America’s Most-Spoken Languages After English and Spanish See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Chinese is the top non-English, non-Spanish language in 13 states, including California, New York, and Georgia. German still dominates parts of the Plains and Mountain West more than a century after peak German immigration. Indigenous and immigrant languages alike remain regionally concentrated, from Navajo in the Southwest to Vietnamese across the South and Plains. America’s linguistic map looks very different once English and Spanish are removed. This map shows the most-spoken language in every U.S. state after English and Spanish, based on U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data from 2020–2024. From Chinese in New York and California to Navajo in the Southwest, the results reveal how immigration, Indigenous communities, and regional history continue to shape the country. Chinese Dominates Coastal and Tech-Hub States Chinese is the dominant non-English, non-Spanish language across 13 states, giving it the widest geographic footprint of any language on the map. The concentration is especially visible in coastal states and fast-growing Sun Belt economies with large technology and business sectors. California alone has more than 1.2 million Chinese speakers, while New York has more than 600,000. State#2 Language MinnesotaAmharic/Somali & Afro-Asiatic MichiganArabic TennesseeArabic VirginiaArabic West VirginiaArabic CaliforniaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) ColoradoChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) DelawareChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) GeorgiaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) MarylandChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) MissouriChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) New JerseyChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) New YorkChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) North CarolinaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) OregonChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) PennsylvaniaChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) UtahChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) WashingtonChinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) District of ColumbiaFrench LouisianaFrench MaineFrench New HampshireFrench VermontFrench IdahoGerman IowaGerman KentuckyGerman MontanaGerman North DakotaGerman South CarolinaGerman WyomingGerman FloridaHaitian Creole WisconsinHmong ArkansasIlocano/Samoan/Hawaiian & Austronesian HawaiiIlocano/Samoan/Hawaiian & Austronesian AlabamaKorean ArizonaNavajo New MexicoNavajo AlaskaOther Native (North America) South DakotaOther Native (North America) IllinoisPolish ConnecticutPortuguese MassachusettsPortuguese Rhode IslandPortuguese NevadaTagalog/Filipino KansasVietnamese MississippiVietnamese NebraskaVietnamese OklahomaVietnamese TexasVietnamese IndianaYiddish/PA Dutch & W. Germanic OhioYiddish/PA Dutch & W. Germanic These communities reflect both modern immigration patterns and more than 150 years of Chinese-American settlement history dating back to the 19th century. German’s Historic Footprint Remains Visible German remains the most-spoken non-English, non-Spanish language across several Plains and Mountain West states, including Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, and North Dakota. This reflects the legacy of large-scale German immigration during the late 1800s, when German became the country’s largest non-English language. That influence declined sharply following anti-German sentiment during World War I and immigration restrictions introduced in the 1920s. Regional Language Clusters Reflect Migration Patterns Beyond Chinese and German, the map reveals several distinct regional language corridors across the United States. French remains prominent in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C., reflecting both Quebec-border heritage and Francophone migration. Vietnamese leads across Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, and Mississippi, while Portuguese ranks first among non-English, non-Spanish languages in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Elsewhere, Navajo remains the leading language category in Arizona and New Mexico, highlighting the enduring presence of Indigenous communities in the Southwest. Meanwhile, Alaska and South Dakota also stand out for their large populations speaking Indigenous North American languages. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Most Spoken Languages by Total Speakers on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.Use This Visualization

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Europe’s Most Visited Countries See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Spain recorded nearly 330 million international visitor nights, the highest total in Europe. Mediterranean countries dominate European tourism, with Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Portugal all ranking highly. France and the UK remain among Europe’s largest tourism markets despite cooler climates. Europe remains the world’s top tourism destination, attracting hundreds of millions of travelers every year. This visualization maps Europe’s biggest tourism hubs based on international visitor nights, highlighting where travelers are spending the most time. The data for this visualization comes from Eurostat and the UK Office for National Statistics via VisitBritain. Southern Europe Continues to Lead Collectively, the European Union recorded over 1.5 billion international visitor nights. Spain led all countries with roughly 330 million nights, followed by Italy at 265 million. Türkiye, France, and the United Kingdom also ranked among Europe’s top tourism destinations. RankCountryInternational Visitor Nights 1 Spain329,661,068 2 Italy264,741,414 3 Türkiye154,799,879 4 France150,753,829 5 UK (2024)149,803,000 6 Greece130,851,809 7 Austria97,020,394 8 Croatia85,604,505 9 Germany83,622,666 10 Netherlands64,311,055 11 Portugal60,031,130 12 Switzerland (2024)27,719,928 13 Czechia26,740,457 14 Ireland24,718,902 15 Belgium23,138,513 16 Poland20,217,607 17 Cyprus17,338,450 18 Denmark16,909,462 19 Sweden16,496,139 20 Hungary16,234,583 21 Bulgaria16,083,286 22 Norway14,165,842 23 Slovenia13,344,871 24 Malta11,755,619 25 Iceland8,849,422 26 Albania7,137,072 27 Finland7,081,113 28 Serbia6,072,905 29 Slovakia5,407,029 30 Romania5,326,691 31 Montenegro4,577,800 32 Lithuania3,841,447 33 Estonia3,797,929 34 Luxembourg3,177,126 35 Latvia3,076,322 36 North Macedonia (2024)1,530,378 37 Kosovo902,259 38 Liechtenstein208,229 -- European Union1,501,283,416 Mediterranean countries dominate Europe’s tourism landscape. Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Portugal all rank highly thanks to their warm climates, coastlines, and established tourism infrastructure. Seasonal travel remains a major driver, particularly during the summer months, when millions of visitors head to beach destinations and resort towns. Spain’s tourism sector has remained especially resilient over the past decade. Cities like Barcelona and Madrid continue to attract cultural tourism, while the Balearic and Canary Islands remain major global vacation destinations. Italy similarly benefits from a mix of historical landmarks, culinary tourism, and scenic coastal regions. France and the UK Remain Global Draws France recorded over 150 million international visitor nights, reinforcing its long-standing reputation as one of the world’s most visited countries. Paris remains a central attraction, but regions such as the French Riviera, Provence, and the Alps also draw significant tourist traffic throughout the year. The United Kingdom ranked close behind France, despite the data excluding Northern Ireland. London continues to serve as a major global tourism hub thanks to its museums, theater scene, and historical landmarks. Smaller Countries Punch Above Their Weight Several smaller European countries generate impressive tourism figures relative to their population sizes. Croatia recorded more than 85 million visitor nights, driven largely by Adriatic coastal tourism and growing international visibility over the last decade. Austria also performed strongly, with nearly 100 million visitor nights, supported by winter sports tourism and alpine destinations. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Travel and Tourism Contribute Greatly to Europe’s Economies on Voronoi.

Ranked: Countries With the Highest Water Use Per Person See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Turkmenistan and Montenegro withdraw more freshwater per person than any other countries in the world. Agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. The U.S. ranks fifth globally, driven partly by industrial activity and power generation. Most of the world’s freshwater isn’t used in homes. It’s used to grow crops, cool power plants, and support industry. This graphic ranks countries by annual freshwater withdrawals per person using data from FAO AQUASTAT and the UN, along with population figures from the World Bank. The figures include water used for agriculture, industry, and municipal systems. Some of the results are surprising. Turkmenistan ranks first by a wide margin due to massive irrigation systems tied to cotton farming, while Montenegro ranks second because of intensive water use relative to its population size. The U.S. also places in the global top five. Turkmenistan Leads by a Wide Margin Turkmenistan ranks first, with 128,228 cubic feet of water withdrawn per person. The country’s massive irrigation network was built to support cotton farming in one of the driest regions of Central Asia. Soviet-era canals diverted water from the Amu Darya River into arid farmland. These same diversions contributed to the dramatic shrinking of the Aral Sea. Agriculture Drives Global Water Use Agriculture accounts for around 70% of global freshwater withdrawals worldwide. That helps explain why many high-ranking countries are located in dry or semi-arid regions with large irrigation demands. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Iran all appear in the top 15. RankCountryCubic feet per capita 1 Turkmenistan128,228 2 Montenegro125,155 3 New Zealand68,652 4 Guyana61,907 5 U.S.46,969 6 Uruguay46,969 7 Azerbaijan45,379 8 Kazakhstan44,002 9 Uzbekistan43,366 10 North Macedonia41,848 11 Kyrgyzstan39,023 12 Tajikistan36,763 13 Iran36,657 14 Armenia36,515 15 Suriname35,138 16 Lao PDR34,326 17 Greece34,008 18 Iraq34,008 19 Canada32,772 20 Estonia31,677 21 Eswatini31,006 22 Timor-Leste30,159 23 Bulgaria29,700 24 Argentina29,311 25 Vietnam28,993 In these countries, water demand is often shaped by crop production and river diversion systems. Per-capita figures can rise sharply when large irrigation networks are spread across relatively small populations. Industrial Use Also Matters Not every country on the list is dominated by irrigation. The United States ranks fifth, while Canada and Estonia also appear in the top 20. In these countries, high water withdrawals can reflect industrial activity and power-plant cooling. This type of water use differs from household consumption. Much of the water withdrawn for cooling may later return to rivers or lakes, but it still places pressure on local water systems. Small Populations Can Push Ratios Higher Per-capita rankings can rise quickly in smaller countries when large irrigation or industrial systems are divided across relatively few people. For example, Montenegro, with a population of 627,702, ranks second at 125,155 cubic feet per person. New Zealand ranks third with 68,652 cubic feet per person, followed by Guyana at 61,907. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Which Countries Use the Most Electricity? on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

Ranked: The World’s Largest Deserts 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 Antarctic and Arctic deserts are the two largest deserts on Earth, each covering more than 5 million square miles. The Sahara ranks third overall, but remains the world’s largest hot desert at 3.5 million square miles. Deserts can be polar, subtropical, or cold winter regions, with low precipitation being the defining feature. The world’s two largest deserts aren’t scorching hot landscapes. They’re the frozen polar regions of Antarctica and the Arctic. Characterized by extremely low precipitation, deserts are found on every continent and cover about one-third of Earth’s land. This visualization ranks and maps the world’s largest deserts by area, based on data from WorldAtlas, showing how Earth’s biggest dry regions range from ice sheets to subtropical basins. Antarctica and the Arctic Are Earth’s Largest Deserts Accounting for all of Antarctica and much of the Arctic region, the Antarctic Desert and Arctic Desert cover 5.5 million and 5.4 million square miles, respectively. They are the world’s only polar deserts. The data table below shows the world’s 10 largest deserts and their area in square miles and kilometers, along with their desert type and geographic span: DesertLocationTypeArea in sq. milesArea in sq. kilometers Antarctic AntarcticaPolar5,500,00014,200,000 Arctic Canada Greenland Iceland Norway Sweden Finland RussiaPolar5,400,00013,900,000 Sahara Western Sahara Algeria Libya Egypt Mauritania Mali Niger Chad SudanSubtropical3,500,0009,000,000 Arabian Jordan Iraq Saudi Arabia UAE Oman YemenSubtropical1,000,0002,600,000 Gobi China MongoliaCold winter500,0001,300,000 Patagonian ArgentinaCold winter260,000670,000 Great Victoria AustraliaSubtropical250,000650,000 Kalahari Namibia Botswana South AfricaSubtropical220,000560,000 Great Basin U.S.Cold winter190,000490,000 Syrian Syria Jordan Saudi Arabia IraqSubtropical190,000490,000 With an average of just 0.39 inches (10 millimeters) of annual precipitation, the Antarctic Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. Although it is covered by ice, its extremely low precipitation makes it a desert by definition. Spanning several northern countries including Canada, Greenland, and Russia, the Arctic Desert receives more precipitation than Antarctica at roughly 6–10 inches annually. However, Arctic air is too cold to retain much moisture. The Sahara Is Still the Largest Hot Desert The Sahara Desert ranks third overall, but it is the largest hot desert in the world. Covering 3.5 million square miles (nine million square kilometers), an area comparable to China, it is by far the largest non-polar desert. The Sahara stretches across parts of Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Chad, Eritrea, Sudan, Tunisia, and Mali. Its scale is also changing. Climate change, human activity, and natural climate cycles have contributed to the expansion of many dry regions, and the Sahara’s area has increased by more than 10% since 1920. Subtropical and Cold Winter Deserts Round Out the Ranking After the Sahara, the Arabian Desert ranks fourth at one million square miles, making it the second-largest subtropical desert in the dataset. The Gobi Desert follows at 500,000 square miles and is classified as a cold winter desert spanning China and Mongolia. Further down the ranking, the Patagonian Desert in Argentina covers 260,000 square miles, while Australia’s Great Victoria Desert covers 250,000 square miles. The two smallest deserts in the top 10 are the Great Basin Desert and Syrian Desert, each covering about 190,000 square miles. Even at the bottom of this ranking, these regions remain enormous landscapes shaped by limited rainfall and extreme environmental conditions. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Which Countries Have the Largest Forests? on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Happiest Cities in 2026 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Copenhagen ranks as the world’s happiest city in 2026, with Nordic cities dominating the top 10. Europe accounts for 39 of the world’s 50 happiest cities. San Francisco is the only U.S. city to make the top 50. Where are people living the happiest lives? The latest Happy City Index 2026 ranks the world’s happiest cities using indicators tied to quality of life, healthcare, mobility, affordability, governance, and the environment. European cities dominate the rankings, led by Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Geneva. Tokyo ranks as Asia’s top city, while San Francisco is the only U.S. city to crack the global top 50. The Happy City Index 2026 evaluated cities with populations above 100,000 residents across 64 indicators grouped into six themes: Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health, and Mobility. Europe Dominates the Rankings Europe accounts for 39 of the top 50 cities in the ranking, highlighting the region’s long-standing investment in public infrastructure and social welfare systems. Copenhagen takes the top spot globally with 6,954 points, followed by Helsinki and Geneva. RankCityCountryContinentTotal Points 1Copenhagen DenmarkEurope6954 2Helsinki FinlandEurope6919 3Geneva SwitzerlandEurope6882 4Uppsala SwedenEurope6846 5Tokyo JapanAsia6788 6Trondheim NorwayEurope6755 7Bern SwitzerlandEurope6746 8Malmö SwedenEurope6705 9Munich GermanyEurope6691 10Aarhus DenmarkEurope6685 11Zurich SwitzerlandEurope6683 12Barcelona SpainEurope6668 13Espoo FinlandEurope6668 14Oslo NorwayEurope6623 15The Hague NetherlandsEurope6563 16Ballarat AustraliaOceania6546 17Aalborg DenmarkEurope6538 18Yokohama JapanAsia6526 19Lugano SwitzerlandEurope6521 20Reykjavik IcelandEurope6514 21Jönköping SwedenEurope6514 22Singapore SingaporeAsia6504 23Grenoble FranceEurope6502 24Stuttgart GermanyEurope6502 25Paris FranceEurope6493 26Seoul South KoreaAsia6487 27Bremen GermanyEurope6482 28Stockholm SwedenEurope6479 29Leiden NetherlandsEurope6477 30Antwerp BelgiumEurope6475 31Bergen NorwayEurope6473 32Warsaw PolandEurope6473 33Vienna AustriaEurope6461 34Nijmegen NetherlandsEurope6459 35Maitland AustraliaOceania6453 36Berlin GermanyEurope6435 37Stavanger NorwayEurope6432 38Gothenburg SwedenEurope6427 39Vancouver CanadaNorth America6426 40Klagenfurt AustriaEurope6420 41Turku FinlandEurope6411 42Ghent BelgiumEurope6408 43Amsterdam NetherlandsEurope6402 44New Taipei City TaiwanAsia6400 45San Francisco United StatesNorth America6395 46Taipei City TaiwanAsia6383 47Edinburgh United KingdomEurope6379 48London United KingdomEurope6366 49Incheon South KoreaAsia6362 50Cambridge United KingdomEurope6358 Several major global capitals failed to place near the top of the rankings. While cities like London and Paris remain influential economic and cultural hubs, smaller Nordic and Swiss cities consistently scored better on affordability, mobility, environmental quality, and resident well-being. Nordic cities performed especially well across healthcare, public transit, environmental quality, safety, and work-life balance. Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway collectively placed numerous cities in the top 50, reinforcing the region’s reputation for high living standards and strong social support systems. Asia’s Strongest Performers Tokyo ranks fifth overall and stands as Asia’s highest-ranked city in the index, scoring highly for transportation, healthcare infrastructure, and safety. Singapore, Seoul, Yokohama, Taipei City, and Incheon also made the top 50, reflecting Asia’s growing emphasis on smart-city planning and urban efficiency. North America Has Limited Representation Only two North American cities appear in the top 50: Vancouver and San Francisco. Vancouver ranks 39th overall, benefiting from strong scores in environmental quality, green space, and healthcare-related measures. San Francisco is the only American city to make the top 50, ranking 45th globally. High housing costs and inequality likely weighed on its overall score despite strengths in innovation, healthcare access, and public transportation. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Much People Save Around the World on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Male Doctors, Female Cashiers: AI’s Job Bias 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 AI-generated videos depict roughly 70%+ of high-paying roles, such as CEOs, software engineers, and financial analysts, as male. Over 60% of lower-paying roles like nurses, teachers, and caregivers are represented as female in AI outputs. Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how we visualize the world, including who we imagine in certain jobs. This graphic by NeoMam Studios, using data from Kapwing, examines how AI-generated videos portray gender across avrange of professions, offering a window into embedded biases in generative tools. ProfessionTool% Women% Men DoctorVEO326.92%73.08% PoliticianVEO328.57%71.43% JudgeVEO335.29%64.71% ArchitectVEO335.71%64.29% LawyerVEO321.74%78.26% CEOVEO321.74%78.26% EngineerVEO325.00%75.00% EntrepreneurVEO325.00%75.00% JanitorVEO329.41%70.59% DiswasherVEO375.00%25.00% CashierVEO3100.00%0.00% Fast food workerVEO357.89%42.11% TeacherVEO378.95%21.05% HousekeeperVEO357.14%42.86% Social workerVEO347.37%52.63% DoctorSora 245.45%54.55% PoliticianSora 240.74%59.26% JudgeSora 230.77%69.23% ArchitectSora 240.63%59.38% LawyerSora 233.33%66.67% CEOSora 210.00%90.00% EngineerSora 212.50%87.50% EntrepreneurSora 235.29%64.71% JanitorSora 238.24%61.76% DiswasherSora 280.00%20.00% CashierSora 250.00%50.00% Fast food workerSora 252.63%47.37% TeacherSora 258.82%41.18% HousekeeperSora 2100.00%0.00% Social workerSora 264.00%36.00% DoctorKling30.00%70.00% PoliticianKling0.00%100.00% JudgeKling0.00%100.00% ArchitectKling30.77%69.23% LawyerKling40.00%60.00% CEOKling10.00%90.00% EngineerKling25.00%75.00% EntrepreneurKling30.77%69.23% JanitorKling7.14%92.86% DiswasherKling24.00%76.00% CashierKling100.00%0.00% Fast food workerKling46.15%53.85% TeacherKling54.55%45.45% HousekeeperKling55.00%45.00% Social workerKling50.00%50.00% DoctorHailuo Minimax38.46%61.54% PoliticianHailuo Minimax0.00%100.00% JudgeHailuo Minimax22.73%77.27% ArchitectHailuo Minimax14.29%85.71% LawyerHailuo Minimax0.00%100.00% CEOHailuo Minimax0.00%100.00% EngineerHailuo Minimax0.00%100.00% EntrepreneurHailuo Minimax47.37%52.63% JanitorHailuo Minimax30.77%69.23% DiswasherHailuo Minimax33.33%66.67% CashierHailuo Minimax63.64%36.36% Fast food workerHailuo Minimax64.29%35.71% TeacherHailuo Minimax15.79%84.21% HousekeeperHailuo Minimax100.00%0.00% Social workerHailuo Minimax64.71%35.29% Across the dataset, a clear pattern emerges: high-paying roles like executives or engineers skew heavily male, while lower-paying or caregiving roles are more often represented by women. The divide is both stark and consistent. Do AI Models Reflect Reality…or Reinforce It? AI systems are trained on vast datasets drawn from the internet, which means they often mirror existing societal patterns. Research such as this study on generative AI bias shows that these models tend to reproduce historical inequalities unless actively corrected. In practice, this aligns with real-world labor data. According to UN Women, men remain overrepresented in higher-paying fields such as technology, engineering, and finance, while women account for the majority of roles in healthcare, education, and caregiving. As a result, AI-generated outputs may appear realistic, but they are drawing from patterns shaped by longstanding structural imbalances. The Broader Implications for Society When these patterns are reproduced at scale, they can reinforce stereotypes. Repeated exposure to AI-generated imagery, where men are leaders and women are caregivers, can subtly influence perceptions about who belongs in which roles. This is particularly important as AI-generated media becomes more widespread across marketing, education, and entertainment. Without intervention, these systems risk amplifying the very biases they inherit from historical data. Should AI Be Aspirational or Accurate? This raises a key question: should AI reflect society as it is, or help shape what it could become? On one hand, mirroring real-world data ensures realism. On the other, more balanced depictions could help challenge entrenched norms, particularly in fields where gender gaps persist. Striking that balance requires intentional design. Without it, AI may continue to default to historical patterns. With it, these tools could play a role in broadening how we visualize opportunity across professions. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday tools, its influence on perception will only grow, making these design choices increasingly consequential. Learn More on the Voronoi App Explore more insights in Exploring Bias in AI-Generated Videos of High and Low-Paying Occupations, available now on the Voronoi app.

Cannabis Use Hits Record Highs, Alcohol Use Falls 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 About 1-in-10 young Americans now report daily or near-daily cannabis use. Frequent cannabis use has surged alongside legalization trends, while daily alcohol use has gradually declined over the last three decades. Cannabis use has officially overtaken alcohol consumption among young Americans on a daily basis, marking a major shift in U.S. consumption habits. The chart above, created by Julie R. Peasley using data published in the journal Addiction, tracks daily cannabis and alcohol use among Americans ages 19–30 from 1988 to 2024. The crossover reflects decades of changing attitudes toward marijuana alongside the rapid expansion of legalization across the country. Daily Cannabis vs. Alcohol Use The table below shows the data represented in the graphic, from 1988 to 2024. YearDaily Cannabis Use (ages 19-30, %)Daily Alcohol Use (ages 19-30, %) 19883.36.6 19893.25.8 19902.65.3 19912.55.6 19922.45.1 19932.54.8 19942.54.5 19952.94.0 19963.24.6 19973.14.9 19983.44.2 19993.65.1 20004.04.4 20013.84.5 20024.34.8 20034.15.2 20044.84.8 20054.35.7 20065.05.5 20074.56.0 20085.05.5 20095.46.3 20105.05.1 20116.05.8 20125.66.0 20136.05.5 20147.15.2 20157.05.3 20167.85.5 20177.85.3 20188.74.8 20199.54.5 202010.35.6 202111.24.9 202211.24.6 202310.83.6 202410.83.1 The data shows a dramatic divergence. While alcohol remains more widely consumed overall, cannabis users are now more likely to consume daily or near-daily, especially among Americans under 30. Researchers say the trend reflects changing public attitudes, expanding legalization, and the growing normalization of marijuana use across many states. The Rise of Daily Cannabis Consumption The study found that daily or near-daily cannabis use increased 15-fold between 1992 and 2022. By contrast, daily alcohol use remained comparatively stable over the same period. Researchers point to legalization as a major driver. Recreational marijuana is now legal across much of the country, while medical cannabis programs have expanded even further. In fact, the growing mainstream acceptance of cannabis has closely tracked the expansion of legalization across America, including many of the states where recreational marijuana is now permitted. The broader cannabis economy has evolved rapidly alongside these policy shifts, with legal cannabis sales in the U.S. surging into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Changing Attitudes Toward Marijuana Public perception of cannabis has shifted substantially, particularly among younger Americans. A recent UC San Diego Today article found that teens increasingly view cannabis as less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes, or nicotine vapes. Researchers noted that perceived risk around marijuana declines significantly as students get older, especially by 12th grade. That normalization may partly explain why cannabis consumption patterns are beginning to resemble those historically associated with tobacco rather than alcohol. According to Carnegie Mellon researcher Jonathan Caulkins, roughly 40% of current cannabis users consume daily or near-daily. Health Risks Remain a Concern Despite changing public attitudes, health experts caution that cannabis is not risk-free. The CDC notes that regular cannabis use can contribute to dependency, cognitive impairment, and increased risk of mental health disorders in some users. Meanwhile, heavy alcohol consumption remains strongly linked to liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and impaired driving fatalities. Some experts argue cannabis may pose lower overdose and accident risks than alcohol, but researchers stress that comparing the two substances is complicated because they affect the body differently. What is clear, however, is that America’s relationship with cannabis has fundamentally changed, and daily use is no longer considered fringe behavior. Learn More on the Voronoi App For more insights on global cannabis consumption trends, check out Cannabis Is the World’s Most Used Drug on the Voronoi app.

Published 28 minutes ago on May 15, 2026 By Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Zack Aboulazm Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email View the full-size version of this graphic Five Social Engineering Scams Costing Companies Millions A fake CEO video call cost one company $25 million. Another phishing attack helped steal $81 million from a bank. As AI-powered impersonation and digital fraud become more convincing, social engineering scams are costing businesses millions. This graphic, created in partnership with Inigo, highlights five of the most common tactics used by cybercriminals today. While social engineering takes many forms, it relies on the same principle: tricking people into revealing information or authorizing actions.   1. Deepfake Impersonation Criminals use AI-generated audio or video to impersonate executives or colleagues. As deepfake technology improves, traditional verification methods like phone calls or video meetings are becoming less reliable.  Real-World Example: UK engineering firm Arup lost $25 million when fraudsters posed as managers on a video call and convinced an employee to transfer money. Key Fact: People can only detect deepfakes 55% of the time on average.  2. Vendor Spoofing Fraudsters pretend to be a real supplier and change payment details so a legitimate invoice gets paid to a criminal account.  Real-World Example: Google and Facebook lost more than $120 million after a man impersonated hardware manufacturer Quanta Computer and requested funds be sent to bank accounts he controlled. Key Fact: On average, companies say they had 9 successful cases and 13 attempted cases of vendor spoofing in a year. The typical loss per incident in the U.S. amounted to $133,000. 3. SIM Swap The attacker hijacks the victim’s phone number so one-time passcodes and password resets go to the criminal instead.  Real-World Example: A hacker used a SIM swap to take control of a phone number linked to the SEC, and then hijacked the official X (Twitter) account to post false market information. Key Fact: In a study of five major U.S. wireless carriers, 78% of first attempts at SIM fraud were successful. 4. Phishing A fake email, text, or website tricks the target into clicking, logging in, or opening malware, which gives the attacker a foothold.  Real-World Example: Bangladesh Bank lost $81 million when hackers sent job application themed phishing emails with malicious attachments to employees. Key Fact: U.S. phishing losses have climbed from $19 million in 2023 to $216 million in 2025. 5. Executive Impersonation Fraudsters pretend to be a senior executive and pressure staff into making urgent, secret payments outside normal controls. Real-World Example: Crelan Bank lost about $76 million when a hacker posed as the CEO via email and requested employees send funds to an account they controlled. Key Fact: Globally, 58% of companies have had cases of executive impersonation scams via text or voice. How Social Engineering Is Reshaping Modern Fraud Fraud goes far beyond exploiting technical system weaknesses. Often, criminals are manipulating human trust to bypass security controls through phishing, impersonation, and other forms of social engineering. As AI becomes more advanced, these scams are becoming more convincing, scalable, and difficult to detect. Companies are facing new challenges managing fraud risk in an increasingly digital world. In 2026, turning insight into action will define who stays ahead of fraud. Explore a data-driven view of risk at Inigo’s insights hub. You may also like Crime2 days ago Mapped: Fraud Vulnerability by Country in 2025 Which countries face the highest fraud risk in 2025? 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China vs. America: Who the World Trades With Most 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 2000, only 33 countries traded more with China than with the United States. By 2025, China had become the top goods trading partner for most countries worldwide. Only a handful of African countries still trade more with the U.S. than China. Twenty-five years ago, the United States was the world’s dominant trading power. Today, China has overtaken America as the top goods trading partner for most countries globally. This map compares whether countries traded more with the U.S. or China in 2000 and 2025, based on total bilateral imports and exports using International Monetary Fund Direction of Trade Statistics data. China’s rise was fueled by its emergence as the world’s manufacturing hub and surging demand for commodities like oil, copper, iron ore, and soybeans. When America Dominated Global Trade The United States entered the 21st century on a high note. Following the end of the Cold War, liberal democracy and open markets were expanding across the former Soviet bloc, while global trade centered primarily around the U.S. consumer market. In 2000, only 33 countries traded more with China than the United States. Many of these countries were Chinese neighbors like Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Others were states with strained or no relations with Washington, including Cuba, Iran, Libya, and North Korea. This data table lists countries around the world based on whether they traded more with the U.S. or China in 2000 and 2025. CountryBigger Trade Partner in 2000Bigger Trade Partner in 2025 Afghanistan China China Albania China China Algeria U.S. China American Samoa China China Angola U.S. China AnguillaN/A U.S. Antigua and Barbuda U.S. U.S. Argentina U.S. China Armenia U.S. China Aruba U.S. U.S. Australia U.S. China Austria U.S. U.S. Azerbaijan U.S. China Bahrain U.S. U.S. Bangladesh U.S. China Barbados U.S. U.S. Belarus U.S. China Belgium U.S. U.S. Belize U.S. U.S. Benin China China Bermuda U.S. U.S. Bhutan China China Bolivia U.S. China Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. China Botswana U.S. China Brazil U.S. China Brunei U.S. China Bulgaria U.S. China Burkina Faso U.S. China Burundi U.S. China Cabo Verde U.S. China Cambodia U.S. China Cameroon U.S. China Canada U.S. U.S. Central African Republic U.S. China Chad U.S. China Chile U.S. China Colombia U.S. U.S. Comoros U.S. China Congo Republic U.S. China Costa Rica U.S. U.S. Croatia U.S. China Cuba China China CuraçaoN/A U.S. Cyprus U.S. China Czechia U.S. China Côte d'Ivoire U.S. China DRC U.S. China Denmark U.S. China Djibouti China China Dominica China U.S. Dominican Republic U.S. U.S. Ecuador U.S. U.S. Egypt U.S. China El Salvador U.S. U.S. Equatorial Guinea China China Eritrea U.S. China Estonia U.S. U.S. Eswatini U.S. U.S. Ethiopia U.S. China Falkland Islands (Malvinas) U.S. U.S. Faroe Islands U.S. U.S. Fiji U.S. China Finland U.S. U.S. France U.S. U.S. French Polynesia U.S. U.S. Gabon U.S. China Georgia U.S. China Germany U.S. U.S. Ghana U.S. China Gibraltar China U.S. Greece U.S. China Greenland U.S. China Grenada U.S. U.S. GuamN/A China Guatemala U.S. U.S. Guinea U.S. China Guinea-Bissau China China Guyana U.S. U.S. Haiti U.S. U.S. Honduras U.S. U.S. Hong Kong China China Hungary U.S. China Iceland U.S. U.S. India U.S. China Indonesia U.S. China Iran China China Iraq U.S. China Ireland U.S. U.S. Israel U.S. U.S. Italy U.S. U.S. Jamaica U.S. U.S. Japan U.S. China Jordan U.S. China Kazakhstan China China Kenya U.S. China Kiribati U.S. China KosovoN/A U.S. Kuwait U.S. China Kyrgyzstan China China Laos China China Latvia U.S. China Lebanon U.S. China Lesotho U.S. U.S. Liberia China China Libya China China Lithuania U.S. U.S. Luxembourg U.S. U.S. Macao U.S. China Madagascar U.S. China Malawi U.S. China Malaysia U.S. China Maldives U.S. China Mali U.S. China Malta U.S. China Marshall IslandsN/A China Mauritania China China Mauritius U.S. China Mexico U.S. U.S. MicronesiaN/A China Moldova U.S. China Mongolia China China MontenegroN/A China MontserratN/A U.S. Morocco U.S. China Mozambique U.S. China Myanmar China China Namibia U.S. China Nauru U.S. China Nepal U.S. China Netherlands U.S. U.S. New Caledonia U.S. China New Zealand U.S. China Nicaragua U.S. U.S. Niger U.S. China Nigeria U.S. China North Korea China China North Macedonia U.S. China Norway U.S. China Oman China China Pakistan U.S. China Palau China China Palestine U.S. China Panama U.S. China Papua New Guinea China China Paraguay U.S. U.S. Peru U.S. China Philippines U.S. China Poland U.S. China Portugal U.S. China Qatar U.S. China Romania U.S. China Russia U.S. China Rwanda U.S. China Samoa U.S. China San MarinoN/A U.S. Saudi Arabia U.S. China Senegal U.S. China SerbiaN/A China Seychelles U.S. China Sierra Leone U.S. China Singapore U.S. China Sint MaartenN/A U.S. Slovakia U.S. China Slovenia U.S. China Solomon Islands China China Somalia U.S. China South Africa U.S. China South Korea U.S. China South SudanN/A China Spain U.S. China Sri Lanka U.S. China St. Kitts and Nevis U.S. U.S. St. Lucia U.S. U.S. St. Vincent and the Grenadines U.S. U.S. Sudan China China Suriname U.S. China Sweden U.S. U.S. Switzerland U.S. U.S. Syria U.S. China São Tomé and Príncipe U.S. China Taiwan U.S. China Tajikistan U.S. China Tanzania China China Thailand U.S. China The Bahamas U.S. U.S. The Gambia China China Timor-LesteN/A China Togo China China Tonga U.S. China Trinidad and Tobago U.S. U.S. Tunisia U.S. China Turkmenistan U.S. China TuvaluN/A China Türkiye U.S. China Uganda U.S. China Ukraine U.S. China United Arab Emirates U.S. China United Kingdom U.S. U.S. Uruguay U.S. China Uzbekistan U.S. China Vanuatu U.S. China Vatican CityN/A U.S. Venezuela U.S. U.S. Vietnam China China Yemen China China Zambia China China Zimbabwe U.S. China Everything began to shift during the 2000s as China opened further to the world economy, highlighted by the country’s 2001 accession to the World Trade Organization. Alongside domestic economic reforms, WTO membership accelerated China’s rise as a global manufacturing powerhouse. Over the years that followed, China became the top trading partner of major emerging markets including Brazil and Russia. Its cheaper manufacturing boosted exports worldwide, while its growing demand for key commodities fueled growth across developing economies. Commodities Boom and Manufacturing Powerhouse The commodities boom of the 2000s and early 2010s helped solidify China’s central role in the global economy. By 2012, it had become the world’s second-largest economy while lifting many of its trading partners’ fortunes along the way. Soaring Chinese demand for commodities like iron ore, soybeans, copper, and oil benefited many countries across the Global South that were rich in natural resources. Brazil, Iran, Nigeria, and Russia were among the many developing economies to benefit from rising commodity prices. At the same time, Chinese manufacturing became the lower-cost alternative for firms across North America, Western Europe, and East Asia. Factories increasingly offshored production to China, while consumers benefited from cheaper goods. China’s Global Trade Expansion By 2025, China had become the dominant trade partner across much of Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. All of South America’s major economies except Colombia and Venezuela now trade more with Beijing than Washington, while only two African countries, Lesotho and Eswatini, still trade more with the United States. The U.S. maintains a dominant position across much of North America, but Israel is the only major economy in the Middle East or Indo-Pacific that still trades more with Washington than Beijing. Meanwhile, Europe remains split down the middle. France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom still trade more with the U.S., while countries including Poland and Spain have deepened their trade ties with China. Learn More on the Voronoi App Curious how China’s rise has reshaped infrastructure investment? Check out China Has More High-Speed Rail Than the Rest of the World Combined on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Biggest Gold Producers See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways China remained the world’s largest gold producer in 2024, mining more than 380 tonnes. African countries collectively produced nearly one-quarter of global gold supply. Russia, Australia, Canada, and the U.S. ranked among the world’s top producers. Gold production remains heavily concentrated among a small group of mining powers led by China, Russia, and Australia. But one of the biggest stories in the global gold market is Africa’s growing role. Collectively, African countries now account for nearly one-quarter of the world’s mine production, with Ghana, Mali, and South Africa among the continent’s leading producers. This visualization ranks the world’s largest gold-producing countries in 2024, based on estimated mine output from the World Gold Council. China Maintains Its Lead China led the world with 380.2 tonnes of gold production in 2024, accounting for more than 10% of the global total. The country has held the top spot for well over a decade thanks to extensive domestic mining operations and strong government support for resource development. RankCountry2024 Gold Production (tonnes) 1 China380.2 2 Russia330.0 3 Australia284.0 4 Canada202.1 5 United States158.0 6 Ghana140.6 7 Mexico140.3 8 Indonesia140.1 9 Peru136.9 10 Uzbekistan129.1 11 Mali100.0 12 South Africa98.9 13 Burkina Faso94.4 14 Kazakhstan87.0 15 Brazil83.7 16 Sudan73.8 17 Guinea68.0 18 Colombia65.8 19 Côte d'Ivoire58.0 20 Tanzania51.8 21 Zimbabwe50.9 22 Papua New Guinea49.8 23 DRC42.3 24 Argentina39.7 25 Philippines38.8 26 Chile34.8 27 Niger33.6 28 Venezuela30.6 29 Turkey30.6 30 Suriname27.7 31 Bolivia26.5 32 Ecuador24.3 33 Kyrgyz Republic23.6 34 Mauritania21.9 35 Liberia20.3 36 Dominican Republic18.4 37 Madagascar16.2 38 Senegal15.3 39 Guyana13.5 40 Mongolia12.6 41 Laos9.9 42 Bulgaria8.6 43 Finland8.5 44 Sweden6.8 --Other233.3 --Total3,661.2 China is not only the world’s largest gold producer, but also one of its biggest consumers. That combination gives the country an outsized role in global gold markets, from mining and refining to jewelry demand and central bank reserves. Meanwhile, Russia remained the second-largest producer despite ongoing sanctions and geopolitical tensions. Australia continued to benefit from its vast mineral reserves and mature mining sector. Africa Emerges as a Global Gold Powerhouse Africa has quietly become one of the world’s most important gold-producing regions, collectively accounting for nearly one-quarter of global mine supply in 2024. Ghana ranked as Africa’s top producer with 140.6 tonnes, followed by Mali and South Africa. Several smaller African economies also rely heavily on gold exports to support government revenues and foreign exchange reserves. Countries like Burkina Faso, Sudan, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire have rapidly expanded gold production over the past decade as mining investment increased across the continent. At the same time, political instability and security risks continue to challenge operations in several gold-producing regions. Despite these hurdles, Africa remains one of the most important growth markets for global mining companies. The Americas Remain a Key Supplier The Americas remain a critical pillar of global gold supply, anchored by Canada, the United States, Mexico, and several major South American producers. Canada produced just over 202 tonnes in 2024, making it the fourth-largest producer globally and the top producer in the Americas. Latin American countries including Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina also contributed significantly to global output. Mexico and the United States remained major contributors as well, producing roughly 140 tonnes and 158 tonnes respectively. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: Which Countries Hold the Most Gold Reserves? on Voronoi, the app from Visual Capitalist.

Mapped: The World’s Most Tourism-Dependent Economies 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 Tourism accounts for nearly 72% of GDP in Andorra, the world’s most tourism-dependent economy. Small island nations dominate the rankings, including Aruba, the Maldives, and the Bahamas. Among major economies, the UAE stands out, with tourism contributing over 10% of GDP. For some countries, tourism is far more than a travel industry. It is the backbone of the economy. This map, created by Iswardi Ishak using data from UN Tourism, shows tourism receipts as a share of GDP across 147 countries. Small island states and microeconomies dominate the rankings, with Andorra, Aruba, and the Maldives generating more than two-thirds of economic output from visitor spending. By contrast, tourism makes up a relatively small share of GDP in larger economies like the U.S. and China, where sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and finance play a much larger role. Countries Driven by Tourism Andorra leads the ranking, with tourism contributing nearly three-quarters of GDP. Aruba and the Maldives follow closely behind, highlighting how small economies tied to beaches, resorts, and international travel can become deeply reliant on visitor spending. RankCountryReceipts (USD, Billions)Receipts as Share of GDP 1 Andorra2.971.8 2 Aruba3.070.3 3 Macao SAR34.670.0 4 Maldives48.068.0 5 Seychelles1.255.4 6 Saint Lucia1.351.0 7 Antigua and Barbuda0.939.9 8 Bahamas5.434.1 9 Cabo Verde0.827.9 10 Grenada0.426.2 11 Belize0.825.9 12 Samoa0.220.4 13 Albania5.420.0 14 St. Vincent and the Grenadines43.019.9 15 Jamaica1.619.5 16 Montenegro14.019.4 17 Barbados11.018.7 18 Fiji0.418.4 19 Gambia16.218.3 20 Croatia0.217.4 21 St. Kitts and Nevis46.016.9 22 Lebanon2.216.3 23 Mauritius78.014.7 24 Jordan47.014.6 25 Georgia0.113.8 26 Dominica5.413.1 27 Iceland4.010.8 28 Cyprus37.010.6 29 El Salvador27.010.5 30 Armenia57.010.4 31 UAE0.110.3 32 Tonga30.010.2 33 Portugal14.89.6 34 Morocco23.49.2 35 Dominican Republic0.19.1 36 Sao Tome and Principe44.88.5 37 Thailand75.08.5 38 Luxembourg1.38.0 39 Laos3.67.9 40 Cambodia66.07.8 41 Panama2.07.6 42 Bosnia and Herzegovina0.26.8 43 Bhutan106.56.7 44 Spain25.86.2 45 Malaysia24.76.1 46 Timor-Leste5.65.9 47 Costa Rica2.95.9 48 Tunisia44.05.7 49 Tanzania1.05.6 50 Kyrgyz Republic1.05.5 51 Singapore275.05.0 52 Slovenia3.64.9 53 Austria0.24.9 54 Egypt26.34.6 55 Turkiye18.04.4 56 Zambia60.04.4 57 Bulgaria11.04.2 58 Namibia48.04.2 59 Hungary0.64.1 60 Uzbekistan9.24.1 61 Rwanda47.04.1 62 North Macedonia0.64.0 63 New Zealand0.73.8 64 Qatar10.03.8 65 Estonia8.43.7 66 Serbia1.63.7 67 Uganda0.93.5 68 Saudi Arabia19.03.4 69 Sri Lanka42.63.2 70 Latvia3.23.2 71 Australia1.43.2 72 Uruguay55.43.1 73 Mongolia2.53.1 74 Botswana0.73.0 75 Denmark0.62.9 76 Czechia12.42.9 77 Paraguay10.12.7 78 Azerbaijan1.22.7 79 Iraq2.02.7 80 Nicaragua74.02.6 81 Vietnam0.52.6 82 Switzerland12.22.5 83 Italy23.42.5 84 France58.72.4 85 United Kingdom77.02.4 86 Oman89.62.4 87 Lithuania2.62.4 88 Canada2.02.3 89 Colombia51.32.2 90 Honduras9.42.1 91 Sweden0.82.1 92 Norway12.42.0 93 Moldova95.01.9 94 Solomon Islands0.01.9 95 Mexico35.01.9 96 Philippines87.01.9 97 Netherlands22.61.9 98 Trinidad and Tobago0.41.7 99 South Africa68.01.7 100 Poland15.51.7 101 Japan64.01.6 102 Guatemala17.01.5 103 Romania5.71.5 104 Nepal0.61.5 105 Bahrain28.01.5 106 Ghana1.21.5 107 Ecuador1.81.4 108 Kuwait2.31.4 109 Bolivia0.81.4 110 Finland42.01.4 111 Belgium9.41.4 112 Peru4.01.4 113 Indonesia18.31.3 114 Ireland79.01.3 115 Slovakia17.01.2 116 Malta3.61.2 117 Djibouti0.11.2 118 Mozambique0.31.2 119 South Korea22.21.2 120 Chile3.81.2 121 Kazakhstan2.91.0 122 Palestine0.11.0 123 Germany411.00.9 124 Brunei Darussalam0.10.9 125 Ethiopia1.20.8 126 India31.40.8 127 Argentina49.00.8 128 United States213.00.7 129 Suriname0.00.7 130 Ukraine1.20.6 131 Israel3.20.6 132 Cuba1.30.5 133 Zimbabwe0.20.5 134 Lesotho0.00.4 135 Russia9.00.4 136 Eswatini0.00.4 137 Niger0.10.4 138 Brazil79.00.4 139 China55.20.3 140 Pakistan8.00.2 141 Haiti0.00.2 142 Tajikistan0.00.1 143 Nigeria0.30.1 144 Algeria0.10.1 145 Mauritania0.00.0 146 Kiribati0.00.0 147 Papua New Guinea0.00.0 Why Some Countries Depend on Tourism More Than Others For large economies like the U.S. or China, tourism receipts represent a relatively small slice of overall output. Technology, manufacturing, finance, and domestic consumption play a much larger role in economic activity. Smaller economies often have fewer paths to growth. Many island nations lack the scale, resources, or industrial base needed to compete in manufacturing or technology. Tourism, by contrast, can generate foreign income quickly while supporting jobs across hotels, restaurants, transportation, and retail. Among larger economies, the UAE is one of the most tourism-dependent, with visitor spending contributing more than 10% of GDP. Portugal and Greece also rank relatively high, supported by strong international travel demand and major coastal tourism industries. The Benefits and Risks of Tourism Dependency Tourism can deliver enormous advantages. It generates foreign exchange earnings, supports local businesses, and can accelerate infrastructure investment, including airports and transit systems. Countries with thriving tourism sectors often benefit from increased global connectivity as international travel demand continues recovering post-pandemic. Heavy reliance on tourism also creates major risks. During the pandemic, some of the world’s most tourism-dependent economies experienced severe economic contractions as flights stopped and borders closed almost overnight. Environmental pressures add another layer of risk. Overtourism can strain ecosystems, housing affordability, and public infrastructure, particularly in small coastal destinations already facing climate-related threats. Can Tourism Economies Diversify? Many tourism-dependent countries are now trying to reduce their exposure to external shocks without abandoning the industry entirely. Policymakers are increasingly promoting higher-value tourism and digital industries to broaden economic growth. Still, diversification is easier said than done. Countries with limited natural resources or small populations may lack the scale to build large manufacturing or technology sectors. In those cases, tourism remains less of a temporary strategy and more of a long-term comparative advantage. For many countries, tourism will remain a long-term economic pillar. The challenge now is making these economies more resilient by expanding into new industries, attracting higher-value tourism, and reducing exposure to future travel disruptions. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Biggest Tourism Spenders on the Voronoi app.

Mapped: America’s Gender Earnings Gap by State See visuals like this from many other data creators 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 Men earn at least 20% more than women in 13 states, with the widest earnings gaps concentrated in the South and Mountain West. Louisiana, Utah, and Idaho report some of America’s largest gender earnings gaps, driven partly by male-dominated industries like energy, manufacturing, and technology. Northeastern and coastal states, including Vermont, New York, and California, tend to show smaller earnings gaps between men and women. Men working full-time in the U.S. still earn significantly more than women on average, but the size of that earnings gap varies dramatically depending on where Americans live and work. This map uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) to compare median annual earnings for male and female full-time workers across all 50 states. While national conversations often focus on equal pay for equal work, economists point out that broader factors like industry mix, occupational concentration, caregiving patterns, and leadership representation also shape statewide earnings differences. Where the Median Earnings Gap by Gender is Largest The table below highlights the states with the widest gender earnings gaps and the economic forces behind them. RankStateMedian earnings gap ($)Earnings Gap (%) 1Utah18,74035.9 2Louisiana16,74636.7 3Idaho16,14732.2 4Washington14,53421.6 5West Virginia14,39231.2 6New Jersey14,37421.6 7Alabama14,30130.4 8North Dakota14,01327.1 9New Hampshire13,95522.7 10Michigan13,73926.2 11District of Columbia13,66113.9 12Connecticut13,60520.6 13Ohio13,52426.1 14Virginia12,72120.8 15Wisconsin12,51823.5 16Wyoming12,31724.6 17Georgia12,31323.7 18Iowa12,22723.9 19Pennsylvania11,93921.4 20Illinois11,89320.0 21Colorado11,66817.8 22Indiana11,25722.0 23Texas11,14821.7 24Missouri10,92721.6 25Oklahoma10,92323.8 26Minnesota10,91317.9 27Kansas10,96221.5 28Alaska10,79817.7 29South Carolina10,61521.1 30Montana10,58920.9 31South Dakota10,55820.8 32Nebraska10,45220.3 33Nevada10,42620.7 34Tennessee10,38820.6 35North Carolina10,15919.6 36Arkansas10,09722.4 37Oregon10,09516.7 38New Mexico10,07020.1 39Arizona9,96918.7 40Mississippi9,91422.7 41Kentucky9,88820.1 42Massachusetts9,78413.5 43Florida9,63819.1 44Maine8,71215.5 45California8,39013.2 46Maryland8,31711.7 47Delaware7,98514.0 48Hawaii7,60813.8 49New York6,2289.5 50Vermont6,0489.9 The widest earnings gaps are concentrated in the South and Mountain West, while Northeastern and coastal states generally report smaller differences. Louisiana and Utah stand out at opposite ends of the country, but for surprisingly similar structural reasons. Stand Out States Louisiana consistently ranks among the states with the largest gender earnings gaps. A major reason is the state’s concentration of high-paying energy and petrochemical jobs, sectors that remain heavily male-dominated. Oil, gas, and industrial employers along the Gulf Coast help drive high median earnings for men, while women working full-time are more concentrated in healthcare, education, and administrative support roles that generally pay less on average. Utah highlights how fast-growing high-income industries can widen earnings gaps when top-paying technical and leadership roles remain disproportionately male. Women working full-time are also more concentrated in clerical, healthcare-support, retail, and service occupations that typically offer lower pay growth. Research from organizations like the AAUW and Status of Women Data shows that occupational segregation, where men and women cluster in different industries and job types, remains one of the biggest drivers of wage disparities nationwide. Educated Service Economies Fare Better At the other end of the spectrum, states like New York, Vermont, Maryland, California, and Massachusetts report some of the narrowest earnings gaps in the country. States with smaller earnings gaps tend to have larger professional-service economies, higher female college attainment, and more women working in higher-paying occupations. At the same time, extraction industries and heavy manufacturing, which often generate very high wages for men, play a smaller role in the local economy. In many of these states, women are also more represented in higher-paying professional occupations, including law, finance, medicine, and management. While disparities still exist, the earnings gap narrows when women have greater access to sectors tied to overall wage growth. Can the Gender Earnings Gap Continue to Narrow? Importantly, this data measures overall median earnings differences between male and female full-time workers, not unequal pay for the exact same job. Federal law requires equal pay for equal work under many circumstances, including protections enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor. However, economists and labor researchers point to several broader forces that continue to influence earnings differences. Career interruptions resulting from caregiving responsibilities and unequal representation in leadership positions significantly contribute to the gender earnings gap. Nonetheless, there are also signs of gradual progress. Younger women now outpace men in college attainment nationally, and the long-term gap has steadily narrowed over time. Expanding access to higher-paying industries and improving representation in leadership roles could help further reduce disparities in the years ahead. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Countries with the Biggest Gender Disparities in Their Workforces on the Voronoi app.Use This Visualization

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Most Prosperous 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 Norway ranks as the world’s most prosperous country in 2026, leading a Nordic-heavy top 10. The U.S. places 38th overall despite having the world’s largest economy. Europe dominates the rankings, while Singapore leads Asia at 18th globally. The world’s richest countries are not always the most prosperous. According to the Atlantic Council’s 2026 Prosperity Index, the world’s most prosperous countries tend to combine economic strength with high living standards. Meanwhile, the U.S. places 38th overall, far below many smaller advanced economies, highlighting the gap between wealth creation and broader quality of life. Europe Leads Global Prosperity Rankings Europe dominates the rankings, claiming 30 of the top 40 spots. Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden all place in the global top five. With a GDP per capita of $90K, top-ranked Norway benefits from a resource-rich economy in which oil revenues are channeled into its $2.2 trillion sovereign wealth fund. Having doubled in size over the past decade, the fund helps finance public services such as healthcare and education while supporting long-term economic stability. High-ranking Iceland and Denmark also combine expansive social programs with competitive business environments and high levels of public trust. Along with their smaller populations, these factors can support stronger overall quality-of-life outcomes. The rankings below measure how effectively countries convert wealth into broader living standards, including healthcare, education, equality, minority well-being, and environmental quality. RankCountry2026 Prosperity Index 1 Norway91.6 2 Iceland90.1 3 Denmark90.0 4 Sweden89.4 5 Ireland89.1 6 Switzerland88.9 7 Belgium88.7 8 Finland88.4 9 Netherlands88.1 10 Slovenia87.9 11 Luxembourg87.3 12 Czechia87.2 13 Germany87.1 14 Australia86.7 15 New Zealand85.9 16 Malta85.6 17 Austria85.3 18 Singapore84.7 19 Cyprus84.3 20 Canada84.2 21 Estonia84.2 22 Spain84.0 23 France83.7 24 Japan83.6 25 Slovakia83.5 26 South Korea83.1 27 Lithuania82.8 28 Taiwan82.7 29 United Kingdom82.7 30 Italy82.6 31 Portugal82 32 Latvia81.7 33 Greece81.5 34 Poland80.8 35 UAE80.0 36 Croatia79.9 37 Israel79.9 38 U.S.79.8 39 Hungary79.0 40 Uruguay79.0 Notably, Central European economies such as Slovenia (#10) and Czechia (#12) outperform many larger and wealthier peers. Strong performances in equality, healthcare, and education help these countries rank ahead of major economies including Germany (#13) and France (#23). Their performance suggests that prosperity is shaped not only by national wealth, but also by how evenly resources and opportunities are distributed across society. Singapore Leads Asia in Prosperity Singapore ranks 18th globally, standing out for its high GDP per capita of $93K and strong public infrastructure. It also has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Its ranking reflects decades of state-led investment in housing, healthcare, transportation, and education, helping transform Singapore into one of the world’s most efficient and competitive economies. Overall, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan all rank in the top 30, scoring well economically but often lower than Northern Europe on equality and social indicators. At the same time, aging populations, rising housing costs, and intense work cultures continue to weigh on broader well-being across several advanced Asian economies. Why the U.S. Ranks Behind 37 Other Countries The U.S. ranks 38th overall despite being the world’s largest economy. The country scores relatively poorly on several quality-of-life indicators, including inequality, environmental performance, and access to opportunity among minority groups. It also ranks 46th globally in life expectancy, the lowest among comparable high-income nations. That gap has continued to widen over time. The ranking underscores a broader paradox: while the U.S. remains a global leader in innovation, capital markets, and economic output, those advantages have not translated evenly into health outcomes or social mobility. Prosperity Is About More Than Wealth The 2026 rankings reinforce a growing global reality that economic strength alone no longer guarantees high living standards. Increasingly, the world’s most prosperous countries are those that combine wealth creation with strong institutions, accessible healthcare, social mobility, and sustained investment in citizens’ well-being. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top 50 economies by GDP in 2026.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Biggest Electricity Sources 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 Coal still generates one-third of the world’s electricity, making it the largest single power source globally. Fossil fuels account for 57% of global electricity generation, even as solar and wind continue growing rapidly. Solar and wind now each contribute nearly as much electricity globally as nuclear power. Despite record renewable deployment, fossil fuels still generated the majority of the world’s electricity in 2025. This visualization breaks down the global electricity mix by source, showing that coal alone still accounts for roughly one-third of worldwide power generation. Natural gas remains the second-largest source, highlighting how deeply fossil fuels remain embedded in the global energy system. At the same time, solar and wind continue expanding rapidly and now rival nuclear power in total electricity generation. The data for this visualization comes from Ember, as of 2025. Coal Still Dominates Global Power Generation Coal continues to hold the largest share of global electricity generation at nearly 33%. Much of this demand comes from rapidly industrializing economies where coal remains relatively cheap and widely available. Countries across Asia, particularly China and India, still rely heavily on coal to meet growing electricity needs. RankSourceValue (%) 1Coal32.97 2Natural Gas21.77 3Hydro14.00 4Nuclear8.85 5Solar8.70 6Wind8.50 --Other Fossil2.65 --Other Renewables2.50 Natural gas is the second-largest source, accounting for nearly 22% of global generation. Gas-fired plants are often viewed as a flexible backup for renewable energy because they can ramp production up or down quickly. However, fossil fuels combined still represent close to 57% of worldwide electricity generation. Solar and Wind Continue Their Rapid Expansion Solar and wind are now nearly tied in their contribution to global electricity generation, each supplying roughly 8%–9% of total power. Solar in particular has seen explosive growth over the last decade due to falling panel costs and large-scale installations in China, Europe, and the U.S. Wind energy has also expanded significantly, especially offshore wind projects in Europe and Asia. Together, solar and wind now produce more electricity globally than nuclear power or hydro. Hydro and Nuclear Remain Critical Low-Carbon Sources Hydropower remains the largest low-carbon electricity source globally, contributing 14% of total generation. Many countries rely on hydroelectric dams for stable, dispatchable electricity that can complement intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind. Meanwhile, nuclear power accounts for nearly 9% of global electricity production. Although nuclear growth has been slower in recent years, several countries are investing in next-generation reactors and extending the life of existing plants. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: The Average Cost of Electricity by U.S. State on Voronoi.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Mapped: Where Young Americans Earn the Most 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 Massachusetts has the highest median household income for Americans ages 25–44, at $123.2K. The top earners are heavily concentrated in coastal states and Washington, D.C. In 14 states plus D.C., young households have median incomes above $100K. Young Americans earn far more in some states than others. Using the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, this map shows the median household income for Americans ages 25–44 across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Massachusetts ranks first at $123.2K, followed closely by Washington, D.C. and New Jersey. At the other end, Mississippi ranks last at $66K, meaning young households in Massachusetts earn about 87% more. But higher income does not always mean greater financial comfort. Many of the highest-earning states also have some of the country’s steepest housing and living costs. Young Americans Earn the Most in Coastal States The top 10 states show a clear pattern: young households tend to earn the most in places with large metro economies, high education levels, and concentrations of high-wage industries. RankStateMedian Household Income 2024(Ages 25-44) 1Massachusetts$123,206 2District of Columbia$122,917 3New Jersey$118,481 4New Hampshire$114,924 5Washington$112,374 6California$110,732 7Colorado$109,174 8Maryland$108,041 9Connecticut$105,621 10Utah$101,756 11New York$101,393 12Minnesota$101,311 13Virginia$101,267 14Alaska$101,155 15Hawaii$101,085 16Oregon$98,287 17Vermont$97,695 18Delaware$96,154 19Rhode Island$95,063 20Maine$93,626 21Illinois$92,743 22North Dakota$92,180 23Idaho$92,066 24Arizona$91,212 25Wisconsin$91,202 26Pennsylvania$90,401 27Nebraska$88,672 28Montana$88,441 29Nevada$87,394 30Kansas$87,035 31Georgia$86,411 32Florida$85,890 33Iowa$85,436 34Texas$85,373 35North Carolina$84,527 36Wyoming$84,372 37South Dakota$84,351 38Missouri$82,996 39Ohio$82,241 40Michigan$82,236 41South Carolina$82,010 42Tennessee$81,377 43Indiana$80,602 44Kentucky$77,680 45Alabama$75,634 46New Mexico$75,190 47Oklahoma$74,976 48West Virginia$73,003 49Arkansas$71,747 50Louisiana$70,700 51Mississippi$65,978 -- U.S. State Average$91,928 In Massachusetts, the median household income for Americans ages 25–44 is $123.2K, likely driven by its highly educated workforce. Washington, D.C. also ranks near the top at $122.9K, alongside Washington ($112.4K) and California ($110.7K). Overall, eight of the top 10 states are located on either the East or West Coast. Mountain West states like Colorado ($109.2K) and Utah ($101.8K) also rank highly, reflecting the growth of tech, professional services, and other high-wage industries. At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and West Virginia report the country’s lowest median incomes for young households, all below $72K. These states generally have lower concentrations of high-wage industries and lower rates of bachelor’s degree attainment. High Salaries, High Living Costs But higher incomes do not always translate into greater financial comfort. Several of the top-ranked states, including Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey, also have some of America’s highest housing costs. In many large coastal metros, rising rents, childcare expenses, and home prices absorb a substantial share of household earnings. While Massachusetts households earn the most, a median family of four retains just 16% of its paycheck after major expenses, compared to the U.S. average of 24.7%. By comparison, households in states such as Iowa and South Dakota keep roughly 35%. That dynamic helps explain why many younger Americans continue relocating to lower-cost states in the South and Mountain West, even if salaries are lower on paper. Ultimately, the best-paying states are not always the easiest places to get ahead. For many young households, the question is whether higher salaries are enough to offset housing, childcare, and everyday costs. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on where wealth is moving in America.

Published 4 hours ago on May 13, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email Mapped: Fraud Vulnerability by Country in 2025 Fraud continues to evolve across the global economy. Criminal networks now move faster, scale wider, and exploit digital systems more effectively than ever before. Businesses face rising pressure from identity theft, cybercrime, financial scams, and other organized crimes. At the same time, countries differ sharply in their ability to prevent and respond to these threats. This visualization, created in partnership with Inigo, shows how 112 countries rank based on their vulnerability to cybersecurity risks in 2025. Sumsub built the index using four key factors: fraud activity, resource accessibility, government intervention, and economic health. Lower scores indicate stronger resilience against fraud, while higher scores signal greater exposure to risk. Europe Dominates the Top Rankings European countries lead the global rankings for cybersecurity resilience. Luxembourg ranks first overall with a fraud index score of 0.8. Denmark, Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands round out the top five. Switzerland, Sweden, and Austria also perform strongly. RankCountryFraud Index 2025 1 Luxembourg0.8 2 Denmark0.9 3 Finland1.0 4 Norway1.1 5 Netherlands1.1 6 Switzerland1.2 7 New Zealand1.2 8 Sweden1.2 9 Austria1.2 10 Singapore1.4 11 Slovenia1.4 12 Israel1.4 13 Malta1.4 14 Lithuania1.4 15 Australia1.4 16 Ireland1.5 17 Czechia (Czech Republic)1.5 18 Canada1.6 19 Qatar1.6 20 Slovakia1.6 21 Belgium1.7 22 Mauritius1.8 23 Greece1.8 24 Cyprus1.8 25 Hungary1.8 26 Saudi Arabia1.9 27 South Korea1.9 28 Japan2.0 29 Portugal2.0 30 Uruguay2.0 31 United Arab Emirates2.0 32 Chile2.0 33 Thailand2.0 34 Serbia2.1 35 Peru2.1 36 Kazakhstan2.1 37 Spain2.2 38 Germany2.2 39 Panama2.2 40 North Macedonia2.2 41 Kuwait2.2 42 Iceland2.2 43 Estonia2.2 44 Italy2.3 45 France2.3 46 Botswana2.3 47 United Kingdom2.3 48 Albania2.3 49 Bahrain2.4 50 Morocco2.4 51 Georgia2.4 52 El Salvador2.4 53 Jamaica2.4 54 Trinidad and Tobago2.4 55 Costa Rica2.5 56 Jordan2.5 57 Poland2.5 58 Kyrgyzstan2.5 59 Moldova2.5 60 Paraguay2.6 61 Bahamas2.6 62 Guatemala2.6 63 Turkey2.6 64 Barbados2.7 65 Romania2.7 66 Bolivia2.7 67 Tunisia2.8 68 Ecuador2.8 69 Taiwan2.8 70 Mexico2.8 71 Latvia2.8 72 Fiji2.8 73 Mongolia2.9 74 South Africa2.9 75 Maldives3.1 76 Hong Kong3.1 77 Dominican Republic3.1 78 Nicaragua3.2 79 Egypt3.2 80 Bosnia and Herzegovina3.2 81 Belarus3.3 82 Honduras3.3 83 Uzbekistan3.4 84 Philippines3.4 85 Cambodia3.4 86 Malaysia3.5 87 Guyana3.6 88 Ghana3.6 89 Ukraine3.7 90 Algeria3.7 91 United States of America3.8 92 Zimbabwe3.8 93 Lebanon4.0 94 Senegal4.0 95 Argentina4.1 96 China4.1 97 Vietnam4.2 98 Colombia4.2 99 Kenya4.3 100 Armenia4.3 101 Brazil4.4 102 Ethiopia4.4 103 Sri Lanka4.8 104 Azerbaijan4.9 105 Rwanda4.9 106 Bangladesh5.3 107 Uganda5.4 108 Tanzania5.5 109 India6.2 110 Nigeria6.4 111 Indonesia6.5 112 Pakistan7.5 Several Asia-Pacific economies rank near the top as well. Singapore places 10th globally, while Australia ranks 15th and Canada ranks 18th. These countries benefit from strong institutions, stable economies, and tighter regulatory oversight. The rankings also reveal broad regional gaps. Many lower-ranked countries struggle with weaker enforcement systems, limited digital protections, or economic instability. These conditions create more opportunities for fraudulent activity to spread. The U.S. Falls Into the Bottom 20% The United States ranks 91st out of 112 countries with a fraud index score of 3.8. That places the country in the bottom 20% globally. China ranks even lower at 96th, while Vietnam places 97th overall. The findings highlight how cybersecurity risk now affects both emerging and advanced economies. As digital systems expand, businesses must strengthen fraud prevention strategies across every market they operate in. Fraud Data Matters Cybersecurity risks continue to shift across industries, technologies, and borders. 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Ranked: How Economic Power Shifted in the Last 10 Years 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 Japan was the only G20 economy to shrink between 2016 and 2026. Russia’s economy more than doubled in size despite Western sanctions. India nearly caught up with Japan and Germany after expanding its economy by 83%. The global economic order has shifted dramatically over the last decade, with countries reshuffling positions amid inflation shocks, geopolitical tensions, pandemic disruptions, and the rapid rise of AI-driven industries. This graphic compares the world’s 15 largest economies in 2016 and 2026 using IMF World Economic Outlook data, revealing which countries gained ground, which fell behind, and which surprised the most. The U.S. remains the world’s largest economy at $32.4 trillion in 2026 forecasts, while China crossed the $20 trillion mark. India posted one of the fastest growth rates among major economies, while Japan became the only G20 economy to shrink over the decade. The World’s Reordering of Major Economies The period from 2016 to 2026 saw major reordering among the world’s top economies, with Mexico overtaking Spain, India overtaking France, and Russia leapfrogging both Brazil and Canada. The table below lists the world’s 15 largest economies in both 2016 and 2026 based on their nominal GDP in billions of U.S. dollars. RankCountry2016 GDP (billions, USD)2026 GDP (billions, USD)% Change 1 USA18,80532,38472 2 China11,45220,85282 3 Germany3,5365,45354 4 Japan5,1104,379-14 5 UK2,7174,26557 6 India2,2654,15383 7 France2,4703,59646 8 Italy1,8872,73845 9 Russia1,2812,656107 10 Brazil1,7972,63647 11 Canada1,5282,50764 12 Australia1,2682,12468 13 Mexico1,1122,12191 14 Spain1,2432,09168 15 South Korea1,5791,93122 One of the biggest shifts in the rankings came from India, whose economy expanded by 83% between 2016 and 2026. By the end of the period, India’s GDP had nearly caught up with both Japan and Germany. Meanwhile, Germany overtook Japan to become the world’s third-largest economy, despite relatively modest growth compared to emerging markets. Germany’s growth was modest compared to emerging markets like China, India, and Mexico, and was tempered in part by the economic slowdown it faced throughout the post-COVID era. However, Germany still grew faster than other major European Union economies like France (46%) and Italy (45%), though not Spain (68%). The decade between 2016 and 2026 also saw the European Union lose its second-largest member economy, the United Kingdom, in 2020. The UK grew its GDP by 57% to reach $4.3 trillion by 2026. Another Lost Decade for Japan Every major world economy expanded over the last decade, with one notable exception. Japan’s GDP shrank from $5.1 trillion in 2016 to $4.4 trillion in 2026, reflecting a 14% contraction. Following decades of rapid economic expansion in the late 20th century, Japan’s economy has struggled since the 1990s. The government has accumulated a debt-to-GDP ratio of over 200%, while major exporters in the auto and tech sectors have faced rising competition and trade tensions involving both the U.S. and China. Perhaps Japan’s most pressing challenge is its demographic crisis. The country’s population was roughly 5 million larger in 2016 than in 2026, reflecting a decades-long fertility decline that threatens future growth prospects. Russia’s Economic Expansion Russia’s economy more than doubled in size between 2016 and 2026, growing by 107% to reach $2.7 trillion based on IMF forecasts. This expansion came after the Russian financial crisis of 2014–2016, which was driven largely by falling oil prices. Russia’s growth, fueled heavily by oil and gas exports, came despite sanctions imposed after the country’s occupation of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Even as the U.S. and European Union imposed sanctions, Russian energy exports were rerouted toward buyers in China and India, albeit at discounted prices. Learn More on the Voronoi App How do these countries and economic powers compare with individual U.S. states? Find out with The 50 Largest Economies, Including U.S. States on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Most Indebted Households in 2026 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Switzerland has the world’s highest household debt per person at $149,500, more than double U.S. levels. Six of the top 10 countries are in Europe, led by Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Norway. High household debt often reflects large mortgage markets and expensive housing, rather than financial distress alone. Household debt varies widely across the world’s advanced economies, shaped largely by housing prices, mortgage systems, and access to credit. This graphic ranks countries by household debt per capita in 2026, based on data from the Institute of International Finance and the United Nations. Switzerland stands far above every other country, with nearly $150,000 in household debt per person. However, high debt levels do not necessarily signal financial distress. In many economies, they reflect high homeownership rates, long-term mortgage borrowing, and deep credit markets. Which Countries Have the Most Household Debt? Switzerland’s household debt burden is unusually high even among wealthy economies, approaching $150,000 per person. One major factor is Switzerland’s mortgage system, where tax incentives and lending practices often encourage homeowners to carry mortgage debt for longer periods instead of paying it down quickly. Some of the world’s hottest housing markets, including Australia ($83.1K), the U.S. ($60.6K), and Canada ($58.8K), also rank among the most indebted households globally. Canada stands out in particular, with the highest household debt-to-income ratio in the G7 at roughly $1.75 owed for every dollar of disposable income in mid-2025. This table shows the countries with the highest household debt per capita as of Q1 2026: RankCountry Household Debt Per CapitaQ1 2026Total Household DebtQ1 2026 1 Switzerland$149.5K$1.3T 2 Luxembourg$96.0K$66B 3 Norway$87.9K$497B 4 Australia$83.1K$2.3T 5 Denmark$71.4K$430B 6 Netherlands$68.6K$1.3T 7 U.S.$60.6K$21.2T 8 Canada$58.8K$2.4T 9 Sweden$56.0K$599B 10 Hong Kong$49.6K$366B 11 Singapore$46.6K$275B 12 New Zealand$44.3K$234B 13 UK$42.6K$3.0T 14 Belgium$35.8K$421B 15 Finland$35.6K$200B 16 Ireland$33.2K$178B 17 France$30.3K$2.0T 18 South Korea$30.0K$1.5T 19 Germany$29.9K$2.5T 20 Israel$29.7K$287B 21 Austria$27.1K$247B 22 Malta$25.5K$14B 23 Japan$20.5K$2.5T 24 Portugal$18.6K$193B 25 Spain$17.5K$835B 26 Cyprus$15.9K$22B 27 Italy$15.9K$934B 28 UAE$13.8K$160B 29 Estonia$13.5K$18B 30 Kuwait$12.9K$66B 31 Slovakia$12.7K$69B 32 Czechia$12.2K$128B 33 Saudi Arabia$11.5K$404B 34 Greece$10.8K$107B 35 Slovenia$9.9K$21B 36 Malaysia$9.7K$353B 37 Croatia$8.9K$34B 38 China$8.7K$12.3T Why U.S. Household Debt Keeps Rising The U.S. ranks seventh globally, but its total household debt is by far the largest in the world at $21.2 trillion in Q1 2026. Much of this is tied to mortgages, though stress has also increased in credit cards and auto loans. While mortgage delinquency rates remain near historical norms, stress is emerging in other areas of consumer finance. Delinquencies on auto loans and credit cards climbed sharply between 2021 and 2025. At the same time, foreclosure activity rose 26% year-over-year in Q1 2026, although levels remain far below those seen during the 2008 housing crisis. Affordability has become a major challenge, with average mortgage payments jumping 44% since 2021 and adding roughly $600 in monthly housing costs for new buyers. As housing costs continue to rise globally, household debt is becoming an increasingly central feature of modern economies. While high debt levels can reflect wealth and homeownership, they also leave households more vulnerable to higher interest rates, economic slowdowns, and declines in property values. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on government debt-to-GDP ratios around the world.

Fraud in Data is Back at Visual Capitalist! Deception that used to be easier to spot is now becoming increasingly difficult to detect. With AI accelerating the scale, speed, and sophistication of fraud, the line between legitimate and malicious activity is blurring fast. In our second year covering Fraud in Data, we’re digging into how these risks are evolving—and what the data reveals about where threats are emerging next. Fraud in Data is a special editorial series from Visual Capitalist, in partnership with Inigo, exploring the shifting landscape of fraud across companies, technologies, and geographies. What We’ll Cover Every other weekday, we’ll publish a new visual or data story unpacking a critical piece of the fraud puzzle. From May 13–25, we’ll break down the data behind: Which countries are most and least vulnerable to fraud How social engineering attacks work, with real-life examples The largest employee embezzlement cases of the past year The most common ways hackers are stealing crypto The largest crypto hacks since 2025 What businesses predict for the future of fraud Who Fraud in Data is For Senior corporate leaders, insurance brokers, and anyone looking to better understand how fraud is evolving—and where risks may be hiding in plain sight. About Our Sponsor Fraud in Data is an editorial partnership between Visual Capitalist and Inigo, a global specialty insurance and reinsurance company. Inigo uses data to turn analysis into insight, and insight into action, so their clients get a clearer view of the risks Inigo can take and the decisions Inigo stands behind. Want to Align Your Brand With an Event Like This? Visual Capitalist editorial weeks bring together data-driven storytelling and a global audience of over 100 million investors, executives, and decision-makers. As a sponsor, your brand gains exclusive visibility during our largest editorial pushes—from homepage takeovers and dedicated newsletters to high-impact distribution across our social channels. If you want your brand’s name in lights, check out our full content calendar to see what’s available for 2026.

Charted: India’s Internet Use Surged 5x in a Decade Key Takeaways India’s internet penetration rose from 15% in 2015 to roughly 70% in 2025. The country now has more than 900 million internet users, second only to China globally. Affordable smartphones and low-cost mobile data helped accelerate adoption across rural India. India’s internet adoption has accelerated dramatically over the last decade, creating one of the world’s largest online populations. The chart above, created by Our World in Data using World Bank data, shows the share of India’s population using the internet from 1990 to 2025. After remaining at just 15% as recently as 2015, India’s internet penetration surged to around 70% in 2025, marking one of the fastest large-scale connectivity expansions globally. India’s Rapid Digital Expansion Much of India’s growth was driven by inexpensive Android smartphones, expanding mobile networks, and some of the world’s cheapest mobile data plans. YearIndia – Share of People Using the Internet 19950.02% 19960.04% 19970.07% 19980.13% 19990.27% 20000.52% 20010.66% 20021.2% 20031.4% 20041.6% 20051.9% 20062.2% 20073.5% 20083.8% 20094.5% 20107.5% 201110.5% 201211.0% 201312.3% 201413.5% 201515.0% 201616.5% 201718.0% 201820.0% 201929.0% 202043.0% 202149.2% 202256.0% 202360.2% 202464.9% 202570.0% India now has one of the world’s largest internet user bases, with reports in 2025 estimating more than 900 million users nationwide. According to India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, much of this expansion has been driven by mobile-first connectivity, particularly in smaller cities and rural regions, narrowing the historical urban-rural divide. How India Compares Globally India’s rapid rise highlights how internet adoption across emerging markets is increasingly driven by mobile connectivity rather than desktop infrastructure. Countries including Indonesia, Nigeria, and Bangladesh are also seeing rapid growth as smartphones become cheaper and wireless coverage expands. However, significant digital gaps still remain worldwide. Many lower-income countries continue to face infrastructure challenges, limited electricity access, and higher connectivity costs that slow adoption rates. Meanwhile, highly connected economies such as South Korea, the United States, and much of Western Europe already have internet penetration rates above 90%, shifting their focus toward faster networks, AI infrastructure, and digital services rather than first-time access. Why India’s Digital Growth Matters India’s growing online population is reshaping everything from banking and shopping to entertainment and government services. With hundreds of millions of new users coming online over the last decade, the country has become one of the world’s largest markets for digital platforms and mobile-first services. As more citizens come online, internet access can improve productivity, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and access to information. Still, internet access alone does not guarantee economic gains. The next challenge for India will be turning connectivity into deeper digital engagement. If managed effectively, the country’s expanding online population could help power one of the world’s largest digital economies over the coming decades. Learn More on the Voronoi App To explore more technology and connectivity trends, check out Visualizing Internet Usage Over Time on the Voronoi app.