, from Sub-Saharan Africa to South Asia and parts of Latin America. In many cases, democratic institutions still exist on paper, but their independence has eroded. Large-population countries shifting toward electoral autocracy have an outsized effect on global trends. As a result, even if the number of democracies remains substantial, the share of people living under autocratic rule continues to grow. CountryRegime AfghanistanClosed Autocracy AlbaniaElectoral Autocracy AlgeriaElectoral Autocracy AngolaElectoral Autocracy ArgentinaElectoral Democracy ArmeniaElectoral Democracy AustraliaLiberal Democracy AustriaElectoral Democracy AzerbaijanClosed Autocracy BangladeshElectoral Autocracy BarbadosLiberal Democracy BelarusClosed Autocracy BelgiumLiberal Democracy BeninElectoral Autocracy BhutanElectoral Democracy BoliviaElectoral Democracy BotswanaElectoral Democracy BrazilElectoral Democracy BruneiClosed Autocracy BulgariaElectoral Democracy Burkina FasoElectoral Autocracy BurundiClosed Autocracy CambodiaElectoral Autocracy CameroonElectoral Autocracy CanadaElectoral Democracy Cape VerdeElectoral Democracy Central African RepublicElectoral Autocracy ChadElectoral Autocracy ChileLiberal Democracy ChinaClosed Autocracy ColombiaElectoral Democracy ComorosElectoral Autocracy Congo (Brazzaville)Electoral Autocracy Costa RicaLiberal Democracy Côte d’IvoireElectoral Autocracy CroatiaElectoral Democracy CubaClosed Autocracy CyprusElectoral Democracy CzechiaLiberal Democracy DenmarkLiberal Democracy Dominican RepublicElectoral Democracy EcuadorElectoral Democracy EgyptElectoral Autocracy El SalvadorElectoral Autocracy EritreaClosed Autocracy EstoniaLiberal Democracy EswatiniElectoral Autocracy EthiopiaElectoral Autocracy FinlandLiberal Democracy FranceLiberal Democracy GabonElectoral Autocracy GambiaElectoral Democracy GeorgiaElectoral Autocracy GermanyLiberal Democracy GhanaElectoral Democracy GreeceElectoral Democracy GuatemalaElectoral Democracy GuyanaElectoral Autocracy HaitiClosed Autocracy HondurasElectoral Autocracy HungaryElectoral Autocracy IcelandLiberal Democracy IndiaElectoral Autocracy IndonesiaElectoral Autocracy IranClosed Autocracy IrelandLiberal Democracy IsraelElectoral Democracy ItalyLiberal Democracy JamaicaLiberal Democracy JapanLiberal Democracy JordanElectoral Autocracy KazakhstanClosed Autocracy KenyaElectoral Autocracy KosovoElectoral Democracy KuwaitElectoral Autocracy LaosClosed Autocracy LatviaLiberal Democracy LebanonElectoral Autocracy LesothoElectoral Democracy LiberiaElectoral Democracy LibyaClosed Autocracy LithuaniaElectoral Democracy LuxembourgLiberal Democracy MadagascarElectoral Autocracy MalawiElectoral Democracy MalaysiaElectoral Autocracy MaldivesElectoral Democracy MaltaElectoral Democracy MauritaniaElectoral Autocracy MauritiusElectoral Autocracy MexicoElectoral Autocracy MongoliaElectoral Autocracy MontenegroElectoral Democracy MoroccoElectoral Autocracy MozambiqueElectoral Autocracy MyanmarElectoral Autocracy NepalElectoral Democracy NetherlandsLiberal Democracy New ZealandLiberal Democracy NicaraguaElectoral Autocracy NigerElectoral Autocracy NigeriaElectoral Autocracy North KoreaClosed Autocracy NorwayLiberal Democracy OmanClosed Autocracy PakistanElectoral Autocracy PanamaElectoral Democracy ParaguayElectoral Democracy PeruElectoral Democracy PolandElectoral Democracy PortugalElectoral Democracy QatarClosed Autocracy RomaniaElectoral Democracy RussiaElectoral Autocracy RwandaElectoral Autocracy Saudi ArabiaClosed Autocracy SenegalElectoral Democracy SerbiaElectoral Autocracy SeychellesLiberal Democracy Sierra LeoneElectoral Autocracy SingaporeElectoral Autocracy SlovakiaElectoral Democracy SloveniaElectoral Democracy Solomon IslandsElectoral Democracy SomaliaElectoral Autocracy South AfricaLiberal Democracy South SudanClosed Autocracy SpainLiberal Democracy Sri LankaElectoral Democracy SudanClosed Autocracy SurinameElectoral Democracy SwedenLiberal Democracy SwitzerlandLiberal Democracy SyriaClosed Autocracy TaiwanLiberal Democracy TajikistanClosed Autocracy TanzaniaElectoral Autocracy ThailandElectoral Autocracy TogoElectoral Autocracy Trinidad and TobagoElectoral Democracy TunisiaElectoral Autocracy TurkeyElectoral Autocracy TurkmenistanClosed Autocracy UgandaElectoral Autocracy United Arab EmiratesClosed Autocracy United KingdomElectoral Democracy United StatesLiberal Democracy UruguayLiberal Democracy UzbekistanClosed Autocracy VanuatuElectoral Democracy VenezuelaElectoral Autocracy VietnamClosed Autocracy YemenClosed Autocracy ZambiaElectoral Autocracy ZimbabweElectoral Autocracy Where Liberal Democracy Persists Liberal democracies are concentrated in Western Europe, parts of East Asia, Oceania, and North America. Nordic countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland remain among the strongest performers. So do nations like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan. However, even among established democracies, concerns about polarization, declining trust in institutions, and pressure on judicial independence have intensified in recent years. While democratic systems still govern many countries, the overall global trend shows autocratic systems expanding their reach in terms of population. Methodology The classifications are based on the V-Dem Institute’s 2024 Regimes of the World dataset, which evaluates countries across indicators including electoral integrity, civil liberties, judicial independence, and executive constraints. Countries are then grouped into one of four regime types to provide a simplified view of the global political landscape. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s 50 Largest Economies by GDP in 2026 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Ranked: Countries with the Most Winter Olympics Medals 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 Norway leads all nations with 405 total Winter Olympic medals, including 148 golds. The United States ranks second overall, while Germany places third based on gold medals. This ranking shows the countries with the most all-time Winter Olympics medals, split by gold, silver, and bronze. Notably, the data does not include medals from Milano Cortina 2026, which is currently in progress. The data for this visualization comes from the International Olympic Committee. It ranks National Olympic Committees (NOCs) by total Winter Olympic medals. Norway’s Unmatched Winter Legacy Norway stands firmly at the top with 405 total medals, including 148 golds across 24 Winter Games. With a population of just over 5 million, Norway’s dominance is remarkable. The country excels in Nordic skiing, biathlon, and speed skating. The United States ranks second overall with 330 medals, including 114 golds. Team USA has found success across a broad mix of events, from snowboarding to ice hockey. RankCountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal Medals 1 Norway148134123405 2 United States11412195330 3 Germany1059765267 4 Austria718891250 5 Canada777276225 6 Soviet Union785759194 7 Sweden655160176 8 Finland456565175 9 Switzerland634758168 10 Netherlands534945147 11 Italy424356141 12 France414255138 13 Russia473935121 14 East Germany393635110 15 South Korea33301679 16 China22322377 17 Japan17293076 18 West Germany11151339 19 Great Britain1251734 20 Czech Republic10111334 Canada, ranked fifth, has earned 225 total medals. The country is especially strong in ice hockey, freestyle skiing, and short track speed skating. Germany and the Soviet Legacy Germany ranks third overall with 267 total medals—but has competed in only 13 Winter Games in its current form. When including East Germany (110 medals) and West Germany (39 medals), the broader German Olympic legacy becomes even more significant. The Soviet Union, which competed in just nine Winter Games, collected 194 total medals. Russia, listed separately, has added 121 medals across six appearances. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Then & Now: Olympic Superpowers on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Best Countries at Creative Thinking 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 Singapore ranks first globally in creative thinking, the only country to score over 40 on the OECD’s most recently released assessment of students. Countries with strong education systems tend to cluster around the OECD mean score of 33. Creativity is increasingly seen as a core skill for the modern economy. As automation and AI reshape jobs, the ability to generate original ideas and solve unfamiliar problems is becoming just as important as technical knowledge. This infographic ranks countries by how well students perform in creative thinking. The data for this visualization comes from the OECD’s PISA 2022 Creative Thinking assessment. This evaluation measures how effectively students aged 15 and 16 generate original ideas, evaluate them, and refine solutions to real-world problems, with top performers scoring above 40 points. Singapore Leads by a Clear Margin Singapore ranks first overall with a mean creative thinking score of 41, making it the only country to cross the 40-point threshold. This result mirrors its strong performance in other PISA domains such as math and science. The country’s curriculum emphasizes problem-based learning and interdisciplinary thinking, which may help explain its lead, despite perceptions that Singaporeans lack creativity. RankCountryScore 1 Singapore41 2 South Korea38 3 Canada38 4 Australia37 5 New Zealand36 6 Estonia36 7 Finland36 8 Denmark35 9 Latvia35 10 Belgium35 11 Poland34 12 Portugal34 13 Taiwan33 14 Lithuania33 15 Spain33 16 Czechia33 17 Germany33 OECD average33 18 Macao32 19 Hong Kong32 20 France32 21 Netherlands32 22 Israel32 23 Italy31 24 Malta31 25 Hungary31 26 Chile31 27 Croatia30 28 Iceland30 29 Slovenia30 30 Greece27 Strong Performance Across Smaller Advanced Economies A group of advanced economies cluster just below the top spot. Korea and Canada share second place with scores of 38, followed closely by Australia and New Zealand. Several European countries, including Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Latvia, also perform above the OECD average. Most Countries Sit Near the OECD Average The OECD average score for creative thinking is 33, and many countries fall close to this level. Germany, Spain, Taiwan, and Czechia all score exactly at the average. Toward the bottom, Greece records the lowest score at 27, suggesting larger gaps in creative skill development. Notably, the United States did not participate in the PISA 2022 creative thinking assessment. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: The Best Countries at Math on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons Ready for Use? See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The global nuclear warhead stockpile stands at 9,614, representing the share of nuclear weapon inventory that is assigned to operational forces. Since 2020, China has increased its stockpiles from 350 to 600 in 2025, and by 2030 the country is projected to have 1,000 nuclear weapons. In February, the expiration of the U.S.–Russia nuclear treaty removed limits on nuclear arsenals for the first time in over 50 years. While Russia said that it agrees to uphold the limits of the last New START pact if Washington abides, the U.S. says that a new treaty should include China. Beijing, meanwhile, has rejected calls to enter new talks. This graphic shows nuclear warhead stockpiles by country, based on data from the Federation of American Scientists. Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons in 2026? Below, we show the nuclear warhead stockpiles of countries, which are a subset of total inventories that are assigned to military forces. CountryNuclearWarheadStockpileNuclearWarheadInventoryChange in Stockpile2020-2025 Russia4,3095,4590.0% U.S.3,7005,117-1.3% China60060071.4% France2902900.0% UK2252250.0% India18018020.0% Pakistan1701706.3% Israel90900.0% North Korea5050233.3% Together, the U.S. and Russia hold 83% of stockpiled nuclear warheads and roughly 86% of total global inventory. Over the past five years, America’s stockpile has declined by 1.3%, while Russia’s has remained effectively flat. However, Russia could possibly be expanding its arsenal, according to the Federation of American Scientists. China ranks third globally, seeing among the fastest-rise in nuclear stockpiles globally. Since 2020, these warheads have increased from 350 to 600, with the country displaying nuclear missiles during a 2024 parade. By some estimates, China is expected to have 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. India, meanwhile, ranks sixth globally with 180 warheads. The country’s stockpile has expanded by 20% over the past five years. Pakistan has also grown its stockpile, although to a smaller extent. Most notably, the current expansion of nuclear arsenals is reversing a 40-year trend of reduction. This shift marks a departure from the relatively stable U.S.-Russia duopoly of the Cold War, potentially ushering in a more intricate and multipolar nuclear era. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the science of nuclear weapons.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: The Best and Worst U.S. States for Air Quality 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 Wyoming has the cleanest air in the U.S., with average particle pollution of just 4 µg/m³. California ranks worst, at 11.7 µg/m³, partly due to frequent wildfires. Nearly half of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels. Wyoming’s air contains less than half the particle pollution found in California. Across the country, fine particle pollution levels range from just over 4 µg/m³ to nearly 12 µg/m³, a gap shaped by wildfire exposure, population density, and industrial activity. This map ranks all 50 states by average particle pollution, based on EPA data from the America’s Health Rankings 2025 report. A Breakdown of States Ranked by Air Quality For the analysis, states were analyzed using 2022 to 2024 average fine particle pollution (µg/m³). The U.S. average stood at 8.8 µg/m³, exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guideline of 5 µg/m³. That means the average American is breathing air that falls short of global health standards. Below, we rank states from best to worst by air pollution levels. Where does your state rank? RankStateFine particle pollution (µg/m³) 1Wyoming4.1 2Hawaii4.7 3New Hampshire5.0 4South Dakota5.7 5Alaska5.9 6Maine5.9 7New Mexico5.9 8Colorado6.0 9Vermont6.0 10Montana6.5 11Nebraska6.6 12Rhode Island6.7 13Virginia7.2 14Maryland7.4 15Utah7.5 16Florida7.6 17Idaho7.6 18Missouri7.6 19Alabama7.7 20Massachusetts7.7 21Washington7.7 22West Virginia7.7 23New York7.8 24Tennessee7.8 25North Carolina7.9 26New Jersey7.9 27Connecticut8.1 28Kentucky8.1 29Oregon8.2 30Mississippi8.3 31North Dakota8.3 32Iowa8.4 33Louisiana8.4 34Minnesota8.4 35Nevada8.4 36South Carolina8.4 37Arkansas8.5 38Oklahoma8.5 39Wisconsin8.6 40Arizona8.7 41Kansas8.7 42Georgia9.2 43Texas9.4 44Indiana9.5 45Delaware9.7 46Ohio9.8 47Illinois10.3 48Michigan10.4 49Pennsylvania11.0 50California11.7 --U.S. Average8.8 Wyoming has the best air quality in the U.S., known for its vast stretches of land and the nation’s smallest population. Adding to this, Wyoming’s city of Casper has the lowest year-round particle pollution across U.S. metros. Cheyenne, meanwhile, ranked eighth overall. Hawaii ranks second by particle pollution, at 4.7 µg/m³. The state’s low population density, along with strong winds and rainfall, plays a key role in its air quality. While rain helps to clear away pollutants, trade winds bring in fresh air and mitigate the accumulation of air pollutants. Overall, just three states—Wyoming, Hawaii, and New Hampshire—have air quality that falls within WHO’s guidelines. In contrast, California has average particle pollution of 11.7 µg/m³, the worst nationwide. Moreover, 88% of Californians live in areas with unhealthy air quality. Several factors drive up pollution in the state including tailpipe emissions, high population density, and its hot climate. States at the bottom of the rankings tend to combine large populations, dense transportation networks, and significant industrial activity. Trailing California at the bottom of the rankings are Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s most air-polluted cities.

Mapped: Lightning Strike Hotspots Around the World 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 Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela records the highest lightning flash rate density on Earth. About 70% of lightning occurs on land in the Tropics, where the majority of thunderstorms occur. NASA’s data excludes much of Europe and higher latitudes due to satellite coverage limits. Lightning is a global phenomenon, but it does not strike evenly across the planet. Some regions experience lightning activity at rates that are dozens of times higher than the global average, driven by geography, climate, and atmospheric conditions. The visualization above, created by Julie Peasley, maps the top lightning hotspots on each continent using data from NASA’s Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS). It highlights where lightning strikes most frequently based on flash rate density, measured as the number of flashes per square kilometer per year. Here is the data showing the leading lightning hotspots by region, based on NASA LIS measurements: ContinentLocationFlash Rate Density North AmericaPatulul, Guatemala117 Catarina, Guatemala103 San Luis, Cuba101 South AmericaLake Maracaibo, Venezuela233 Cáceres, Colombia172 El Tarra, Colombia139 AfricaKabare, DRC205 Kampene, DRC177 Sake, DRC143 AsiaDaggar, Pakistan143 Rajauri, India121 Doaba, Pakistan119 OceaniaDerby, Australia92 Kununurra, Australia87 Derby, Australia65 Across continents, the pattern is clear. Northern South America and central Africa dominate the rankings, with flash rates that far exceed those seen elsewhere. Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela stands out as the most lightning-prone location on Earth, earning its reputation as the planet’s lightning capital. Why Do These Lightning Hotspots Exist? Lightning hotspots tend to form where warm, moist air rises consistently and collides with cooler air aloft. In places like Lake Maracaibo, surrounding mountains help trap heat and moisture, creating ideal conditions for frequent and intense thunderstorms. Similar dynamics occur in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and northern India, where strong solar heating and seasonal weather patterns fuel powerful convective storms. These regions see lightning activity on a near-daily basis during peak seasons. How NASA Measures Lightning From Space The Lightning Imaging Sensor detects lightning flashes by capturing brief bursts of light from storms as viewed from orbit. According to NASA, LIS data has helped scientists identify global lightning patterns and confirm new lightning capitals in recent years, including findings from instruments aboard the International Space Station. However, the data comes with geographic limits. LIS primarily tracks lightning between 38° north and south latitude, meaning much of Europe and other higher-latitude regions are not included. As a result, the map reflects where lightning is most intense within the satellite’s coverage zone, not globally without restriction.

Click to view this graphic in a higher-resolution. Use This Visualization Every Continent Ranked by Number of Countries See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Africa has the most countries of any continent, with 54 recognized nations. South America has the fewest, with just 12. In total, 195 countries (including two UN observer states) are distributed across seven continents. The world’s 195 recognized countries are divided across seven continents, but the distribution is far from equal. Africa leads with 54 countries, more than any other continent. South America has the fewest, at just 12. Meanwhile, Europe and Asia are counted separately despite sharing the same landmass, a division rooted in history and geopolitics rather than geography alone. This map ranks every continent by number of countries, using data from World Population Review. Note: Russia is categorized within Asia, as most of its land area lies there. Breaking Down Countries by Continent Below, we show how the 193 UN member states plus the UN observer states of Vatican City and Palestine are distributed across the world’s seven continents. RankContinentNumber of Countries 1Africa54 2Asia49 3Europe43 4North America23 5Oceania14 6South America12 7Antarctica0 Total195 Africa accounts for 54 countries, the highest total of any continent. It spans roughly one-fifth of the world’s land area, with Algeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo among the largest by size. At the other end of the spectrum are island nations like Seychelles and São Tomé and Príncipe. Asia ranks second with 49 countries. It is the most populous continent by far, home to roughly 60% of the global population. In terms of land area, Russia, China, and India are the largest, while nations like the Maldives and Singapore cover less than 300 square miles. Europe is home to 43 countries, including 27 European Union members. Ukraine is the largest by land area, followed by France. North America includes the Caribbean, Central America, and the Arctic region. Its 23 countries include Greenland, which sits on the North American tectonic plate. At the bottom of the ranking are Oceania and South America, with 14 and 12 countries respectively. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s most powerful rivers.

Published 5 hours ago on February 14, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market?     Key Takeaways Real estate performance has historically strengthened during periods of falling interest rates.        Lower rates reduce financing costs and improve real estate valuations, supporting returns.        With rate cuts expected into mid 2026, real estate could benefit from a renewed tailwind.        Interest rates play a central role in real estate returns. When borrowing costs fall, real estate investment trusts (REITs) often see improved performance as financing becomes cheaper and income-producing assets become more attractive relative to fixed income. This visualization, created in partnership with Inigo, provides visual context to the relationship between REIT performance and interest rates. The Historical Trend Since 2016, periods of easing or stable rates have generally coincided with rising REIT values. When rates declined sharply in 2020, REIT performance rebounded quickly following the initial shock, and gains accelerated again during the low-rate environment of 2021. YearAverage Federal Funds Effective Rate (%)All REITs (index) 2016-01-010.34100.00 2017-01-010.65112.78 2018-01-011.41118.75 2019-01-012.40131.01 2020-01-011.55152.97 2021-01-010.09143.22 2022-01-010.08186.45 2023-01-014.33167.30 2024-01-015.33161.03 2025-01-014.33179.40 2025-07-014.33178.81 Even as the economy navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, REIT performance rose by 21 percent between the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2022, when the Fed began raising rates after pandemic-era cuts. Why the Next Rate Cuts Matter After a rapid tightening cycle between 2022 and 2023, elevated rates weighed on real estate valuations. However, recent data shows REIT performance improving as expectations shift toward easing monetary policy. With the Federal Reserve expected to continue cutting rates into mid 2026, reaching a median outlook of 3.25 to 3.50 percent by year end, borrowing conditions could become more supportive. For investors, this environment has historically provided a meaningful boost to real estate returns, reinforcing the close relationship between interest rates and REIT performance. Explore the data behind emerging global property risks. You may also like Real Estate2 days ago 6 Trends Reshaping U.S. Property Insurance From climate volatility to economic and technological shifts, a wide range of forces are reshaping property risk in the U.S. Environment4 months ago Ranked: The 10 Most Powerful U.S. Hurricanes (1900-2025) Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation. 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See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Best Countries at Science 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 Singapore ranks #1 globally in science literacy among students aged 15 to 16. East Asian economies dominate the top of the global leaderboard. Only a small group of countries score well above the OECD average. Science skills underpin innovation and long-term economic growth. Every three years, the OECD tests hundreds of thousands of students aged 15 to 16 through its global PISA assessment. The latest results reveal a clear global leaderboard in science performance, with top countries scoring well above the OECD average of 485. Singapore Sets the Global Benchmark Singapore ranks first overall with an average science score of 561, placing it well ahead of every other country in the study. The country also leads in math proficiency. Japan and Macao follow closely, reinforcing East Asia’s strong performance in math and science education. RankCountryAverage PISA Score 1 Singapore561 2 Japan547 3 Macao543 4 Taiwan537 5 S. Korea528 6 Estonia526 7 Hong Kong520 8 Canada515 9 Finland511 10 Australia507 11 Ireland504 12 New Zealand504 13 Switzerland503 14 United Kingdom500 15 Slovenia500 16 Poland499 17 United States499 18 Czechia498 19 Denmark494 20 Latvia494 21 Sweden494 22 Germany492 23 Belgium491 24 Austria491 25 Netherlands488 26 France487 27 Hungary486 OECD average485 28 Spain485 29 Portugal484 30 Lithuania484 Several European countries perform well above the OECD average of 485. Estonia stands out as Europe’s top performer, ranking sixth overall with a score of 526. Finland, long known for its education model, remains in the top 10 despite slight declines from previous cycles. Canada is the highest-ranked country in the Americas, placing eighth overall with a score of 515. How Major Economies Compare Among major advanced economies, performance is more uneven. The United States ranks 17th with a score of 499, slightly above the OECD average but behind many peers. The United Kingdom sits at 14th with an even 500, while Germany and France fall below the top 20. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: The Best Countries at Math on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Countries With the Most McDonald’s Locations 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 McDonald’s today has over 40,000 locations spread across nearly 100 markets. Over half of all McDonald’s locations are in either the United States, China, or Japan. Since the 1960s, McDonald’s has expanded beyond the United States to now operate in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide. This map shows the places where you can find a McDonald’s today. The data comes from the company’s Restaurant Count by Market 2024 report. The famed golden arches can be spotted on all inhabited continents, with particular concentration in Asia, Europe, and North America. The Global Presence of McDonald’s As the birthplace of McDonald’s, the United States unsurprisingly has more locations (13,557) than any other country worldwide. Roughly 95% of the chain’s U.S. locations are franchised. Outside of its home base, McDonald’s has had the biggest success in East Asia, counting 6,820 locations in China and an additional 2,989 in Japan. The Philippines has also been a key market, counting more locations (792) than even far larger countries such as India. RankCountry/TerritoryNumber of Locations 1 U.S. (Includes Cuba, Guam, and Saipan)13,557 2 Mainland China6,820 3 Japan2,989 4 France (Includes Monaco)1,589 5 Canada1,489 6 UK (Includes Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)1,470 7 Germany1,367 8 Brazil1,173 9 Australia (Includes American Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti, and Western Samoa)1,068 10 Philippines792 11 Italy755 12 India665 13 Spain (Includes Andorra and Gibraltar)635 14 Poland580 15 Saudi Arabia441 16 Taiwan417 17 South Africa401 18 South Korea398 19 Mexico374 20 Malaysia373 21 Indonesia318 22 Türkiye274 23 Netherlands263 24 Hong Kong260 25 Thailand236 26 Israel230 27 Argentina226 28 United Arab Emirates210 29 Portugal209 30 Austria206 31 Sweden199 32 Egypt190 33 Switzerland (Includes Liechtenstein)184 34 New Zealand172 35 Singapore152 36 Czech Republic128 37 Ukraine124 38 Belgium119 39 Guatemala115 40 Hungary115 41 Denmark113 42 Chile112 43 Romania106 44 Ireland95 45 Puerto Rico94 46 Kuwait91 47 Norway85 48 Finland81 49 Panama81 50 Venezuela80 51 Qatar79 52 Costa Rica76 53 Morocco75 54 Colombia72 55 Pakistan69 56 Croatia47 57 Slovakia47 58 Jordan46 59 Bulgaria43 60 Macau39 61 Vietnam37 62 Serbia36 63 Ecuador35 64 Greece35 65 Oman35 66 Uruguay34 67 Bahrain33 68 Peru30 69 Azerbaijan29 70 Slovenia28 71 Paraguay27 72 El Salvador25 73 Georgia25 74 Cyprus23 75 Dominican Republic23 76 Lebanon23 77 Lithuania18 78 Reunion Island18 79 Mauritius17 80 Latvia14 81 Honduras13 82 Luxembourg12 83 Estonia11 84 Moldova11 85 Martinique10 86 Guadeloupe9 87 Malta9 88 Nicaragua9 89 Brunei6 90 Curacao5 91 Virgin Islands5 92 Trinidad/Tobago4 93 Aruba3 94 Bahamas3 95 French Guiana3 96 St. Marten3 97 Suriname2 98 Sri Lanka0 In Europe, France is the largest market for the fast food chain, with its 1,589 locations beating out both Germany (1,367) and the United Kingdom (1,470). In Africa, only three countries are home to McDonald’s locations. Morocco was the site of the first location opening on the continent, in 1992, and has since added 74 more in cities such as Casablanca and Rabat. Growth in Egypt and South Africa has been even faster, with 190 and 401 locations across those two countries. McDonald’s in the Americas McDonald’s has had quite the success story closer to home as well. Canada was home to the first McDonald’s outside of the U.S., and today has 1,489 locations. Meanwhile, Brazil and Argentina are also major markets, counting 1,173 and 226 locations each. Notably, Cuba is a unique case. There is one McDonald’s, but citizens of the island country cannot access it, as it’s located on the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base hosted by the United States. Who’s Lost Their McDonald’s? While McDonald’s has grown its presence rapidly over the past few decades, there have been setbacks in certain countries. In 2022, the company fully exited Russia following the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War, selling all 850 of its locations. In 2024, meanwhile, McDonald’s decided to fully divest in another country as well by selling all 12 of its locations in Sri Lanka. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Have We Seen Peak McDonald’s In America? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Mapped: Each State’s Favorite Valentine’s Day Candy 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 In 15 states, the heart-shaped box of chocolates is the most popular Valentine’s Day candy. Hershey Kisses, M&Ms, and chocolate hearts and roses all served as prime runners-up. Americans buy tons of candy for Valentine’s Day—but their precise preference varies by state. This map shows the favorite Valentine’s Day candy in each U.S. state, using data from CandyStore’s 2024 overview. The Favorite Valentine’s Day Candies of Different States In 15 of the 50 states, the classic heart-shaped box of chocolates was the preferred choice, followed closely by conversation hearts at 13 states. All Pacific and West Coast states besides Oregon were particular fans of conversation hearts which spell out little romantic messages. The table below shows the most popular Valentine’s Day candy in each state: State NameTop Candy AlabamaCandy Necklaces AlaskaConversation Hearts ArizonaM&M's ArkansasHershey Kisses CaliforniaConversation Hearts ColoradoHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates ConnecticutHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates DelawareHershey Kisses FloridaHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates GeorgiaHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates HawaiiConversation Hearts IdahoHershey Kisses IllinoisChocolate Hearts IndianaHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates IowaM&M's KansasHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates KentuckyChocolate Roses LouisianaConversation Hearts MaineChocolate Hearts MarylandM&M's MassachusettsConversation Hearts MichiganCupid Corn MinnesotaM&M's MississippiHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates MissouriHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates MontanaChocolate Hearts NebraskaHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates NevadaHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates New HampshireHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates New JerseyHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates New MexicoChocolate Roses New YorkConversation Hearts North CarolinaConversation Hearts North DakotaM&M's OhioHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates OklahomaHeart-Shaped Box of Chocolates OregonHershey Kisses PennsylvaniaHershey Kisses Rhode IslandChocolate Hearts South CarolinaConversation Hearts South DakotaConversation Hearts TennesseeConversation Hearts TexasHershey Kisses UtahHershey Kisses VermontM&M's VirginiaConversation Hearts WashingtonConversation Hearts Washington, D.C.Heart-Shaped Box of Chocolates West VirginiaConversation Hearts WisconsinHershey Kisses WyomingChocolate Roses Michigan is the sole state across the country where cupid corn, a favorite of past years, continues to be the top-purchased candy. Similarly, Alabama is alone in having candy necklaces as its top candy of choice. Meanwhile, Hershey Kisses and M&Ms remain favorites across the country. Hershey Kisses are the top-selling Valentine’s Day candy in eight states, including Texas, while M&Ms have emerged as especially popular in six states. American Spending on Valentine’s Day Americans are projected to spend nearly $30 billion for Valentine’s Day this year. Candy remains the most popular gift for the holiday, as nearly 56% of consumers plan to purchase some sort of candy for a loved one or themselves. Valentine’s Day thus plays a big part in the industry’s annual earnings, especially as chocolate prices soar to new highs due to drought conditions in West Africa, where most cocoa is harvested. The average American reportedly spends over $120 on Valentine’s Day candy each year. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you found this infographic interesting, explore more population and demographic insights on Voronoi, including Valentine’s Day is Becoming More Expensive & Less Celebrated.

Climate Change Is Shrinking the Pool of Winter Olympic Host Cities 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 Many Winter Olympic hosts already sit in the “marginal” zone—where snow conditions are less consistent. By 2071–2100 in a high emissions scenario, only 5% of host cities could meet high-reliability thresholds, while 67% are projected to be unreliable. The gap between low- and high-emissions futures highlights how climate policy could shape the long-term future of the Games. For decades, the Winter Olympics have depended on cities with reliably cold temperatures and natural snowfall. But as global temperatures rise, that pool of suitable host cities is shrinking. A study published in Current Issues in Tourism evaluated 93 past and potential host sites under different emissions scenarios. It measures whether these cities can consistently deliver freezing temperatures and sufficient natural snowfall for safe competition. Statista visualized these findings. Just 5% of Winter Olympic Host Cities Meet High-Reliability Thresholds by 2100 Here’s the full dataset showing how Winter Olympics host site reliability shifts across historical and future emission scenarios: Time Period / ScenarioReliableMarginally ReliableUnreliable 1981-201043%38%19% 2041-2070 (low emissions projection)43%33%24% 2041-2070 (high emissions projection)19%38%43% 2071-2100 (low emissions projection)38%33%29% 2071-2100 (high emissions projection)5%29%67% Between 1981–2010, 43% of host cities were classified as climate-suitable for winter sports, while only 19% were considered unreliable. Under a high-emissions scenario for 2071–2100, that flips dramatically: just 5% remain suitable, and 67% are considered unreliable. Even under a more optimistic low-emissions pathway, the share of reliable hosts drops significantly compared with the late 20th century. Where Emissions Pathways Make a Difference The study models two broad futures: one aligned with the Paris Agreement’s lower-emissions targets, and another based on current higher-emissions trends. Under a low-emissions scenario aligned with Paris Agreement targets, more cities remain viable later in the century. Under higher-emissions trends, many traditional venues fall into the unreliable category. Which Regions Fare Better, and Worse Research identified that higher-elevation mountainous regions and hosts in cooler continental climates generally maintain climate reliability longer than lower-elevation sites and those closer to maritime zones. For example, future Alpine sites and places in North America with sustained cold spells are more resilient compared with some European low-elevation hosts that warm faster. However, even these more resilient sites see declines in reliability under high warming. This evolving climate landscape is already influencing how the International Olympic Committee considers future bids: prioritizing existing infrastructure and climate reliability helps de-risk future Games, while warming trends are prompting conversations about rotating among a smaller pool of dependable locations and adjusting event scheduling. As warming continues, the Winter Olympics may be confined to a much smaller group of dependable locations.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Ranked: EV Share of New Car Sales by Country in 2025 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Norway leads the world, with EVs making up an estimated 97% of new car sales in 2025. China is the largest EV market by volume, with over 13 million EV sales estimated for 2025. In 2019, electric vehicles were still a niche purchase in most countries, accounting for single-digit shares of new car sales. By 2025, EVs had moved from niche to dominant in several markets. In Norway, EVs were estimated to make up 97% of new car sales, meaning nearly every new car sold was electric. Several other countries crossed the 50% threshold, and in China, EVs made up more than half of all new car sales in the world’s largest auto market. This infographic highlights how EV sales share has evolved between 2019 and 2025. The data for this visualization comes from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Ember. EVs include both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Sales figures for 2025 are estimates. Taken together, the data shows how quickly EV adoption has moved from early adoption to mainstream across much of the global auto market. Norway Sets the Global Benchmark Norway remains the global leader in EV adoption. In 2019, EVs already accounted for 56% of new car sales in the country. By 2025, that share is estimated to reach 97%, meaning nearly every new car sold is electric. This rapid shift has been driven by strong policy incentives, tax exemptions, and widespread charging infrastructure. Nepal ranks second globally, with EVs estimated to account for 73% of new car sales in 2025 — a striking shift from just 8% in 2019. Rank (2025)Country2019 Share2025 ShareChange (p.p.) 1 Norway56%97%+41 2 Nepal8%73%+65 3 Denmark4%69%+65 4 Sweden11%61%+50 5 Iceland26%57%+31 6 Finland7%56%+49 7 Netherlands15%56%+41 8 China5%53%+48 9 Belgium3%43%+40 10 Portugal6%37%+31 11 Ireland4%34%+30 12 Luxembourg4%34%+30 13 Switzerland6%33%+27 14 United Kingdom3%33%+30 15 Austria4%31%+27 16 Israel2%31%+29 17 Germany3%29%+26 18 France3%25%+22 19 Thailand1%21%+20 20 Spain1%19%+18 21 Latvia1%19%+18 22 Estonia0%18%+18 23 Lithuania0%17%+17 24 Türkiye0%17%+17 25 Costa Rica1%17%+16 26 Cyprus0%15%+15 27 Indonesia0%15%+15 28 Slovenia0%14%+14 29 South Korea2%14%+12 30 Australia1%14%+13 31 Greece0%13%+13 32 Hungary2%13%+11 33 Poland0%12%+12 34 Italy1%11%+10 35 United States2%10%+8 36 Czechia0%10%+10 37 Brazil0%9%+9 38 Canada3%9%+6 39 Taiwan1%9%+8 40 Colombia1%9%+8 41 New Zealand6%8%+2 42 Albania0%6%+6 43 Bulgaria1%6%+5 44 Mexico0%6%+6 45 Croatia0%5%+5 46 Romania1%5%+4 47 Malaysia0%4%+4 48 India0%4%+4 49 Japan1%3%+2 50 Chile0%3%+3 51 South Africa0%1%+1 Other Nordic countries also rank near the top. Sweden is estimated to reach 61% in 2025, while Finland and Denmark both exceed 50%. China Dominates by Volume While Norway leads in percentage terms, China dominates in absolute numbers. EV sales in China are estimated to reach over 13.2 million in 2025, accounting for 53% of new car sales. That makes China both the largest EV market by volume and one of the fastest-growing in terms of market share. In comparison, the United States has a 10% EV sales share in 2025, with roughly 1.6 million EVs sold. Canada trails slightly behind at 9%. Recently, the Canadian government has agreed to remove its 100% blocking tariff from a small annual quota of 49,000 EVs made in China. Europe’s Broad-Based Acceleration Europe shows some of the most widespread gains across major economies. Countries like Belgium (43%), the Netherlands (56%), Portugal (37%), and the United Kingdom (33%) have all seen dramatic increases since 2019, when EV shares were mostly below 10%. Even traditionally slower adopters, such as Italy and Spain, have reached double-digit penetration. Across the region, EV sales have surged not only in share but also in volume—Germany alone is estimated to sell more than 840,000 EVs in 2025. Emerging Markets Gain Momentum Adoption is also expanding beyond Europe and China. Nepal stands out with an estimated 73% EV sales share in 2025, albeit from a small base. Thailand (21%) and Indonesia (15%) are emerging as Southeast Asian leaders. In Latin America, Brazil’s EV share has risen to 9%, while Mexico reaches 6%. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Most Fuel Efficient Cars From 1975 to Today on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist. “`

Published 6 hours ago on February 13, 2026 By Ryan Bellefontaine Graphics & Design Lebon Siu Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email Payday Pulse: America’s Growing Mountain of Debt Key Takeaways Auto and student loans increasingly anchor America’s mountain of debt, tightening household cash flow. In Q1 2025, the average U.S. household paid about $4,214 per year in non-mortgage interest. Earned Wage Access can reduce reliance on interest-bearing options by unlocking already-earned wages earlier. Higher everyday costs have made cash-flow timing more fragile for many households. As a result, more workers lean on borrowing to cover near-essentials and stay flexible. This graphic, in partnership with Payactiv, shows America’s mountain of debt across major non-housing categories using data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Mountain of Debt Has Shifted Beyond Housing Here is a table that shows quarterly, inflation-adjusted debt levels from 2003 to 2025 in trillions of USD, split by category. PeriodAuto LoansCredit CardStudent LoanOther 03:Q11.131.220.420.85 03:Q21.091.220.420.86 03:Q31.191.210.440.84 03:Q41.231.230.440.79 04:Q11.251.220.450.78 04:Q21.271.200.450.72 04:Q31.281.210.560.70 04:Q41.241.220.590.71 05:Q11.231.200.610.66 05:Q21.281.200.620.67 05:Q31.371.200.630.67 05:Q41.291.210.640.69 06:Q11.291.170.700.68 06:Q21.281.180.700.67 06:Q31.311.190.720.70 06:Q41.321.240.770.66 07:Q11.261.210.810.64 07:Q21.261.250.800.64 07:Q31.281.280.820.64 07:Q41.271.300.850.65 08:Q11.241.280.890.64 08:Q21.211.270.880.60 08:Q31.201.270.900.61 08:Q41.201.320.970.62 09:Q11.181.281.010.63 09:Q21.121.241.030.59 09:Q31.111.221.040.57 09:Q41.081.201.080.57 10:Q11.041.131.130.54 10:Q21.041.101.130.52 10:Q31.051.081.160.50 10:Q41.051.081.200.50 11:Q11.041.021.230.48 11:Q21.020.991.220.47 11:Q31.040.991.240.47 11:Q41.051.001.250.47 12:Q11.050.971.280.45 12:Q21.060.941.280.44 12:Q31.080.941.350.44 12:Q41.100.961.360.45 13:Q11.100.921.380.43 13:Q21.130.931.380.42 13:Q31.180.931.430.42 13:Q41.190.941.500.44 14:Q11.210.911.530.43 14:Q21.240.911.530.44 14:Q31.270.931.540.45 14:Q41.320.961.590.47 15:Q11.340.941.640.46 15:Q21.380.951.620.46 15:Q31.430.971.630.48 15:Q41.451.001.680.48 16:Q11.460.971.720.48 16:Q21.480.981.700.49 16:Q31.531.011.720.50 16:Q41.561.051.760.51 17:Q11.561.011.780.49 17:Q21.581.031.770.50 17:Q31.601.071.790.51 17:Q41.601.091.810.51 18:Q11.601.071.840.51 18:Q21.601.071.820.50 18:Q31.631.081.850.51 18:Q41.631.121.880.53 19:Q11.641.091.910.51 19:Q21.651.101.870.52 19:Q31.671.111.890.54 19:Q41.681.171.900.54 20:Q11.691.121.930.54 20:Q21.691.031.940.53 20:Q31.701.011.930.52 20:Q41.711.021.930.52 21:Q11.700.951.950.51 21:Q21.700.951.890.51 21:Q31.710.951.880.50 21:Q41.701.001.840.51 22:Q11.670.961.810.51 22:Q21.660.981.760.52 22:Q31.671.011.720.54 22:Q41.691.071.740.55 23:Q11.681.061.730.55 23:Q21.681.101.670.56 23:Q31.681.141.690.56 23:Q41.691.191.690.58 24:Q11.691.161.660.57 24:Q21.681.181.640.56 24:Q31.691.201.650.56 24:Q41.701.241.660.57 25:Q11.671.201.660.55 25:Q21.671.221.650.54 25:Q31.661.231.650.55 Even after adjusting for inflation, non-housing balances rise across cycles in the dataset. Still, the dip around 2010 reflects defaults and paydowns after the subprime mortgage crisis. Since then, balances have been rebuilt, and higher rates can magnify interest costs.Rising consumer debt inevitably leads to higher interest payments. In Q1 2025, the average U.S. household paid about $4,214 per year in non-mortgage interest. Auto and Student Loans Act Like Near-Essentials Auto and student loans often fund commuting and credentials, so households treat them as near-essentials. However, these categories now drive much of the rise highlighted in the graphic. In Q3 2025, student loans stood at about $1.65T, auto loans at about $1.66T, and credit cards at about $1.23T. For those with the deepest debt relative to their income, interest charges can crowd out savings and emergency funds. Credit cards often fill short gaps when budgets tighten. Consequently, workers may prioritize minimum payments and delay building buffers. Using Earned Wages Earlier, Without New Debt Debt can support big goals, yet short timing gaps can push workers into avoidable interest or fees. Because paychecks arrive later than bills, even small mismatches can snowball. Earned Wage Access (EWA) lets employees access already-earned wages earlier through an employer-connected payroll flow. Give employees access to earned wages. Related Topics: #jobs #earned wage access #payroll #salary #auto loans #student loans #credit cards #wages #income #debt Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "Payday Pulse: America’s Growing Mountain of Debt"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/pay01-payday-pulse-americas-growing-mountain-of-debt/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-193383"; You may also like Cost of Living6 hours ago Payday Pulse: Where Americans Are Most Burdened by Household Debt Household debt loads vary by metro, with several areas above a 2.5 DTI ratio. This graphic maps where pressure is highest and why pay timing matters. Jobs6 hours ago Payday Pulse: 5,000 Years of Wages In One Giant Timeline A 5,000-year look at how wages moved from rations and coins to paychecks and modern earned wage access. Jobs3 months ago Explainer: What is Earned Wage Access and Why Do You Need it? Earned wage access vs estimated advances: find out how verified, employer-sponsored access avoids debt and improves retention. Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

Published 6 hours ago on February 13, 2026 By Ryan Bellefontaine Graphics & Design Lebon Siu Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email Payday Pulse: Where Americans Are Most Burdened by Household Debt Key Takeaways Several of the largest U.S. metros exceed a 2.5 DTI, signaling heavy debt versus wages. California and Florida appear most often, although high ratios show up nationwide. Because timing drives many shortfalls, Earned Wage Access can help reduce avoidable interest. Across the U.S., higher housing costs and everyday expenses keep budgets tight. As a result, many households lean on credit to cover gaps between paydays. This graphic, in partnership with Payactiv, shows the top U.S. metros with the highest household debt-to-income ratios using data from the Federal Reserve. The Metros with the Highest Household Debt Here is a table ranking the top metropolitan statistical areas with populations of 500,000 or more by their Household Debt-to-Income Ratio for Q1 2025. Metropolitan Statistical AreaDebt-to-Income Ratio Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA2.51 or higher Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA2.51 or higher Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT2.51 or higher Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL2.51 or higher Port St. Lucie, FL2.51 or higher Urban Honolulu, HI2.06–2.51 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL2.06–2.51 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL2.06–2.51 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL2.06–2.51 Stockton-Lodi, CA2.06–2.51 Colorado Springs, CO2.06–2.51 Ogden, UT2.06–2.51 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL2.06–2.51 Killeen-Temple, TX2.06–2.51 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA1.79–2.06 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA1.79–2.06 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC1.79–2.06 Jacksonville, FL1.79–2.06 Tucson, AZ1.79–2.06 Charleston-North Charleston, SC1.79–2.06 Boise City, ID1.79–2.06 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY .1.79–2.06 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL1.79–2.06 Modesto, CA1.79–2.06 Several large metros sit in the 2.51-or-higher tier, led by Los Angeles suburban areas such Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura. Florida appears at the top with the highly visited destination of Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach. Meanwhile, the 2.06–2.51 tier includes the notable Urban Honolulu, Colorado Springs, and several more Florida metros. Although slightly lower, the metro areas of San Diego, Jacksonville, and Sacramento also largely outpace income with their household debt levels. What a 2.5 DTI ratio means A 2.5 debt-to-income (DTI) ratio means the average household owes about two and a half years of wages in debt, and payments alone can absorb roughly 20–25% of monthly take-home pay before everyday expenses. Debt can support long-term goals, so the key issue is often timing. However, when bills hit before payday, households may pay interest to bridge a short gap. When debt is already high, even small gaps can rack up interest fast. As a result, using credit to bridge the days before payday can turn routine bills into a recurring fee, month after month. Over time, those charges can crowd out essentials and savings. A Workplace Lever that Works with Payroll Earned Wage Access (EWA) lets employees access wages they’ve already earned before payday. Consequently, it can reduce reliance on high-interest options for routine expenses. In addition, EWA can help align pay timing with bill timing, so workers don’t feel forced to pay interest to cover short gaps. That way, employees can handle essentials with earned wages instead of costly stopgaps. Give employees access to earned wages. Related Topics: #wages #income #debt #jobs #payday loans #earned wage access #payroll #salary #credit cards Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "Payday Pulse: Where Americans Are Most Burdened by Household Debt"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/pay01-payday-pulse-where-americans-are-most-burdened-by-household-debt/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-193379"; You may also like Cost of Living6 hours ago Payday Pulse: America’s Growing Mountain of Debt America’s mountain of debt keeps rising, with auto and student loans driving much of the increase. This graphic shows how Earned Wage Access can help workers… Jobs6 hours ago Payday Pulse: 5,000 Years of Wages In One Giant Timeline A 5,000-year look at how wages moved from rations and coins to paychecks and modern earned wage access. Jobs3 months ago Explainer: What is Earned Wage Access and Why Do You Need it? Earned wage access vs estimated advances: find out how verified, employer-sponsored access avoids debt and improves retention. Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

Published 6 hours ago on February 13, 2026 By Ryan Bellefontaine Graphics & Design Zack Aboulazm Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email View the full-size version of this graphic Payday Pulse: 5,000 Years of Wages In One Giant Timeline Key Takeaways In ancient times, wages were paid daily. Over time, payday shifted with technology, laws, and scale. Biweekly pay dominates today, yet timing gaps still create pressure. Earned Wage Access gives employees flexibility by unlocking already-earned wages alongside payroll. For millennia, wages have reflected how society organizes work. Over time, payday moved from immediate necessities to scheduled cycles. This graphic, in partnership with Payactiv, shows Years of Wages across 5,000 years using data from various sources. Antiquity: In-kind daily wages Early employers often paid workers with essentials, because daily survival mattered most. As a result, wage records show rations, commodities, and early standardized rates. YearMilestone ca. 3100 BCEA clay tablet from Mesopotamia records the daily beer ration for day laborers. ca. 1750 BCEThe Babylonian Code of Hammurabi details in-kind wages for many common occupations in corn. ca. 600 BCEThe Lydian Stater was the first state-issued denominated coin; a third-stater—or trite—was worth one month’s subsistence. Then, cash pay spread as trade expanded, and wages became easier to measure and compare. Even so, “salary” still carries a salt-linked origin story, although the “paid only in salt” claim doesn’t hold up. Middle Ages: Variable paydays During the Middle Ages, many roles blended cash with in-kind support, especially for year-round service. In practice, wages could include food, lodging, clothing allowances, or guaranteed access to essentials. YearMilestone 950Byzantine officials are paid by the Emperor in person in gold coins and bolts of silk in a public ceremony on Palm Sunday in the Hagia Sophia. 1271Paper money emerged first in China during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), and was convertible to strings of coins called guàn. 1346–1353The Black Death kills roughly half of Europe’s population, leading to labor shortages and significantly higher wages. Even when pay was “annual,” it wasn’t always a single year-end handoff. Instead, employers often settled wages around seasonal milestones, while workers relied on household production to smooth gaps. Early Modern Period: Paydays still variable As markets grew, more workers relied on regular cash wages to cover recurring costs. Meanwhile, employers pushed toward repeatable routines that later shaped modern payroll. YearMilestone 17th Century CEMerchants subcontract manufacturing to workers in their cottages—hence cottage industry—and were paid by piece. 1659The first-ever check is written for 39 pounds, 4 shillings, and 2 pence in London on February 16th. 1760The Industrial Revolution upends the workplace, with workers organized into factories and paid on a weekly basis. Weekly pay fit the rhythm of expanding towns and workshops, where hours and output were easier to track. As a result, payday became a predictable checkpoint for both workers budgeting and employers managing labor costs. Modern Era: Moving to bi-weekly paydays In the modern era, the biweekly payday eventually became the default for many employers because it balances predictability with workable payroll administration. In 2023, it was the most common pay period in the U.S. private sector at 43.0%. YearMilestone 1831The British Parliament outlaws payment in goods or in company scrip, which could only be spent at company stores. 1847The UK Factories Act—AKA the Ten Hours Act—restricted the working hours for women and youth to 10 hours per day. 1888The timeclock is invented by William Legrand Bundy in New York, allowing standardized tracking of working hours. 1894The world’s first minimum wage is enacted in New Zealand, followed by Australia (1896), the UK (1909), and the U.S. (1938). 1938The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act is signed into law, making the 44-hour workweek standard, with overtime set at time-and-half pay. 1943The U.S. Congress passes the Current Tax Payment Act, which required employers to withhold taxes from workers’ wages. 1957ADP begins automating payroll with new computing technology, allowing batch payroll runs for the first time. 1972Automated Clearing House payments are launched in California where payroll is deposited directly into employees accounts. 1998Reloadable payroll cards offer an alternative to direct deposit and paper checks and work similar to debit cards. At the same time, pay delivery evolved beyond paper checks into direct deposit and options like payroll cards. That flexibility helps employers meet workers where they are, while keeping the underlying schedule consistent. Then, Industrial payroll became more systematic, moving from wage packets to the modern “paycheck.” Later, the employee time clock helped employers tie wages to hours with greater precision. In the 1970s, electronic rails like the Automated Clearing House (ACH) enabled direct deposit and scaled digital pay. Even so, fixed payroll cycles can still create timing gaps between work completed and bills due. The Digital Age: On-demand access In 2013, Payactiv created and launched Earned Wage Access, giving workers on-demand access to wages they’ve already earned. That shift added flexibility without changing the underlying payroll schedule. YearMilestone 2013Payactiv creates and launches Earned Wage Access, giving workers access to their wages in real-time, instead of waiting until payday. 2019–2022The COVID-19 pandemic forced millions into remote work, while increased government spending sent inflation rising. 2026Almost half of Americans, 46%, say that the cost-of-living crisis is the worst they have ever seen, making waiting for payday even harder. Then, from 2019–2022, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed millions into remote work while rising prices squeezed household budgets. By 2026, 46% of Americans said the cost-of-living crisis is the worst they’ve ever seen, making the wait between work completed and payday feel even harder. What Earned Wage Access Changes Because payroll runs on fixed cycles, workers sometimes pay interest just to access already-earned wages sooner. Earned Wage Access (EWA) lets employees access wages they’ve already earned, as they earn them, without borrowing against future pay. Give employees access to earned wages. Related Topics: #wages #payday loans #earned wage access #payroll #featured #salary #jobs Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "Payday Pulse: 5,000 Years of Wages In One Giant Timeline"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/pay01-payday-pulse-5000-years-of-wages-in-one-giant-timeline/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-193376"; You may also like Cost of Living6 hours ago Payday Pulse: America’s Growing Mountain of Debt America’s mountain of debt keeps rising, with auto and student loans driving much of the increase. This graphic shows how Earned Wage Access can help workers… Cost of Living6 hours ago Payday Pulse: Where Americans Are Most Burdened by Household Debt Household debt loads vary by metro, with several areas above a 2.5 DTI ratio. This graphic maps where pressure is highest and why pay timing matters. Jobs3 months ago Explainer: What is Earned Wage Access and Why Do You Need it? Earned wage access vs estimated advances: find out how verified, employer-sponsored access avoids debt and improves retention. 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 Ranked: The Countries Generating the Most Electricity 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’s electricity generation has surged 74% since 2014, more than 10x the growth seen in the United States. By 2024, China produced over 10,000 terawatt-hours of electricity—more than double any other country. Global electricity demand is accelerating—powered by electrification, industrial growth, and the explosive expansion of AI data centers. But one country has pulled dramatically ahead. China now generates more than double the electricity of any other nation on Earth. This chart tracks electricity generation by country from 2014 to 2024, highlighting China’s extraordinary rise. The data for this visualization comes from the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy. China Pulls Away From the Pack In 2014, China generated roughly 5,795 TWh of electricity, already more than the United States. By 2024, that figure had climbed to 10,087 TWh—a 74% increase in just 10 years. Over the same period, U.S. generation edged up from 4,363 TWh to 4,635 TWh, a comparatively modest 6% rise. In 2024, China generated more than twice as much power as the United States and nearly five times as much as India. Country2014 (TWh)20162018202020222024 China5,794.56,133.07,166.07,779.18,848.710,086.9 United States4,363.34,348.94,464.54,287.64,537.74,634.8 India1,258.71,394.91,572.01,571.01,806.12,030.2 Russia1,064.21,091.01,109.21,085.41,166.91,209.3 Japan1,062.71,063.71,082.91,011.01,040.61,016.4 This rapid expansion reflects China’s industrial scale, urbanization, and leadership in manufacturing. China’s abundant and relatively low-cost electricity supply is increasingly seen as a strategic advantage, particularly as AI models and data centers require enormous amounts of power. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk suggested that the world could soon produce more semiconductor chips than it has the power to run—except in China. “China’s growth in electricity is tremendous,” he said, highlighting the country’s expanding energy capacity as a strategic advantage. India’s Steady Climb India is the only other major economy showing sustained, high growth. Electricity generation rose from 1,259 TWh in 2014 to over 2,030 TWh in 2024—an increase of more than 60%. While still far below China’s level, India’s trajectory mirrors its economic expansion and rising energy demand from a growing middle class. Flat or Declining Output in Russia and Japan Rounding out the top four are Russia and Japan, though their growth stories look very different from China and India. Russia’s electricity generation increased modestly from 1,064 TWh in 2014 to 1,209 TWh in 2024, reflecting gradual industrial and export-driven demand. Japan, by contrast, has seen largely flat output over the past decade. Generation stood at 1,063 TWh in 2014 and was 1,016 TWh in 2024, with fluctuations in between. Slower economic growth, demographic headwinds, and shifts in its energy mix have all contributed to relatively stagnant power demand. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out China’s Nuclear Energy Boom vs. Germany’s Total Phase-Out on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Critical Minerals Lost to U.S. Mining Waste, by Tonnage 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 Hundreds of millions of tonnes of critical minerals were sent to U.S. mine tailings in 2023. Aluminum and lead alone account for over 300 million tonnes of unrecovered material. Reprocessing mining waste could strengthen domestic supply chains for energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing. The U.S. is often described as highly dependent on foreign sources for critical minerals. Yet every year, vast quantities of these same materials are sent to mine tailings as waste. This visualization ranks critical minerals by the amount discarded into U.S. mining waste in 2023, highlighting where the largest volumes of potential supply remain unrecovered. The data for this visualization comes from analysis by Professor Elizabeth Holley of the Colorado School of Mines and includes main-product output from U.S. hard-rock metals mines operating on federal land. Where the Largest Volumes Are Being Lost Aluminum stands out by a wide margin, with an estimated 229 million tonnes sent to tailings in 2023. That is more than 40 times the volume imported that year. Lead follows with more than 81 million tonnes unrecovered, despite its importance for batteries and radiation shielding. ElementUnrecovered 2023 (kt)U.S. Imports 2023 (kt)Applications Aluminum229,4305,540Construction, Transportation Lead81,910570Batteries, Radiation shielding Chromium5,310440Stainless steel, Plating Copper3,400890Wiring, Plumbing Manganese2,430690Steel alloys, Batteries Nickel1,020160Stainless steel, Batteries Rare Earth Oxides56010Magnets, Wind turbines Antimony38020Flame retardants, Alloys Cobalt28010Lithium-ion batteries, Superalloys Lithium903Batteries, Glass/ceramics Critical for Clean Energy and Industry Several minerals essential to clean energy technologies also appear prominently. Copper, nickel, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth oxides are all present in mining waste at volumes far exceeding current import levels. These materials are critical for electric vehicles, grid infrastructure, wind turbines, and battery storage. Recovering even a fraction of what is discarded could ease supply constraints and reduce exposure to geopolitical risks. “The challenge lies in recovery,” Professor Holley told the Colorado School of Mines’ Mines Newsroom. “It’s like getting salt out of bread dough—we need much more research, development, and policy support to make the recovery of these critical minerals economically feasible.” Reprocessing tailings could offer a dual benefit. Economically, it could strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on imports from a small number of foreign producers, particularly China. Environmentally, it could lower the need for new mines, which often face long permitting timelines and local opposition. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Every Mineral Deemed Critical to U.S. Security in 2025 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.