Published 9 hours ago on February 17, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email 4 Inputs Driving the Rising Cost of Rebuilding     Key Takeaways The cost of disaster recovery have surged since 2019, driven by higher material and labor prices.        Construction inflation is structural, not temporary, with rebuilding now far more expensive even after supply chains normalized.        Higher costs widen the recovery gap, increasing insurance exposure and long-term economic loss after disasters.        Rebuilding after disasters, from hurricanes and floods to wildfires and tornadoes, is becoming significantly more costly across America. Which inputs are driving this trend? This visualization, created in partnership with Inigo, provides visual context to the rising cost of rebuilding, using data from FRED. Why Rebuilding Is Getting More Expensive According to Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), prices for key construction inputs for new houses and buildings have climbed sharply since 2019. Fabricated metals are up 46.8%, cement 47.4%, and labor costs 31.5%. InputChange since Jan 2019 (%) Fabricated metals46.8 Cement47.4 Lumber26.5 Labor31.5 While the pandemic initially triggered these increases through supply chain disruptions and shortages, prices have remained elevated due to sustained demand for skilled labor, climate-driven rebuilding, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. What This Means for Property Risk These higher costs are reshaping recovery timelines and insurance exposure. In many cases, federal requirements (such as rebuilding to current codes to qualify for FEMA funding) push costs even higher. For property risk teams, the implication is clear: each insured dollar now rebuilds less than it did just a few years ago. 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Published 6 minutes ago on February 17, 2026 By Ryan Bellefontaine Graphics & Design Abha Patil Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Palo Alto How Cyberattackers Gain Access Key Takeaways Identity weaknesses show up in 90% of Unit 42 investigations, so identity is a top control point. Identity-driven techniques drive 65% of initial access, led by social engineering and credential misuse. Excess permissions and token abuse help attackers move faster, so least privilege and session hardening matter. Most breaches don’t start with a rare software exploit. Instead, attackers often gain access by taking over identity and using it like a master key. This graphic, in partnership with Unit 42 by Palo Alto Networks, shows how cyberattackers gain access by exploiting identity paths, based on data from Unit 42 incident-response investigations. Identity Is the Practical Perimeter Here is a table that summarizes the main identity-driven routes attackers use to gain access. Initial Access 1Initial Access 2Initial Access 3Percentage OtherOtherOther35% Identity-based techniquesIdentity-based social engineeringIdentify-based phishing22% Identity-based techniquesIdentity-based social engineeringOther social engineering11% Identity-based techniquesCredential misuse and brute forceCredential misuse13% Identity-based techniquesCredential misuse and brute forceBrute force8% Identity-based techniquesIdentity policy and insider riskInsider threats8% Identity-based techniquesIdentity policy and insider riskIAM misconfigurations3% In the past year, Unit 42 found identity weaknesses played a material role in 90% of investigations. As SaaS and cloud use grow, identity now acts as the perimeter. Here, “identity-driven” specifically means abusing credentials, sessions, multi-factor workarounds, or permissions to look legitimate. Because that activity blends in, defenders often lose precious time. The Way In: Identity-Driven Initial Access Identity-based techniques drive 65% of initial access in Unit 42’s casework. However, many organizations still focus more on patching than authentication, and many still repeat common cybersecurity mistakes that attackers exploit.Social engineering leads at 33%, including phishing designed to bypass MFA and hijack sessions. Meanwhile, credential misuse and brute-force attacks account for 21%, and policy or insider abuse accounts for 11%. The Way Through: Identity Turns Access Into Impact Once attackers log in, they can escalate privileges and move laterally with fewer alarms. In turn, Unit 42 found 99% of 680,000 cloud identities held excessive permissions. Token theft and risky OAuth grants also let adversaries persist without repeated logins. Consequently, one over-privileged human or machine identity can expand the blast radius quickly. Countermeasures That Disrupt Identity Attacks Start with phishing-resistant MFA such as passkeys or FIDO2 keys for high-value roles. Next, rotate machine credentials, shorten sessions, and shift admins to just-in-time elevation. You can also connect identity telemetry across cloud and SaaS to spot unusual access chains sooner. See why cyberattacks are getting 4x faster Related Topics: #social engineering #cyber intrusions #phishing #cyberattacks #technology Click for Comments var disqus_shortname = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com"; var disqus_title = "Visualized: How Cyberattackers Gain Access"; var disqus_url = "https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/pal01-how-cyberattackers-gain-access/"; var disqus_identifier = "visualcapitalist.disqus.com-195539"; You may also like Technology8 months ago Ranked: The World’s Most Common Passwords Explore the most common passwords globally, and see why predictable choices make accounts vulnerable to hacking. Cities3 years ago Ranked: The World’s Most Surveilled Cities The world’s most surveilled cities contain hundreds of thousands of cameras. View this infographic to see the data in perspective. Privacy5 years ago Mapped: The Top Surveillance Cities Worldwide Which cities have the most CCTV cameras? This map reveals the top surveillance cities worldwide in terms of the prevalence of CCTV cameras. Maps6 years ago Mapped: The State of Facial Recognition Around the World Mass surveillance is becoming the status quo. This map dives into the countries where facial recognition technology is in place, and how it’s used. Technology6 years ago Why Biometric Security is the Future Buoyed by innovation and user-friendly experiences, biometric security measures will soon be a mainstream method of keeping your online accounts safe. Privacy7 years ago Visualizing Internet Suppression Around the World Freedom of speech on the internet has been on decline for eight consecutive years. We visualize the death spiral to show who limits speech the most. 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 U.S. Pension Retirees Now Outnumber Active Workers See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways U.S. public pension retirees have outnumbered active workers since 2012. This shift means fewer contributors supporting a growing number of beneficiaries. Pension systems are increasingly reliant on investment returns to close the gap. In 2012, America’s public pension system reached a demographic tipping point: retirees began to outnumber the active workers funding them. More than a decade later, that reversal remains in place. As Americans live longer and public workforce growth slows, pension systems are paying out more in benefits than they collect from contributors, increasing their reliance on investment returns to stay funded. This visualization, using data from the Equable Institute, tracks the number of active public employees contributing to pension systems versus retirees receiving benefits from 2001 to 2024. 2012: A Historic Turning Point In 2001, there were 12.7 million active workers supporting 7.6 million retirees. However, by 2012, retirees (13.3 million) surpassed active workers (13.2 million). Since then, the gap has widened. By 2023, there were 19.5 million retirees compared to 13.7 million active workers. Although 2024 shows a modest rebound in active workers to 14.5 million, retirees still significantly outnumber contributors. YearActive Workers (Millions)Retirees (Millions) 200112.77.6 200212.98.0 200313.08.7 200412.99.3 200513.29.9 200613.210.6 200713.510.9 200813.711.3 200913.711.8 201013.712.3 201113.412.7 201213.213.3 201313.013.9 201413.114.3 201513.314.7 201613.315.3 201713.615.5 201813.516.3 201913.216.6 202013.516.6 202113.117.6 202213.418.8 202313.719.5 202414.518.8 Why the Worker-to-Retiree Ratio Matters Pension systems rely on three main funding sources: employee contributions, employer contributions, and investment income. When active workers decline relative to retirees, contribution inflows shrink while benefit payments rise. This creates a funding gap: benefit payments exceed contributions from active workers. To cover the difference, pension funds must rely more heavily on investment returns, increasing exposure to market volatility. Longer Lives, Greater Pressure Longer retirements mean benefits are paid out for more years per beneficiary. At the same time, slower public workforce growth limits the base of contributors supporting those payments. Even strong investment years may not fully offset this structural shift. For policymakers, the challenge is balancing sustainability with benefit security. Options often include contribution adjustments, benefit reforms, or changes to investment strategies. The growing retiree population reflects broader aging trends across the U.S., which are reshaping public finances at both the state and local level. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Which States Have The Highest Share of Retirement-Age Workers? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: U.S. States by AI and Data Center Jobs 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 There are nearly half a million jobs in the AI-infrastructure and data center categories in the United States. California has the most jobs at 81,577, about 17% of the country total. There are 11 states that have fewer than 1,000 jobs in this subsector. Alaska has the fewest of any state at just 119. The AI boom isn’t just about chatbots and software. It’s also creating thousands of jobs tied to the physical infrastructure that powers large-scale computing. As companies race to build data centers and expand AI capacity, employment tied to AI infrastructure has climbed to 482,716 jobs nationwide, according to 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This map ranks all 50 states by AI and data center employment, highlighting where this fast-growing segment of the tech economy has taken root—and which states have built the deepest talent bases. The AI and Data Center Boom: Jobs by State California leads the nation with 81,577 AI and data center jobs, accounting for about 17% of the U.S. total. While California dominates in total jobs, Washington ranks first on a per capita basis, with 289.8 roles per 100,000 residents. This is partially thanks to being home base to companies like Microsoft and Amazon. RankStateData Center and AI Jobs (2025)Per capita (Jobs per 100k population) 1California81,577204.5 2Texas48,029148.2 3Florida28,682118.0 4New York27,849138.4 5Georgia24,137211.5 6Washington23,650289.8 7Virginia20,434228.0 8Illinois16,625129.4 9New Jersey16,047164.7 10Missouri14,520229.7 11Colorado13,290219.0 12Pennsylvania13,06098.9 13Ohio13,016108.5 14North Carolina12,439109.3 15Arizona10,936140.2 16Michigan10,21499.6 17Massachusetts10,128139.2 18Wisconsin8,377139.1 19Utah8,276228.3 20Tennessee7,918107.2 21Oregon7,653177.6 22Minnesota7,313124.5 23Maryland5,49186.4 24Connecticut4,408117.9 25Arkansas4,048129.5 26South Carolina4,01070.8 27Indiana3,93156.1 28Alabama3,79172.4 29Kentucky3,68479.0 30Iowa3,545107.8 31Louisiana3,23470.0 32Nevada3,04590.3 33Kansas2,53784.3 34Nebraska2,205108.1 35New Hampshire2,128149.6 36Oklahoma1,65039.7 37District of Columbia1,636233.7 38Idaho1,27161.6 39West Virginia1,19567.6 40Mississippi1,13238.5 41New Mexico99846.5 42Maine80957.1 43Rhode Island69661.6 44Hawaii53436.7 45Delaware51647.6 46Montana51644.9 47Vermont48474.7 48South Dakota40443.1 49North Dakota31338.6 50Wyoming21636.4 51Alaska11915.9 -- U.S. Totals482,716139.2 More populous states like Texas (48,029), Florida (28,682), and New York (27,849) are all at the top of the leaderboard in absolute terms. That said, the latter two (Florida and New York) are actually below average in per capita terms. Silicon Slopes and the Data Center Capital of the World When sorting the list in per capita terms, the states Utah, Missouri, and Virginia stand out—all making the top five. Virginia has the world’s largest concentration of data centers (Northern Virginia’s “Data Center Alley”), driven by hyperscalers, federal demand, and dense fiber connectivity. Utah is known in the tech industry as “Silicon Slopes”, with a budding startup ecosystem, strong SaaS presence, and tax-friendly policies for data center investment. Finally, Missouri is an emerging Midwest tech hub with growing cloud, geospatial intelligence, and defense-tech activity, supported by low-cost power and central U.S. connectivity. Learn More on the Voronoi App Learn more about data center electricity demand by region in this visualization on Voronoi.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: What Powers Each U.S. State and Canadian Province? 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 Renewables generate 67% of Canada’s electricity, compared to just 22% in the U.S. Natural gas is the top power source in most U.S. states, while hydro dominates in Canada. Coal, nuclear, wind, solar, and even petroleum still lead in select regions. What powers your state or province? The answer depends heavily on where you live. While natural gas dominates much of the United States, Canada generates two-thirds of its electricity from renewables, largely thanks to hydro power. This map shows the single largest source of electricity generation in every U.S. state and Canadian province and territory, as of September 2025. The data for this visualization comes from the Canadian Centre for Energy Information and Ember. Overall, renewables account for 67% of the power mix in Canada, compared to 22% in the United States. Natural Gas Dominates the U.S. Map Natural gas is the leading source of electricity in over half of U.S. states. From Texas and Florida to Pennsylvania and Virginia, gas-fired power plants anchor local grids. This shift reflects the shale boom of the past 15 years, which made gas abundant and relatively cheap. As coal plants retired, natural gas stepped in as a flexible replacement. While cleaner than coal, it remains a fossil fuel and a major source of emissions. U.S. StateBiggest Electricity Source AlabamaNatural Gas AlaskaNatural Gas ArizonaNatural Gas ArkansasNatural Gas CaliforniaSolar ColoradoNatural Gas ConnecticutNatural Gas DelawareNatural Gas FloridaNatural Gas GeorgiaNatural Gas HawaiiPetroleum IdahoHydro IllinoisNuclear IndianaCoal IowaWind KansasWind KentuckyCoal LouisianaNatural Gas MaineNatural Gas MarylandNuclear MassachusettsNatural Gas MichiganNatural Gas MinnesotaNatural Gas MississippiNatural Gas MissouriCoal MontanaCoal NebraskaCoal NevadaNatural Gas New HampshireNuclear New JerseyNatural Gas New MexicoWind New YorkNatural Gas North CarolinaNatural Gas North DakotaCoal OhioNatural Gas OklahomaNatural Gas OregonHydro PennsylvaniaNatural Gas Rhode IslandNatural Gas South CarolinaNuclear South DakotaWind TennesseeNuclear TexasNatural Gas UtahCoal VermontHydro VirginiaNatural Gas WashingtonHydro West VirginiaCoal WisconsinNatural Gas WyomingCoal Coal still leads in several states, including West Virginia, Wyoming, and Kentucky—regions historically tied to coal mining and production. Hydro Power Anchors Canada In Canada, hydroelectricity dominates much of the map. Provinces such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador generate most of their electricity from large-scale hydro projects. Canadian ProvinceBiggest Electricity Source AlbertaNatural Gas British ColumbiaHydro ManitobaHydro New BrunswickNuclear Newfoundland & LabradorHydro Northwest TerritoriesPetroleum Nova ScotiaCoal NunavutPetroleum OntarioNuclear Prince Edward IslandWind QuebecHydro SaskatchewanNatural Gas YukonHydro Hydro’s strength comes from geography. Abundant rivers and elevation changes allow Canada to produce stable, low-carbon power at scale. As a result, Canada’s power mix is significantly lower in carbon intensity than that of the United States. However, fossil fuels still play a role. Alberta and Saskatchewan rely primarily on natural gas, while Nova Scotia remains coal-dependent. Nuclear and Wind Carve Out Regional Strongholds Nuclear power leads in several key regions. Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, Tennessee and South Carolina are the U.S. states where nuclear is the largest source of electricity, while Ontario and New Brunswick also rely heavily on nuclear generation in Canada. Wind also stands out across the U.S. Midwest. States like Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and New Mexico generate more electricity from wind than any other source. Prince Edward Island is Canada’s lone wind-dominant province. Meanwhile, solar leads in California, reflecting years of aggressive renewable energy policy and large-scale solar investment. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Visualizing $1.5T in Global Electricity Investment on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: What Matters Most in Life in the U.S., UK, and Germany 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 Family life ranks as the top priority in all three countries, especially in the UK. Americans place more emphasis on personal growth and faith, while Germans prioritize health and security. If you had to choose just three things that matter most in life, what would they be? Across the U.S., UK, and Germany, family and health dominate. But after that, national differences emerge. Germans lean toward security and stability. Americans stand out for money, growth, and faith. In the UK, work-life balance comes into the fold as a top priority. The data for this visualization comes from Statista Consumer Insights. Over 1,000 adults per country were surveyed in January 2026 and asked to select up to three personal values that matter most in their lives. Family Comes First Family life ranks as the most important value in all three countries. In the UK, 51% of respondents selected family as a top priority, the highest share among the three nations. Germany follows at 43%, while 42% of Americans say family matters most. Priority Category United Kingdom (%) Germany (%) United States (%) Family-life514342 Health444940 Making money25-26 Work-life balance24-- Safety/security2230- Freedom/independence-27- Friendships-26- Personal growth--24 Faith/spirituality--21 Because respondents could choose multiple answers, percentages do not sum to 100%. Health and Security Stand Out in Germany Germans place a particularly strong emphasis on health, with 49% identifying it as a top value. Safety and security (30%) and freedom/independence (27%) also rank highly in Germany. Friendships, at 26%, further suggest a focus on stability and social cohesion. Money, Growth, and Faith in the U.S. In the United States, making money ranks relatively high at 26%, slightly above the UK (25%). Americans are also more likely to prioritize personal growth (24%) and faith or spirituality (21%), categories that did not rank among the top responses in the UK or Germany. Work-life balance, cited by 24% in the UK, stands out as a distinctly British priority in this comparison. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Which Countries Are Diligent About Medical Check-Ups? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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. 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Amid tariff increases, consumers’ expectations for U.S. inflation in the next five years have reached their highest level since March 1991. Politics9 months ago Ranked: Executive Orders by President in the First 100 Days In his first 100 days, President Trump has issued far more executive orders than any other president in history. 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 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.