See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Arctic Ice Loss Since 1980, Compared to 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 The Arctic has lost 1.1 million square miles of sea ice since 1980, roughly the size of Argentina. At current trends, it could see nearly ice-free summers by 2050. Since 1980, the Arctic’s summer sea ice has shrunk at a rate of 12.2% per decade, dramatically reshaping the polar region and opening new geopolitical and shipping dynamics. This graphic shows the size of Arctic ice loss since 1980 compared to country land masses, based on data from NASA and the World Bank Group. With such significant amounts of ice loss, these changes to the Arctic are opening up global shipping routes, which can be half as long as traditional routes. How Much Arctic Ice Has Melted? Arctic sea ice fluctuates over the course of the year, with the most shipping activity occurring when it is at its smallest point, known as its annual minimum ice extent. This annual minimum ice extent has shrunk the equivalent of tens of thousands of square miles each year. Below, we compare the change in minimum ice extent from 1980 to 2025 to the world’s largest countries by land area: CountryLand Area (Millions of Square Miles) Russia6.2 China3.6 U.S.3.5 Canada3.4 Brazil3.2 Australia3.0 India1.2 Arctic Ice Loss (1980-2025)1.1 Argentina1.1 Kazakhstan1.0 Algeria0.9 DRC0.9 Saudi Arabia0.8 Mexico0.8 Indonesia0.7 Sudan0.7 In 1980, the Arctic’s minimum ice extent was 1.1 million square miles (2.8 million km²) larger than it was in 2025. Given this rapid ice melt, the Arctic region is projected to be “ice-free” in the summer as soon as 2050. Not only has Greenland been under intense focus, but the Arctic region will become increasingly important for shipping, security, and economic reasons. How Global Powers are Preparing for an Ice-Free Arctic Today, multiple countries including China, Russia, Europe, and the U.S. have developed national strategies for the Arctic region given its growing geopolitical importance. In 2018, China introduced the idea of a “Polar Silk Road,” centered on the Northern Sea Route. This Arctic passage could reduce travel time by nearly 20 days compared to the Suez Canal and is about 40% shorter for ships traveling between China and Northern Europe. Moreover, the Arctic holds an estimated 412 billion barrels of undiscovered oil. Greenland’s rare earth reserves alone are estimated to be 1.5 million metric tons, the eighth-highest in the world. While there has been no rare earth production, melting ice could present huge opportunities should local regulations ease. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this map explainer on the territory of Greenland.

Published 2 hours ago on February 21, 2026 By Cody Good Graphics & Design Jennifer West Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The following content is sponsored by Dubai Future Forum Beyond the Depths: Exploring the Ocean’s Future Key Takeaways Exploring the ocean is key to identifying the 0% of marine species estimated yet to be discovered, holding immense scientific and commercial potential. Ocean investment opportunities are projected to exceed $3 trillion as new technologies and solutions emerge. The ocean has long been a frontier of mystery and untapped promise. Covering over 70% of the planet, it plays a critical role in climate regulation, biodiversity, and global trade. Despite this, much of the ocean remains unexplored, creating both risks and opportunities as humanity looks to the future. In partnership with Dubai Future Forum, this graphic shows how exploration, investment, and innovation are converging to transform our understanding of the ocean. It’s one of four dimensions—Ocean, Mind, Space, and Land—within the Forum’s larger theme, Exploring the Unknown. The data comes from these sources: Seabed 2030 World Register of Marine Species OECD UNCTAD Morgan Stanley The Global 50 Report by Dubai Future Foundation. Exploring the Ocean The ocean’s seafloor remains largely uncharted, with just over 27% mapped to modern standards. Strikingly, the remaining 73% of unmapped seafloor is larger than all Earth’s landmass combined. Without detailed ocean maps, humanity remains blind to features that may influence everything from tectonic activity to biodiversity hotspots. Biodiversity: Discovering Ocean Life Every year, ocean scientists identify and catalog thousands of new marine species, yet they estimate that 91% of ocean life remains unidentified. Here is a table that shows known cumulative discovered marine species over time: YearCumulative Discovered Marine Species 17601,477 17803,646 18008,094 182015,299 184030,492 186059,687 188088,253 1900121,236 1920157,149 1940188,913 1960213,705 1980252,738 2000293,526 2020338,584 2025347,360 Each discovery made while exploring the oceans adds to our scientific understanding and may unlock potential for breakthroughs in medicine and technology. The Blue Economy’s Rising Tide Financial commitments to ocean-related initiatives doubled between 2010 and 2023. Morgan Stanley projects even greater potential for the future with over $3 trillion in ocean investment opportunities to add to the global economy. Here is a table that shows ocean funding by sector, comparing 2010 to 2023: Sector2010 ($ Millions)2023 ($ Millions) Maritime Transport1,0522,418 Marine Fisheries & Other Industries392743 Marine Protection372990 Other115515 Health & Rehabilitation400101 Ocean Policy & Management180138 Energy & Minerals5138 The largest opportunity is in decarbonizing marine transportation valued at $1,200B, followed by marine ecosystem protection ($1,100B), renewable energy ($840B), and sustainable aquaculture ($225B). Looking Ahead: The Future of Oceans The ocean’s future is being driven by rapid advances in pollution remediation and energy developments. To continue exploring the ocean and its biggest emerging opportunities shaping the future with the Dubai Future Foundation’s Global 50 report. Learn more about the Dubai Future Forum. You may also like Innovation4 weeks ago Ranked: How Global R&D Spending Growth Has Shifted Since 2000 As global R&D spending hits all-time highs, we rank the top 20 countries with the fastest-growth in R&D expenditure since 2000. Technology5 months ago Ranked: The World’s Most Innovative Countries in 2025 Explore the most innovative countries in 2025, with Switzerland, South Korea, and China making major moves in the Global Innovation Index. Technology8 months ago Charted: The Rise of China’s R&D Spending China’s R&D spending has grown nearly sixfold in the last two decades. Innovation8 months ago Mapped: The Top 50 Global Science and Technology Clusters Asia dominates the global innovation landscape, with 15 of the top 50 science and technology clusters in China. Innovation10 months ago These 18 Industries Could Reshape the Global Economy by 2040 Discover the biggest industries in 2040, from AI to biotech, as emerging sectors generate up to $48 trillion in revenue. Maps1 year ago Mapped: Venture Capital Deal Value by Region (1997 vs. 2023) In the last two decades, Asia has overtaken Europe when it comes to cornering venture capital deals. China is a big part of that success. Subscribe Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Join 375,000+ email subscribers: *Sign Up

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: The Share of Each Country That Lives in Its Largest City 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 some countries, nearly 100% of urban residents live in a single city. In giants like the U.S., China, and India, less than 10% live in their largest metro. Globally, just 16% of urban residents live in their country’s biggest city. In some nations, one city towers over the rest. In others, populations are spread across multiple large metros with no single dominant hub. This map shows the share of each country’s urban population living in its largest city, revealing where megacities dominate and where people are far more dispersed. The data for this map comes from the World Bank. Globally, only 16% of urban residents live in their country’s largest city, suggesting that in most places, population and economic activity are distributed across several urban centers rather than concentrated in just one. The Most Heavily-Concentrated Countries Worldwide The city-state of Singapore, alongside the two Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, top the list, while giants like China, India, Russia, and the United States see less than 10% of their population reside in their largest cities. This data table below shows each country’s share of urban population living in the country’s largest city: CountryShare of urban population living in the country's largest city Hong Kong SAR, China100% Macao SAR, China100% Singapore100% Eritrea91% Puerto Rico (U.S.)81% Paraguay74% Trinidad and Tobago74% Djibouti71% Guinea-Bissau68% Kuwait68% Mongolia68% Panama68% Congo, Rep.67% Liberia56% Armenia55% Uruguay55% North Macedonia54% Burkina Faso50% Mauritania50% Israel49% Togo49% Georgia48% Latvia48% Estonia47% Haiti47% Bahrain46% Lebanon46% Moldova46% Portugal46% Egypt, Arab Rep.45% Kyrgyz Republic45% Afghanistan43% Dominican Republic43% Bangladesh42% Central African Republic42% Azerbaijan41% Chile40% Oman40% Guinea39% Madagascar39% Mali39% Peru39% Albania38% Gabon38% Greece38% New Zealand38% Argentina37% Burundi37% Equatorial Guinea37% Ireland37% Sudan37% Tajikistan37% Angola36% Costa Rica36% Jamaica36% Malawi36% Congo, Dem. Rep.35% Senegal35% Cote d'Ivoire34% Myanmar34% Sierra Leone34% Serbia34% Zambia34% Cambodia33% Tanzania33% United Arab Emirates32% Finland32% Japan32% Malaysia32% Namibia32% Austria31% Guatemala31% Croatia31% Kenya31% Niger31% Rwanda30% Chad30% Belarus29% Cameroon29% Qatar29% Tunisia29% Colombia28% Ecuador28% Gambia, The28% Bulgaria27% Lithuania27% Nicaragua27% Denmark26% Hungary26% Papua New Guinea26% Saudi Arabia26% Somalia, Fed. Rep.26% Turkmenistan26% Uganda26% Cuba25% Honduras25% Iraq25% Thailand25% Viet Nam25% Korea, Rep.24% Lao PDR24% Norway24% El Salvador24% Zimbabwe24% Philippines23% Yemen, Rep.23% Australia22% Bolivia22% Mexico22% Belgium21% Bosnia and Herzegovina21% France21% Jordan21% Turkiye21% Canada19% Switzerland19% Ghana19% Korea, Dem. People's Rep.19% South Sudan19% Ethiopia18% Libya18% Pakistan18% Romania18% Sweden18% Benin17% Czechia17% Spain17% United Kingdom17% Morocco17% West Bank and Gaza17% European Union16% Kazakhstan16% South Africa16% Mozambique15% Slovak Republic15% Syrian Arab Republic15% Iran, Islamic Rep.14% Sri Lanka14% Uzbekistan14% Brazil12% Russian Federation12% Venezuela, RB12% Italy11% Nigeria11% Ukraine11% Algeria8% Nepal8% Poland8% Indonesia7% India7% Netherlands7% United States7% Germany5% China3% Even within similar regions, there are clear gaps. Roughly a fifth of Britons, Spaniards, and Frenchmen reside in their national capitals and largest cities; in contrast, Germans and Poles are far more spread out across their countries. Across the 27-member European Union, no subregion is more concentrated than the Baltic states: Estonia and Latvia lead the continent with 47-48% of their populations residing in the national capitals of Tallinn and Riga. Disparate Population Distribution in the Americas North and South America are home to some of the world’s largest cities, from São Paulo and Mexico City to New York and Toronto. Yet in each of these cases the sprawling metropolises tend to actually hold a smaller share of the citizenry than smaller capital cities such as Lima, Asuncion, or Montevideo. For many countries in the region, such as Argentina or Colombia, post-independence history has been fraught with concerns over centralization versus decentralization. What are Primate Cities? The term “primate city” was first coined in 1939 by geographer Mark Jefferson to describe any city that is “at least twice as large as the next largest city and more than twice as significant” within a given country. Modern capitals such as Algiers, Paris, Bangkok, and Buenos Aires are classic primate city case studies, serving as the economic, demographic, and social centers of their respective countries. Countries with primate cities often see a heavy concentration of economic output, infrastructure, and internal migration in one metropolitan area. By contrast, federal systems such as Brazil, India, and the United States tend to develop multiple large cities that balance national influence. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The 50 Largest Cities in Africa by Population on Voronoi.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s 10 Deadliest Viruses by Fatality Rate 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 Rabies has a near-100% fatality rate once symptoms develop, though infections are largely preventable with early treatment. Most of the world’s deadliest viruses originate in animals, including bats, rodents, camels, and birds. Some viruses infect millions but kill relatively few. Others spread less widely yet prove far more lethal once contracted. This graphic ranks 10 of the world’s deadliest viruses by case fatality rate: the percentage of infected people who die from the disease. Rabies tops the list, with a fatality rate approaching 100% once symptoms appear. The data for this visualization comes from various sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the BC Centre for Disease Control, the Australian Government, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Reuters, and the UK Government. Rabies: Almost Universally Fatal The virus kills an estimated 59,000 people per year, primarily in Africa and Southeast Asia. The virus spreads primarily through the saliva of infected animals, especially dogs. Despite being vaccine-preventable, rabies still causes thousands of deaths, mainly in Africa and Southeast Asia. Limited access to post-exposure treatment is a key reason for its continued toll. VirusFatality RateHuman Death Toll Rabies~100%59,000 per year B Virus (Herpes B)80%21 total deaths Lujo Virus80%4 total deaths Nipah Virus40–75%600 total deaths Hendra Virus57%4 total deaths Ebola50%15,000+ total deaths Marburg Virus50%470+ total deaths H5N1 (Avian Influenza)50%477 total deaths Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF)10–40%1,000–2,000 per year MERS-CoV36%959 total deaths Hemorrhagic Fevers: Ebola, Marburg, and CCHF Several of the viruses on the list cause viral hemorrhagic fevers, including Ebola, Marburg, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). These diseases often lead to severe internal bleeding and organ failure. Ebola and Marburg both have fatality rates around 50%, with outbreaks concentrated in Central and Sub-Saharan Africa. The 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak alone killed over 11,000 people and brought global attention to epidemic preparedness. CCHF, transmitted primarily through ticks and livestock, is more geographically widespread across Eurasia and Africa. While its fatality rate ranges from 10–40%, it causes an estimated 1,000–2,000 deaths annually. Zoonotic Spillover: From Bats to Camels Most of the viruses ranked here originate in animals. Fruit bats are linked to Nipah and Marburg viruses, while rodents are associated with Lujo virus. Camels are the primary reservoir for MERS-CoV, first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Avian influenza (H5N1) spreads from infected birds and has a roughly 50% fatality rate among confirmed human cases—far higher than seasonal flu. Although human infections remain relatively rare, the high case fatality rate has kept global health authorities on alert. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Countries With the Biggest Gains in Life Expectancy on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Charted: South Korea’s Aging Population Key Takeaways Over 150 years, South Korea’s age structure shifts from youth-heavy to senior-dominated. By 2100, nearly 40% of the population is projected to be 65 or older. In 1950, South Korea’s population was overwhelmingly young. By 2100, nearly four in ten residents are projected to be 65 or older. This visualization, created by Oscar Leo of DataCanvas using data from the UN World Population Prospects 2024, shows how South Korea’s age distribution evolves year by year across a 150-year span. The result is one of the most dramatic demographic transformations ever recorded in a developed economy. Age Distribution by Year (1950-2100P) Below we can see how the population distribution changes each year between 1950 and the 2100 projection. Year0–910–1920–2930–3940–4950–5960–6970–7980–89 195029.9%22.3%15.1%12.0%9.1%6.5%3.6%1.1%0.3% 195129.5%23.1%14.9%11.9%9.1%6.4%3.7%1.1%0.3% 195229.1%23.7%14.9%11.9%9.2%6.2%3.7%1.1%0.2% 195328.8%23.9%14.9%12.0%9.2%6.1%3.7%1.1%0.2% 195428.8%23.8%15.1%12.1%9.2%6.0%3.8%1.1%0.2% 195528.9%23.4%15.4%12.1%9.2%5.9%3.8%1.2%0.1% 195629.1%23.1%15.7%12.1%9.1%5.8%3.8%1.2%0.1% 195729.3%22.6%16.1%12.0%9.0%5.8%3.7%1.3%0.2% 195829.7%21.9%16.6%11.9%8.9%5.8%3.7%1.3%0.2% 195930.3%21.2%16.9%11.8%8.7%5.8%3.7%1.4%0.2% 196030.8%20.6%17.2%11.7%8.6%5.9%3.6%1.4%0.2% 196131.4%20.1%17.3%11.6%8.6%5.9%3.5%1.5%0.2% 196231.9%19.8%17.3%11.5%8.5%5.9%3.5%1.5%0.2% 196332.1%19.8%17.1%11.4%8.5%5.9%3.4%1.6%0.2% 196432.2%20.0%16.7%11.5%8.5%5.9%3.3%1.6%0.2% 196531.9%20.6%16.3%11.7%8.4%5.9%3.3%1.6%0.3% 196631.4%21.3%16.0%11.9%8.4%5.9%3.3%1.5%0.3% 196730.9%21.8%15.8%12.1%8.3%5.9%3.4%1.5%0.3% 196830.2%22.4%15.6%12.3%8.4%5.9%3.4%1.6%0.3% 196929.3%23.1%15.5%12.5%8.4%5.8%3.5%1.6%0.3% 197028.5%23.8%15.4%12.6%8.5%5.8%3.5%1.6%0.3% 197127.7%24.4%15.2%12.7%8.5%5.8%3.5%1.6%0.4% 197227.1%24.7%15.2%12.9%8.6%5.9%3.5%1.6%0.4% 197326.5%25.0%15.3%13.0%8.7%6.0%3.5%1.6%0.4% 197426.0%25.0%15.6%12.9%8.9%6.0%3.5%1.6%0.4% 197525.4%24.9%16.1%12.7%9.1%6.1%3.5%1.6%0.5% 197624.8%24.7%16.6%12.6%9.4%6.2%3.6%1.7%0.5% 197724.3%24.5%17.0%12.6%9.6%6.2%3.7%1.7%0.5% 197823.7%24.1%17.6%12.6%9.9%6.3%3.7%1.7%0.5% 197923.0%23.6%18.4%12.6%10.1%6.4%3.8%1.7%0.5% 198022.2%23.3%19.1%12.6%10.3%6.5%3.8%1.7%0.5% 198121.5%23.0%19.7%12.6%10.5%6.5%3.9%1.8%0.5% 198220.9%22.8%20.2%12.7%10.6%6.6%4.0%1.8%0.5% 198320.2%22.5%20.6%12.8%10.7%6.7%4.0%1.9%0.5% 198419.7%22.1%20.9%13.2%10.6%6.9%4.1%1.9%0.5% 198519.1%21.8%21.0%13.8%10.5%7.1%4.2%2.0%0.5% 198618.6%21.5%20.8%14.4%10.5%7.4%4.3%2.0%0.5% 198718.2%21.1%20.7%14.9%10.6%7.6%4.3%2.1%0.6% 198817.7%20.6%20.6%15.4%10.6%7.8%4.4%2.1%0.6% 198917.3%20.0%20.6%16.1%10.7%8.0%4.5%2.2%0.6% 199016.7%19.5%20.5%16.9%10.7%8.2%4.6%2.2%0.6% 199116.0%19.2%20.3%17.6%10.8%8.4%4.8%2.3%0.7% 199215.4%18.8%20.0%18.2%10.9%8.7%4.9%2.4%0.7% 199315.0%18.4%19.8%18.6%11.2%8.8%5.1%2.5%0.7% 199414.8%17.8%19.6%18.9%11.5%8.9%5.3%2.6%0.8% 199514.7%17.2%19.4%18.9%12.1%8.8%5.5%2.7%0.8% 199614.6%16.7%19.1%18.8%12.6%8.8%5.8%2.7%0.9% 199714.6%16.3%18.7%18.7%13.1%8.9%6.0%2.8%0.9% 199814.6%15.9%18.3%18.5%13.6%9.1%6.3%2.9%0.9% 199914.5%15.4%17.9%18.3%14.2%9.2%6.5%3.1%1.0% 200014.3%14.9%17.7%18.2%14.8%9.2%6.7%3.2%1.0% 200114.1%14.4%17.5%18.0%15.5%9.3%6.9%3.3%1.1% 200213.7%14.0%17.1%18.0%16.0%9.4%7.2%3.5%1.1% 200313.1%13.9%16.8%17.8%16.5%9.7%7.3%3.7%1.2% 200412.6%13.8%16.4%17.7%16.8%10.0%7.4%3.9%1.3% 200512.0%13.8%16.1%17.6%17.0%10.6%7.5%4.1%1.4% 200611.4%13.9%15.8%17.4%17.0%11.1%7.5%4.4%1.5% 200710.9%13.9%15.4%17.2%17.1%11.6%7.7%4.6%1.6% 200810.4%13.9%15.0%17.0%17.1%12.1%7.9%4.9%1.7% 200910.0%13.9%14.6%16.7%17.1%12.7%8.0%5.1%1.8% 20109.7%13.8%14.2%16.5%17.1%13.3%8.1%5.3%1.9% 20119.5%13.5%13.9%16.2%17.1%14.0%8.3%5.5%2.1% 20129.2%13.0%13.7%16.0%17.1%14.6%8.5%5.7%2.2% 20139.1%12.4%13.5%15.8%17.1%15.2%8.7%5.9%2.4% 20149.0%11.8%13.3%15.5%17.1%15.7%9.0%6.0%2.5% 20158.9%11.2%13.3%15.2%17.1%16.0%9.5%6.1%2.7% 20168.8%10.7%13.3%15.0%16.9%16.2%10.1%6.2%2.9% 20178.6%10.3%13.4%14.7%16.7%16.3%10.6%6.3%3.1% 20188.3%9.9%13.5%14.4%16.4%16.4%11.2%6.5%3.3% 20198.1%9.6%13.5%14.1%16.1%16.6%11.7%6.7%3.6% 20207.7%9.3%13.5%13.8%15.9%16.6%12.5%6.9%3.8% 20217.4%9.0%13.4%13.5%15.8%16.5%13.3%7.1%4.0% 20226.9%8.9%13.1%13.3%15.6%16.6%14.0%7.2%4.3% 20236.5%8.9%12.7%13.3%15.5%16.6%14.5%7.5%4.5% 20246.1%8.9%12.3%13.3%15.2%16.7%14.9%7.8%4.7% 20255.8%8.9%11.9%13.4%14.9%16.7%15.2%8.3%4.9% 20265.5%8.9%11.5%13.5%14.7%16.6%15.4%8.9%5.1% 20275.3%8.7%11.2%13.6%14.5%16.4%15.6%9.4%5.3% 20285.1%8.5%10.9%13.7%14.3%16.2%15.8%9.9%5.5% 20295.0%8.3%10.7%13.7%14.1%16.0%16.0%10.5%5.8% 20305.0%8.0%10.4%13.6%13.8%15.8%16.0%11.2%6.0% 20315.0%7.6%10.3%13.5%13.5%15.7%16.1%12.0%6.2% 20325.0%7.2%10.3%13.2%13.4%15.6%16.2%12.6%6.5% 20335.1%6.8%10.3%12.8%13.3%15.5%16.3%13.1%6.8% 20345.1%6.5%10.3%12.4%13.3%15.3%16.4%13.5%7.2% 20355.1%6.2%10.3%12.0%13.5%15.1%16.5%13.8%7.6% 20365.1%5.8%10.3%11.6%13.6%14.9%16.4%14.1%8.1% 20375.1%5.6%10.2%11.3%13.7%14.8%16.3%14.3%8.7% 20385.1%5.5%10.0%11.0%13.8%14.6%16.1%14.6%9.2% 20395.1%5.4%9.8%10.8%13.9%14.4%16.0%14.8%9.8% 20405.1%5.4%9.5%10.6%13.9%14.2%15.9%15.0%10.5% 20415.1%5.4%9.1%10.5%13.8%13.9%15.9%15.1%11.2% 20425.0%5.4%8.7%10.5%13.5%13.8%15.8%15.3%11.9% 20435.0%5.5%8.3%10.5%13.1%13.8%15.8%15.5%12.5% 20445.0%5.5%8.0%10.5%12.8%13.9%15.6%15.7%13.0% 20455.1%5.6%7.6%10.6%12.4%14.1%15.4%15.8%13.4% 20465.1%5.6%7.3%10.6%12.0%14.3%15.3%15.8%13.9% 20475.1%5.6%7.1%10.5%11.7%14.5%15.3%15.8%14.4% 20485.1%5.6%7.0%10.4%11.5%14.6%15.2%15.7%15.0% 20495.1%5.6%6.9%10.1%11.3%14.7%15.0%15.6%15.5% 20505.1%5.6%6.9%9.9%11.1%14.8%14.8%15.7%16.1% 20515.1%5.6%7.0%9.5%11.0%14.7%14.7%15.7%16.7% 20525.1%5.6%7.0%9.1%11.0%14.5%14.6%15.8%17.2% 20535.1%5.7%7.1%8.7%11.1%14.2%14.6%15.8%17.7% 20545.0%5.7%7.2%8.4%11.2%13.8%14.8%15.7%18.1% 20554.9%5.7%7.3%8.1%11.3%13.5%15.1%15.7%18.5% 20564.9%5.8%7.3%7.8%11.4%13.1%15.4%15.6%18.7% 20574.8%5.8%7.4%7.5%11.4%12.8%15.7%15.6%19.0% 20584.7%5.9%7.4%7.4%11.2%12.6%15.9%15.6%19.2% 20594.6%5.9%7.4%7.4%11.0%12.5%16.1%15.5%19.5% 20604.6%5.9%7.4%7.4%10.8%12.3%16.2%15.4%19.9% 20614.5%5.9%7.5%7.5%10.4%12.2%16.3%15.3%20.4% 20624.5%5.9%7.5%7.6%10.0%12.4%16.0%15.3%20.8% 20634.5%5.9%7.5%7.7%9.6%12.5%15.7%15.5%21.1% 20644.5%5.8%7.6%7.8%9.2%12.6%15.4%15.7%21.4% 20654.5%5.8%7.7%7.9%8.8%12.8%15.0%16.1%21.5% 20664.6%5.7%7.7%8.0%8.5%12.9%14.7%16.4%21.6% 20674.6%5.6%7.8%8.0%8.3%12.9%14.4%16.8%21.7% 20684.7%5.5%7.9%8.1%8.1%12.7%14.2%17.1%21.8% 20694.7%5.4%7.9%8.1%8.1%12.5%14.0%17.3%21.9% 20704.8%5.4%8.0%8.1%8.1%12.2%13.9%17.5%22.1% 20714.8%5.3%8.0%8.2%8.2%11.8%13.8%17.5%22.3% 20724.9%5.3%8.0%8.2%8.3%11.4%14.0%17.3%22.7% 20735.0%5.3%7.9%8.3%8.5%10.9%14.1%17.0%23.1% 20745.0%5.3%7.9%8.3%8.6%10.5%14.3%16.7%23.5% 20755.1%5.3%7.8%8.4%8.7%10.0%14.4%16.3%23.9% 20765.1%5.4%7.7%8.5%8.8%9.7%14.6%15.9%24.3% 20775.2%5.4%7.6%8.6%8.9%9.4%14.6%15.7%24.7% 20785.3%5.5%7.5%8.7%8.9%9.3%14.4%15.5%25.0% 20795.3%5.6%7.4%8.7%9.0%9.2%14.2%15.3%25.3% 20805.4%5.6%7.3%8.8%9.0%9.2%13.9%15.2%25.6% 20815.4%5.7%7.3%8.8%9.1%9.4%13.4%15.1%25.9% 20825.5%5.8%7.2%8.8%9.1%9.5%12.9%15.3%26.0% 20835.5%5.9%7.2%8.7%9.2%9.6%12.4%15.5%26.0% 20845.5%5.9%7.2%8.6%9.3%9.8%11.9%15.7%26.0% 20855.5%6.0%7.3%8.6%9.4%9.9%11.4%15.9%26.0% 20865.6%6.1%7.3%8.4%9.4%10.1%11.0%16.1%26.0% 20875.6%6.1%7.4%8.3%9.5%10.1%10.7%16.1%26.1% 20885.6%6.2%7.5%8.2%9.6%10.2%10.5%15.9%26.2% 20895.5%6.3%7.6%8.1%9.7%10.3%10.5%15.7%26.3% 20905.5%6.3%7.6%8.0%9.8%10.3%10.6%15.4%26.5% 20915.5%6.4%7.7%8.0%9.8%10.4%10.7%14.9%26.7% 20925.5%6.5%7.8%7.9%9.8%10.4%10.9%14.3%26.9% 20935.5%6.5%7.9%7.9%9.7%10.5%11.1%13.7%27.1% 20945.5%6.5%8.0%7.9%9.7%10.6%11.3%13.2%27.3% 20955.5%6.6%8.1%8.0%9.6%10.7%11.4%12.7%27.5% 20965.5%6.6%8.1%8.0%9.4%10.8%11.5%12.3%27.7% 20975.5%6.6%8.2%8.1%9.3%11.0%11.6%11.9%27.8% 20985.5%6.6%8.3%8.2%9.1%11.1%11.7%11.8%27.7% 20995.5%6.5%8.4%8.3%9.0%11.1%11.8%11.7%27.6% 21005.6%6.5%8.5%8.4%8.9%11.2%11.8%11.8%27.3% The shift is stark. In 1960, children aged 0–9 made up over 30% of the population. By 2100, that figure is projected to fall to just 5.5%, while those aged 80 and over surge into double digits. From Youthful Boom to Demographic Bust In the decades following the Korean War, South Korea had a classic population pyramid: a wide base of young people and relatively few elderly citizens. In 1970, nearly 29% of the population was under 10 years old. Fast forward to today, and the structure has inverted. Persistently low fertility—frequently cited as the lowest in the world—has led to a shrinking base of young people. This trend is frequently described as a “demographic meltdown,” driven by high housing costs, intense education pressures, and shifting social norms. An Economy Growing Older By 2050, people aged 60 and older are projected to account for roughly 40% of the population. The 80–89 and 90+ cohorts grow especially quickly in the second half of the century. This has major economic implications. A smaller working-age population must support a rapidly expanding elderly population, pushing up the old-age dependency ratio. As we’ve explored in our breakdown of the top economies by old-age dependency, countries with aging populations face rising pension and healthcare burdens, as well as slower potential growth. Labor shortages, fiscal strain, and intergenerational inequality are likely to intensify unless offset by higher productivity, immigration, or policy reform. A Small Baby Bump: A Turning Point? After years of record-low fertility, South Korea has recently seen a modest increase in births. While still far below replacement level, even a small shift is notable after such a prolonged decline. Whether this “baby bump” signals a sustained recovery or merely a temporary fluctuation remains to be seen. For now, long-term projections continue to point toward a much older, and smaller, South Korea by the end of the century.

Published 26 minutes ago on February 20, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email Mapped: The U.S. Cities at Risk of Sinking     Key Takeaways 25 out of the top 28 major U.S. cities are experiencing land subsidence, creating hidden but growing property risk.        Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, New York, and Chicago are all sinking at a rate of over 2 mm per year.        Even slow, millimeter scale sinking can drive long term infrastructure damage and insurability challenges.        Across the United States, the ground beneath many major cities is gradually subsiding. Research published in Nature Cities shows that 25 of the 28 largest U.S. urban areas are sinking, a trend with serious implications for infrastructure durability, flood risk, and long-term resilience. Created in partnership with Inigo, this visualization maps the major U.S. cities most at risk of sinking. Why U.S. Cities Are Slowly Sinking In coastal cities such as San Diego and New York, subsidence amplifies sea level rise and leaves communities more exposed to storm surge and tidal flooding. Inland cities face different pressures. In places like Houston, Phoenix, and Denver, groundwater extraction and soil compaction accelerate vertical land movement. Because subsidence happens gradually, it often goes unnoticed. Still, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, New York, and Chicago are all sinking by more than 2.0 mm per year. Even small drops in elevation can strain pipelines, damage roads, and weaken building foundations. CityStateVertical land movement (mm/year) HoustonTexas-5.2 Fort WorthTexas-4.4 DallasTexas-3.8 New YorkNew York-2.4 ChicagoIllinois-2.3 ColumbusOhio-1.9 SeattleWashington-1.8 DetroitMichigan-1.7 DenverColorado-1.7 CharlotteNorth Carolina-1.5 IndianapolisIndiana-1.4 WashingtonDistrict of Columbia-1.3 Oklahoma CityOklahoma-1.3 NashvilleTennessee-1.1 San AntonioTexas-1.1 San DiegoCalifornia-1.1 PortlandOregon-0.9 San FranciscoCalifornia-0.9 PhoenixArizona-0.8 Las VegasNevada-0.8 AustinTexas-0.8 El PasoTexas-0.8 PhiladelphiaPennsylvania-0.7 Los AngelesCalifornia-0.7 BostonMassachusetts-0.5 Many other major cities, including Seattle, Detroit, and Denver, are sinking at rates between 1.5 and 2.0 mm per year. A Growing Blind Spot in Property Risk Although subtle, subsidence affects millions of people and tens of thousands of buildings, many of which sit in high damage risk zones. As elevation changes accumulate, mitigation and adaptation costs rise, often after damage has already occurred. For property risk professionals, this data highlights an important reality. Climate risk does not move in only one direction. In some cities, the threat is not just rising water levels, but the ground itself sinking beneath critical infrastructure and assets. Explore the data behind emerging global property risks. You may also like Real Estate19 hours ago Charted: The Escalating Destruction of U.S. Wildfires Wildfires in the United States are becoming more destructive, with many of the most severe seasons occurring in the past decade. Real Estate2 days ago Mapped: The U.S. States Building the Most Homes in the Fire Line As housing spreads into the fire line, exposure is rising sharply, compounding loss potential and challenging long-term insurability. Real Estate3 days ago 4 Inputs Driving the Rising Cost of Rebuilding Rising labor and material costs mean every insured dollar now rebuilds less, widening the recovery gap after disasters across the United States. Real Estate6 days ago How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market? Lower interest rates have often supported stronger real estate returns and improved valuations. Will that trend return in 2026? Real Estate1 week ago 6 Trends Reshaping U.S. Property Insurance From climate volatility to economic and technological shifts, a wide range of forces are reshaping property risk in the U.S. Environment4 months ago Ranked: The 10 Most Powerful U.S. Hurricanes (1900-2025) Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation. Environment5 months ago Mapped: Which U.S. Cities Saw Record-Breaking Temperatures in 2024? Global temperatures are climbing—but how is this trend playing out across the United States, and which regions are being hit the hardest? Environment6 months ago Ranked: The Most Expensive U.S. Wildfire Events, So Far Wildfire events are growing increasingly frequent and destructive around the world as human-driven climate impacts continue to escalate. Environment6 months ago Mapped: The United States of Drought Drought grips much of the U.S., affecting over 60 million people today. Healthcare7 months ago The $58B Weight Loss Drug Market in One Chart Weight loss drugs have surged in popularity in recent years, transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. Which brands are dominating this space? Healthcare7 months ago Ranked: Which Areas Receive the Most Pharma R&D? The pharmaceutical industry has made enormous strides in treating—and even curing—a wide range of diseases and conditions. Which areas are seeing the most R&D in 2025? Healthcare7 months ago The $5.6T Pharmaceutical Industry in One Chart Pharma giants don’t just make medicine—they shape the future of healthcare. Who are the world’s major players? Crime7 months ago 6 Fraud Trends Reshaping Risk in 2025 The fraud and financial crime landscapes are evolving rapidly. What are the key threats shaping risk in 2025? Cryptocurrency7 months ago Ranked: The 10 Biggest Digital Heists Some of the largest digital heists didn’t rely on brute-force hacking, they exploited the weakest link in security: human trust. Crime8 months ago The Most Costly Financial Crimes in 2024 As cybersecurity threats escalate, which financial crimes are causing the most harm? The FBI has the data. Crime8 months ago Mapped: U.S. Financial Crime Activity by State Suspicious activity has been rising in the U.S., but is it spread evenly throughout all 50 states? Certainly not. Crime8 months ago Ranked: America’s Most Common Financial Crimes As technology and AI become more widespread, fraud and other suspicious activity are rising across America. Which types are the most common? Economy8 months ago Tracking the $3.1 Trillion Financial Crime Pandemic From money laundering to fraud, financial crime acts as a drain on the economy, totaling an incredible $3.1 trillion. Politics9 months ago Which Types of Government Rule the World? Over half the global population is ruled by non-centrist types of government, including autocracies and left or right wing parties. Politics9 months ago Breaking Down the $524 Billion Investment Needed to Rebuild Ukraine Ukraine will require an estimated $524B over the next decade to recover from the Russia-Ukraine war. Which sectors have been most impacted? Politics9 months ago Are Tariffs Causing U.S. Inflation Fears? Amid tariff increases, consumers’ expectations for U.S. inflation in the next five years have reached their highest level since March 1991. Politics10 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 Companies Holding the Most Cash in the World See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Financials dominate the list—13 of the top 50 are financial services firms. Berkshire Hathaway is the clear outlier, sitting on a record $382B, the largest cash position in its history—more than Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon combined. The cash that companies hold is important for paying employees, funding operations, and as a measure of financial health. This chart shows the 50 companies with the largest cash holdings, using data from TradingView to highlight who is sitting on the largest war chests. This metric captures a company’s most liquid assets: cash plus short-term securities like T-bills that typically mature within a year. Which Companies Hold the Most Cash? Berkshire Hathaway leads the rankings with an impressive $382 billion. The data table below shows the top 50 companies worldwide with the largest cash and short-term securities holdings: RankCompanyCash and short-term investments holdings (billions) 1Berkshire Hathaway$381.7 2CITIC Limited$171.5 3Daiwa Securities Group$131.4 4Alphabet$126.8 5Amazon$126.3 6Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing$97.8 7Interactive Brokers Group$93.4 8Microsoft$89.5 9Charles Schwab$88.9 10Meta Platforms$82.4 11Volkswagen$76.9 12PDD Holdings$69.5 13Apple$66.9 14NVIDIA$60.6 15Tencent$59.2 16Alibaba Group Holding$58.2 17Saudi Aramco$56.0 18Contemporary Amperex Technology$51.6 19Toyota Motor$50.5 20SBI Holdings$50.0 21China State Construction Engineering$48.5 22American Express$47.8 23SoftBank Group$45.8 24Tesla$44.5 25China Mobile$43.8 26Daou Technology$43.7 27Hon Hai Precision Industry$42.5 28CNPC Capital$41.9 29Japan Securities Finance$41.0 30PetroChina$40.7 31Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing$39.4 32Fannie Mae$39.4 33Stellantis$38.7 34Ford Motor$38.5 35International Holding Company$37.6 36Intel$37.4 37BP$36.8 38Rakuten Group$36.0 39CNOOC$35.8 40Nomura Holdings$35.7 41SAIC Motor$35.1 42Honda Motor$30.9 43Deutsche Boerse$30.6 44General Motors$30.6 45Shell$30.3 46JD.com$29.6 47Boeing$29.4 48China Railway Group$28.6 49TotalEnergies$28.3 50Daou Data$26.8 Source: TradingView | Cash and Short-Term Investments | as of Feb 11, 2026 Following Berkshire are CITIC—a Chinese state-backed financial conglomerate—and Daiwa Securities Group, one of Japan’s biggest financial brokerages. Big Tech rounds out the top five, with Alphabet holding $127 billion and Amazon holding $126 billion. Why Buffett Holds So Much Cash Among the top 50 companies, the Financials sector collectively holds the largest cash reserves at $1.2 trillion—partially driven by strict capital rules requiring banks to maintain large liquid buffers. Berkshire Hathaway is different: its cash position is strategic, not regulatory. After 12 straight quarters as a net seller of stocks, Buffett and the team have parked much of the company’s liquidity in short-term U.S. Treasury bills, implying that equity valuations look expensive. The Oracle’s cash and cash equivalents as a percentage of total assets is at an all-time high—roughly 31% of total assets. Historically, this has coincided with periods when he waits for a major economic or market dislocation before deploying capital as prices begin to mean-revert—quietly accumulating dry powder in the meantime. Why Big Tech Holds So Much Cash The Magnificent Seven: Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia and Tesla collectively hold $597 billion—enough to buy most S&P 500 companies. Traditionally, Big Tech companies are massive cash machines: high gross margins and scalable cost structures mean incremental revenue converts into cash quickly. Despite spending heavily to build AI factories, they’ve used little of their cash reserves to finance them—opting instead for debt. They hold large cash stockpiles both to fund acquisitions and guard against potential economic turmoil, such as threats from tariffs or geopolitical conflicts. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about the world’s largest companies, check out this graphic on Voronoi.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The World’s 50 Largest Economies, Including U.S. States See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways 19 U.S. states rank among the world’s 50 largest economies in 2025. California ($4.30T) is now the world’s 4th-largest economy, ahead of Japan and India. Texas ($2.94T) is larger than Italy and Russia; Florida’s economy is bigger than Australia’s. The U.S. has the world’s largest economy at $30.6 trillion. But if you break it apart, individual states would rank among the world’s economic superpowers. In 2025, 19 U.S. states place within the top 50 largest economies globally, according to IMF projections and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data. California alone, with a $4.30 trillion economy, now ranks fourth in the world, ahead of Japan and India. Texas and New York also outperform entire G7 nations. This graphic compares countries and U.S. states side by side, revealing just how economically powerful America’s largest states have become. Where U.S. States Rank vs. the Largest Economies in 2025 Below, we break down the economic output of U.S. states compared to the world’s largest economies: RankCountry/ StateEntity TypeGDP 2025 1 United StatesCountry$30.62T 2 ChinaCountry$19.40T 3 GermanyCountry$5.01T 4 CaliforniaU.S. State$4.30T 5 JapanCountry$4.28T 6 IndiaCountry$4.13T 7 United KingdomCountry$3.96T 8 FranceCountry$3.36T 9 TexasU.S. State$2.94T 10 ItalyCountry$2.54T 11 RussiaCountry$2.54T 12 New YorkU.S. State$2.50T 13 CanadaCountry$2.28T 14 BrazilCountry$2.26T 15 SpainCountry$1.89T 16 MexicoCountry$1.86T 17 South KoreaCountry$1.86T 18 FloridaU.S. State$1.85T 19 AustraliaCountry$1.83T 20 TürkiyeCountry$1.57T 21 IndonesiaCountry$1.44T 22 NetherlandsCountry$1.32T 23 Saudi ArabiaCountry$1.27T 24 IllinoisU.S. State$1.22T 25 PennsylvaniaU.S. State$1.07T 26 PolandCountry$1.04T 27 SwitzerlandCountry$1.00T 28 OhioU.S. State$979.1B 29 GeorgiaU.S. State$935.8B 30 North CarolinaU.S. State$905.2B 31 WashingtonU.S. State$903.7B 32 New JerseyU.S. State$896.4B 33 TaiwanCountry$884.4B 34 MassachusettsU.S. State$828.3B 35 VirginiaU.S. State$807.3B 36 MichiganU.S. State$738.3B 37 BelgiumCountry$717.0B 38 IrelandCountry$708.8B 39 ArgentinaCountry$683.4B 40 SwedenCountry$662.3B 41 IsraelCountry$610.8B 42 ArizonaU.S. State$604.3B 43 TennesseeU.S. State$596.6B 44 ColoradoU.S. State$589.9B 45 MarylandU.S. State$574.4B 46 SingaporeCountry$574.2B 47 UAECountry$569.1B 48 AustriaCountry$566.5B 49 ThailandCountry$558.6B 50 IndianaU.S. State$551.8B In 2024, California officially overtook Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. Tech, real estate, and finance sectors have powered the state’s economy, with real GDP per capita rising 60% between 2000 and 2024. With one of the fastest growth rates overall, it far exceeds the U.S. average of 37% over the same period. Texas, ranked ninth, commands a $2.94 trillion economy. The Lone Star State is bigger than both Italy ($2.54 trillion) and Russia ($2.54 trillion), driven by its growing population, economic strength, and energy industry. With a $2.50 trillion economy, New York state falls in 12th place, eclipsing Canada’s entire economy. Meanwhile, Illinois’ GDP of $1.22 trillion is roughly equivalent to Saudi Arabia ($1.27 trillion), the world’s second-largest producer of oil. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on every state’s share of U.S. GDP.

Published 2 hours ago on February 19, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Athul Alexander Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email The Escalating Destruction of U.S. Wildfires     Key Takeaways Wildfires in the United States are becoming more destructive as climate conditions intensify and development expands into fire-prone areas.        The area burned by wildfires has trended upward, with many of the most severe seasons occurring in the past decade.        In 2024, nearly 9 million acres were burned, far exceeding the 40-year average of approximately 5 million acres.        Wildfires across the United States are becoming more destructive and more costly. Data from the National Interagency Fire Center shows that the annual area burned has increased over time, with several of the most severe wildfire seasons on record occurring within the past decade. Created in partnership with Inigo, this visualization provides visual context for the rising impact of U.S. wildfires. Wildfires Are Burning Hotter and Spreading Wider Across the country, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and stronger winds are intensifying fire behavior, even as housing development pushes further into fire-prone areas. In January 2025 alone, California wildfires burned 64,038 acres, the third-highest January total on record. The figure shows that extreme fire conditions are no longer limited to peak summer months. YearAcres Burned Jan.-Oct. 20254,711,179 20248,924,884 20232,693,910 20227,577,183 20217,125,643 202010,122,336 20194,664,364 20188,767,492 201710,026,086 20165,509,995 201510,125,149 20143,595,613 20134,319,546 20129,326,238 20118,711,367 20103,422,724 20095,921,786 20085,292,468 20079,328,045 20069,873,745 20058,689,389 20048,097,880 20033,960,842 20027,184,712 20013,570,911 20007,393,493 19995,626,093 19981,329,704 19972,856,959 19966,065,998 19951,840,546 19944,073,579 19931,797,574 19922,069,929 19912,953,578 19904,621,621 19891,827,310 19885,009,290 19872,447,296 19862,719,162 19852,896,147 19841,148,409 19831,323,666 Although the most destructive wildfire years occurred across several decades, the broader pattern remains unmistakable. The long-term trend in acres burned is steadily rising. In 2024, nearly 9 million acres burned, far exceeding the 40-year average of just over 5 million acres. Only two years in the past decade recorded fewer acres burned. Why Exposure Is Compounding The expanding overlap between people, property, and high-risk terrain is amplifying both human and economic exposure. Over the past decade, wildfires damaged one in four buildings that stood within a previous burn zone, highlighting how rebuilding in the same areas can magnify future losses. Insurers, property owners, and policymakers can no longer treat wildfire risk as a regional issue confined to the Western states. It is a national challenge reshaping how communities build, insure, and recover. As climate volatility increases, understanding where fires are occurring and how risk is accumulating will be critical to managing future losses. Explore the data behind emerging global property risks. You may also like Real Estate1 day ago Mapped: The U.S. States Building the Most Homes in the Fire Line As housing spreads into the fire line, exposure is rising sharply, compounding loss potential and challenging long-term insurability. Real Estate2 days ago 4 Inputs Driving the Rising Cost of Rebuilding Rising labor and material costs mean every insured dollar now rebuilds less, widening the recovery gap after disasters across the United States. Real Estate5 days ago How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market? Lower interest rates have often supported stronger real estate returns and improved valuations. Will that trend return in 2026? Real Estate1 week ago 6 Trends Reshaping U.S. Property Insurance From climate volatility to economic and technological shifts, a wide range of forces are reshaping property risk in the U.S. Environment4 months ago Ranked: The 10 Most Powerful U.S. Hurricanes (1900-2025) Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation. Environment5 months ago Mapped: Which U.S. Cities Saw Record-Breaking Temperatures in 2024? Global temperatures are climbing—but how is this trend playing out across the United States, and which regions are being hit the hardest? Environment6 months ago Ranked: The Most Expensive U.S. Wildfire Events, So Far Wildfire events are growing increasingly frequent and destructive around the world as human-driven climate impacts continue to escalate. Environment6 months ago Mapped: The United States of Drought Drought grips much of the U.S., affecting over 60 million people today. Healthcare7 months ago The $58B Weight Loss Drug Market in One Chart Weight loss drugs have surged in popularity in recent years, transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. Which brands are dominating this space? Healthcare7 months ago Ranked: Which Areas Receive the Most Pharma R&D? The pharmaceutical industry has made enormous strides in treating—and even curing—a wide range of diseases and conditions. Which areas are seeing the most R&D in 2025? Healthcare7 months ago The $5.6T Pharmaceutical Industry in One Chart Pharma giants don’t just make medicine—they shape the future of healthcare. Who are the world’s major players? Crime7 months ago 6 Fraud Trends Reshaping Risk in 2025 The fraud and financial crime landscapes are evolving rapidly. What are the key threats shaping risk in 2025? Cryptocurrency7 months ago Ranked: The 10 Biggest Digital Heists Some of the largest digital heists didn’t rely on brute-force hacking, they exploited the weakest link in security: human trust. Crime8 months ago The Most Costly Financial Crimes in 2024 As cybersecurity threats escalate, which financial crimes are causing the most harm? The FBI has the data. Crime8 months ago Mapped: U.S. Financial Crime Activity by State Suspicious activity has been rising in the U.S., but is it spread evenly throughout all 50 states? Certainly not. Crime8 months ago Ranked: America’s Most Common Financial Crimes As technology and AI become more widespread, fraud and other suspicious activity are rising across America. Which types are the most common? Economy8 months ago Tracking the $3.1 Trillion Financial Crime Pandemic From money laundering to fraud, financial crime acts as a drain on the economy, totaling an incredible $3.1 trillion. Politics9 months ago Which Types of Government Rule the World? Over half the global population is ruled by non-centrist types of government, including autocracies and left or right wing parties. Politics9 months ago Breaking Down the $524 Billion Investment Needed to Rebuild Ukraine Ukraine will require an estimated $524B over the next decade to recover from the Russia-Ukraine war. Which sectors have been most impacted? Politics9 months ago Are Tariffs Causing U.S. Inflation Fears? Amid tariff increases, consumers’ expectations for U.S. inflation in the next five years have reached their highest level since March 1991. Politics10 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. Ranked: The World’s Most Harvested Crops 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 Nearly 2 billion metric tons of sugar cane were harvested in 2024, making it the world’s most harvested crop. Third-place finisher rice is the staple food for over half the world’s population. Many of the world’s largest crops are used as much for animal feed and biofuels as for direct human consumption. Nearly 2 billion metric tons of sugar cane are harvested globally each year, making it the most-produced crop on Earth by a wide margin. This visualization highlights the scale of global crop production in 2024, showing how staple foods and key commercial crops compare. The data for this visualization is sourced from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. While some top crops are dietary staples, others support large industries such as biofuels, sweeteners, and packaged foods. The Main Crops Grown Each Year Sugar cane stands as the dominant crop grown globally at 1.94 billion metric tons, far surpassing all other crops. Maize follows at 1.22 billion tons, while rice and wheat—two of the world’s most essential food staples—come in at 820 million and 798 million tons, respectively. RankCropMetric tons produced in 2024 1Sugar cane1,939,782,021 2Maize (corn)1,218,205,574 3Rice820,223,277 4Wheat798,481,711 5Oil palm fruit418,696,914 6Soya beans397,671,688 7Potatoes390,428,972 8Cassava, fresh341,905,934 9Sugar beet293,624,598 10Tomatoes188,498,383 11Barley141,996,861 12Bananas139,413,684 13Onions and shallots, dry108,260,011 14Watermelons104,959,426 15Apples97,880,076 Brazil is notably the top producer of both sugar cane and soybeans, while Eurasian giants like China, India, and Russia are the main wheat growers worldwide. Lots of the crops in question have regional production hubs; soybeans, for example, tend to be produced in China, the U.S., and South American countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Our Sweet Sugar Craze More sugar cane is harvested in Brazil each year than in the next three largest annual producers. Sugar cane is not only processed into the table sugar you buy at the supermarkets, but also refined into biofuel, molasses, and other sweeteners. Meanwhile, over 294 million tons of sugar beet were grown in 2024, accounting for roughly 20% of global sugar output. Sugar beet is grown specifically for sugar extraction and refined sugar. The Corn Industry Corn, also known internationally as maize, is the runner-up for global agricultural production, with the United States as the top grower worldwide. Most corn today, especially in the U.S., is harvested for use in animal feed or the production of biofuels such as ethanol. The U.S. has maintained large corn subsidies for over half a century. The Corn Belt is a geographic region of the U.S. dominated by the corn industry, and is centered around the Midwestern state of Iowa. Today Iowa grows three times more corn than all of Mexico, the country where corn was first harvested in pre-Columbian times. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Big Four American Crops Compared to Entire Countries on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Charted: The Growth of $100 by Asset Class (1965–2025) See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Stocks had the best returns, turning $100 into $43k—roughly 29x the return of cash and about 5x that of gold. Real estate and government bonds beat cash, by a factor of 1.4x and 1.9x respectively. What would $100 invested in 1965 be worth today? For stocks, it would’ve multiplied 435 times, but other asset classes have significantly lower returns. Here’s how each asset class performed over 60 years, based on data from NYU Stern professor Aswath Damodaran. Stocks reflect S&P 500 total returns with dividends reinvested, real estate follows the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (price only), and cash represents three-month U.S. Treasury bills. Stocks Outperform Other Asset Classes Since 1965 The table below shows the nominal (before inflation) returns of a $100 investment across six major asset classes between 1965 and 2025, with values representing the investment’s value at year-end: YearStocksGoldCorporate BondsGovernment BondsReal EstateCash 1965$112$100$103$101$102$104 1966$101$100$100$104$103$109 1967$125$100$101$102$105$114 1968$139$112$105$105$110$120 1969$127$118$103$100$117$128 1970$132$106$109$117$127$136 1971$151$124$124$128$132$142 1972$179$185$139$132$136$148 1973$153$320$145$137$141$158 1974$114$531$138$139$155$170 1975$156$400$153$144$166$180 1976$193$383$184$168$179$189 1977$179$470$202$170$205$199 1978$191$644$208$168$238$213 1979$226$1,459$204$170$270$235 1980$298$1,680$197$164$290$262 1981$284$1,132$214$178$305$298 1982$342$1,309$276$236$307$331 1983$419$1,089$321$244$322$361 1984$444$878$371$277$337$397 1985$583$931$460$349$362$427 1986$691$1,108$562$433$396$454 1987$731$1,379$568$412$428$481 1988$852$1,169$657$446$458$514 1989$1,120$1,136$764$525$479$557 1990$1,086$1,100$808$557$475$600 1991$1,414$1,006$940$641$475$633 1992$1,520$948$1,069$701$478$656 1993$1,672$1,116$1,244$801$489$676 1994$1,694$1,092$1,229$736$501$705 1995$2,324$1,103$1,476$909$510$745 1996$2,851$1,052$1,554$922$522$784 1997$3,795$827$1,729$1,014$543$824 1998$4,870$820$1,870$1,165$578$865 1999$5,887$827$1,888$1,069$623$906 2000$5,355$782$2,065$1,247$681$961 2001$4,721$788$2,242$1,316$726$994 2002$3,684$989$2,513$1,515$796$1,010 2003$4,728$1,186$2,824$1,521$874$1,021 2004$5,236$1,241$3,115$1,589$993$1,035 2005$5,490$1,462$3,275$1,635$1,127$1,068 2006$6,347$1,801$3,448$1,667$1,146$1,120 2007$6,695$2,375$3,617$1,837$1,084$1,170 2008$4,248$2,478$3,492$2,206$954$1,187 2009$5,349$3,098$4,189$1,961$918$1,189 2010$6,142$4,004$4,583$2,127$880$1,190 2011$6,271$4,486$5,145$2,468$846$1,191 2012$7,267$4,741$5,629$2,542$900$1,192 2013$9,604$3,432$5,565$2,310$997$1,193 2014$10,902$3,436$6,163$2,558$1,041$1,193 2015$11,053$3,020$6,071$2,591$1,096$1,194 2016$12,354$3,265$6,770$2,609$1,154$1,197 2017$15,023$3,678$7,390$2,682$1,225$1,209 2018$14,388$3,644$7,155$2,682$1,281$1,233 2019$18,879$4,339$8,246$2,940$1,328$1,259 2020$22,281$5,388$9,120$3,273$1,466$1,263 2021$28,625$5,185$9,213$3,129$1,743$1,264 2022$23,462$5,214$7,810$2,571$1,841$1,290 2023$29,576$5,905$8,492$2,671$1,946$1,358 2024$36,934$7,438$8,639$2,627$2,023$1,429 2025$43,480$12,364$9,241$2,832$2,055$1,489 Numbers have been rounded. S&P 500 includes dividends. Cash represented by 3-Month U.S. T-Bills. Corporate Bonds represented by Baa corporate bonds. Real Estate represented by the Case-Shiller Home Price Index. | As of Dec-31-2025 Stocks can build wealth faster than other major assets because company profits tend to grow over time, dividends can be reinvested, and returns compound. The trade-off is risk and volatility as stock prices can swing sharply up and down. In this 60-year window, a large share of equity gains happened during two major bull cycles. Two big bull runs drove most stock gains: 1982–2000 (about 17x) and the post-2008 rebound (about 10x), so missing either one could’ve significantly dampened investment returns. How Drawdowns and Recoveries Affect Returns Every asset class has faced major drawdowns and recoveries, but stocks were often the fastest to recover. In 2008, equities fell 37% in a single year, then rebounded to new highs in roughly four years as aggressive Fed support steadied markets. After the COVID-19 shock, bonds—long seen as a safe haven—suffered their worst two-year stretch in decades. Gold saw the longest dry spell: after its 1980 peak, it took 26 years just to break even as high real rates and a strong dollar dragged on returns. Once it finally cleared that level, it nearly doubled again by 2011. Real estate also took time after its major drawdown—after the housing bust in 2008/2009, prices needed about a decade to fully recover. Together, these cycles show that while no asset class is immune to deep losses, recovery timelines can vary dramatically—and patience often matters as much as diversification. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about stock performance over the last 152 years, check out this graphic on Voronoi which plots out each year’s S&P 500 return.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Job Growth in Every U.S. State in 2025 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Missouri posted the fastest job growth in 2025 (+1.7%), while 14 states saw employment decline year-over-year. Southern states account for many of the top performers, including North Carolina and South Carolina. Texas added the most jobs in absolute terms (+120,700), even as most large states grew by less than 1%. In 2025, employment growth across the U.S. was modest overall, with 14 states ending the year with fewer jobs than they had in December 2024. At the same time, several Southern states posted some of the strongest gains in the country. This map shows how payroll employment changed in all 50 states between December 2024 and December 2025, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data via Arizona State University. Missouri recorded the fastest growth rate at 1.7%, while New Hampshire saw the steepest decline at 0.8%. Overall, 14 states ended the year with fewer jobs than they had in December 2024. Job Growth by State in 2025 Below, we show the change in employment between December 2024 and December 2025: RankStateAnnual Job Growth 2025Absolute Job Growth 1Missouri1.7%52.2K 2North Carolina1.5%78.0K 3South Carolina1.3%30.8K 4Minnesota1.2%37.3K 5Utah1.2%21.8K 6Pennsylvania1.2%73.4K 7Arkansas1.2%16.2K 8Idaho1.2%10.2K 9Delaware1.1%5.4K 10Louisiana1.1%21.7K 11Hawaii1.0%6.6K 12New Mexico1.0%8.8K 13Montana1.0%5.0K 14Vermont0.9%2.9K 15Oklahoma0.9%15.8K 16Texas0.8%120.7K 17Ohio0.8%46.9K 18New York0.8%77.6K 19Colorado0.8%22.9K 20Arizona0.8%24.6K 21Michigan0.7%33.4K 22Tennessee0.7%24.6K 23Mississippi0.7%7.8K 24South Dakota0.6%2.9K 25Alabama0.4%9.1K 26Florida0.4%35.2K 27New Jersey0.2%10.3K 28Oregon0.2%4.1K 29Wisconsin0.2%5.7K 30Indiana0.2%5.5K 31Massachusetts0.1%4.8K 32Georgia0.1%6.2K 33Kentucky0.1%2.3K 34Iowa0.1%1.2K 35California0.0%0.9K 36Alaska0.0%0.0K 37Illinois-0.1%-5.3K 38North Dakota-0.1%-0.4K 39Connecticut-0.1%-2.2K 40Virginia-0.2%-7.6K 41Kansas-0.2%-2.8K 42Wyoming-0.3%-0.8K 43Rhode Island-0.3%-1.7K 44Washington-0.4%-14.1K 45West Virginia-0.4%-3.1K 46Maryland-0.5%-14.2K 47Nevada-0.5%-8.6K 48Nebraska-0.6%-6.4K 49Maine-0.6%-4.0K 50New Hampshire-0.8%-6.0K Missouri’s 1.7% increase was driven largely by health services and private education, along with leisure and hospitality. Trade, transportation, and utilities saw declines. North Carolina followed with 1.5% job growth. Construction led job gains in the state, growing by nearly 5%, supported by major investments from Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. Given the state’s ample land and power, it hosts 40 data centers, with several others announced or under construction. Texas added the most jobs overall in 2025, increasing payrolls by 120,700. As a growing hub for high-value manufacturing, finance, and tech, the state has created about 20% of new jobs in the U.S. over the past five years. By comparison, Maryland shed the most jobs in 2025, dropping by 14,200, with a significant share being federal employees. It lost more federal workers than any other state, significantly dragging down overall job growth. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on unemployment by state in 2025.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Biggest Buyers and Sellers of U.S. Debt (2025) See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The UK, Belgium, and Japan were the three largest buyers of U.S. debt from November 2024 to November 2025, each increasing holdings by more than $115 billion. China reduced its U.S. debt holdings by $86 billion over the same period, leading all countries in net selling. Despite major shifts among individual countries, total foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries rose to a record $9.4 trillion. Each year, the U.S. relies on investors to finance its growing debt, which stood at $38.6 trillion as of February 2026. Both domestic and overseas investors buy this debt, with foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries owning a record $9.4 trillion of the total. While U.S. debt pays well due to its high yields currently, some countries, like China, have been selling their U.S. Treasury holdings. This chart shows the countries that are the 20 largest buyers and sellers of U.S. Treasury securities from November 2024 to November 2025, based on data from the U.S. Treasury Department. Europe and Japan Lead U.S. Treasury Buying The table below shows the top countries buying U.S. Treasuries from November 2024 to November 2025, in both the U.S. dollar value and percentage change in relation to their Treasury holdings: RankCountryChange in U.S. Treasury Holdings (Millions, Nov 2024 - Nov 2025)Percentage Change 1 United Kingdom$121,61316% 2 Belgium$119,70433% 3 Japan$115,52811% 4 Canada$99,83527% 5 Norway$56,33535% 6 France$43,53813% 7 United Arab Emirates$30,33541% 8 Taiwan$26,5399% 9 Cayman Islands$22,1315% 10 Israel$20,26523% 11 Singapore$19,9348% 12 Spain$17,61927% 13 South Korea$17,60514% 14 Kuwait$13,64327% 15 Saudi Arabia$13,28310% 16 Bermuda$12,88314% 17 Thailand$10,06114% 18 Germany$9,69910% 19 Luxembourg$7,8112% 20 Australia$7,15811% Three countries top $100 billion on the buyer side. The UK led at $122 billion, followed by Belgium and Japan, each within $6 billion of that mark. Canada and Norway rounded out the top five. Together, these five accounted for roughly 65% of the $786 billion in total purchases. Belgium’s 33% surge looks dramatic, but it is largely technical. Brussels hosts Euroclear, a major clearinghouse that holds bonds on behalf of investors across Europe. Hence, the number can indicate where the debt is held rather than who actually purchased it. The same logic applies to other financial hubs, such as the UK, the Cayman Islands, and Luxembourg. China, Brazil, and India Lead U.S. Treasury Selling The table below largest sellers of U.S. Treasuries from November 2024 to November 2025, in both the U.S. dollar value and percentage change in relation to their Treasury holdings: RankCountryChange in U.S. Treasury Holdings (Millions, Nov 2024 - Nov 2025)Percentage Change 1 China-$85,960-11% 2 Brazil-$60,847-27% 3 India-$47,517-20% 4 British Virgin Islands-$38,956-32% 5 Bahamas-$13,822-35% 6 Mexico-$13,320-13% 7 Hong Kong-$9,821-4% 8 South Africa-$6,356-39% 9 Indonesia-$4,865-14% 10 Netherlands-$4,750-6% 11 Portugal-$3,959-66% 12 Ireland-$2,876-1% 13 Denmark-$2,663-21% 14 Philippines-$2,246-3% 15 Colombia-$1,780-4% 16 Ecuador-$647-35% 17 Sweden-$637-1% 18 Austria-$361-5% 19 Barbados-$257-8% 20 Trinidad and Tobago-$249-6% China shed $86 billion in Treasuries, a further 11% annual decline that continues a multiyear reduction in U.S. debt holdings as Beijing diversifies its reserves into gold and other assets. Other BRICS countries, such as Brazil and India, also cut their holdings by a combined $108 billion. That move partly reflects governments’ efforts to defend their own currencies by drawing on dollar reserves, but could also point to a continuous trend of de-dollarization. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about the U.S. debt, check out this graphic which visualizes it all in one dollar bills on Voronoi.

Published 18 minutes ago on February 18, 2026 By Julia Wendling Graphics & Design Lebon Siu Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email Mapped: The U.S. States Building the Most Homes in the Fire Line     Key Takeaways Urban growth is expanding directly into wildfire-prone areas, increasing structural exposure.        The wildland–urban interface (WUI) now includes nearly one-third of U.S. homes, concentrating risk along fire lines.        Each new home in the WUI compounds insurance and recovery challenges, raising costs for mitigation, protection, and rebuilding.        Urban sprawl is increasingly colliding with climate risk, as more and more homes are being built into the fire line. This visualization, created in partnership with Inigo, provides visual context to the risk of urban sprawl. Data is from the U.S. Fire Administration. Growth Is Pushing Housing Into Fire Zones According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly one-third of all U.S. homes now sit in the wildland–urban interface (WUI). These are areas where human development meets high-risk burn zones. StateNumber of homes in WUI California5,089,397 Texas3,173,293 Florida2,586,713 North Carolina2,113,853 Pennsylvania1,967,753 Georgia1,920,046 New York1,686,022 Arizona1,461,103 Virginia1,389,800 South Carolina1,312,624 Alabama1,271,160 Massachusetts1,225,594 Colorado1,080,835 Michigan1,064,107 Washington1,043,366 Tennessee927,138 New Jersey884,114 Louisiana879,906 Ohio787,712 Connecticut765,301 Mississippi725,748 West Virginia665,808 Maryland657,306 Oklahoma651,632 New Mexico640,093 Oregon601,454 Kentucky594,334 Wisconsin585,984 Maine579,101 Utah572,967 Nevada571,013 Arkansas557,920 Missouri518,985 Hawaii508,193 New Hampshire493,741 Minnesota440,237 Illinois396,295 Montana321,816 Indiana320,704 Idaho297,386 Vermont236,060 Alaska219,319 Wyoming217,708 Kansas170,952 Rhode Island145,597 South Dakota101,947 Nebraska99,310 Iowa73,265 North Dakota57,231 Delaware44,350 District of Columbia980 As housing demand rises, construction has accelerated fastest in regions already prone to wildfire. Since 1990, states such as California, Texas, and Florida have each added more than a million homes within the WUI. Most commonly, there are near forests and grasslands that are drying out under rising temperatures and prolonged drought. Why the WUI Is a Growing Risk Frontier This expansion doesn’t just raise the likelihood of loss, it multiplies exposure. Every additional home in the WUI increases the cost and complexity of fire protection, evacuation, and recovery, creating a compounding challenge for insurers, reinsurers, and property risk managers. As development continues along the fire line, mitigation (through land-use planning, building codes, and defensible space) may become the defining frontier of U.S. housing risk. Understanding where and why these overlaps occur is critical for assessing future property exposure. Explore the data behind emerging global property risks. You may also like Real Estate21 hours ago 4 Inputs Driving the Rising Cost of Rebuilding Rising labor and material costs mean every insured dollar now rebuilds less, widening the recovery gap after disasters across the United States. Real Estate4 days ago How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market? Lower interest rates have often supported stronger real estate returns and improved valuations. Will that trend return in 2026? Real Estate6 days ago 6 Trends Reshaping U.S. Property Insurance From climate volatility to economic and technological shifts, a wide range of forces are reshaping property risk in the U.S. Environment4 months ago Ranked: The 10 Most Powerful U.S. Hurricanes (1900-2025) Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation. Environment5 months ago Mapped: Which U.S. Cities Saw Record-Breaking Temperatures in 2024? Global temperatures are climbing—but how is this trend playing out across the United States, and which regions are being hit the hardest? Environment6 months ago Ranked: The Most Expensive U.S. Wildfire Events, So Far Wildfire events are growing increasingly frequent and destructive around the world as human-driven climate impacts continue to escalate. Environment6 months ago Mapped: The United States of Drought Drought grips much of the U.S., affecting over 60 million people today. Healthcare7 months ago The $58B Weight Loss Drug Market in One Chart Weight loss drugs have surged in popularity in recent years, transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. Which brands are dominating this space? Healthcare7 months ago Ranked: Which Areas Receive the Most Pharma R&D? The pharmaceutical industry has made enormous strides in treating—and even curing—a wide range of diseases and conditions. Which areas are seeing the most R&D in 2025? Healthcare7 months ago The $5.6T Pharmaceutical Industry in One Chart Pharma giants don’t just make medicine—they shape the future of healthcare. Who are the world’s major players? Crime7 months ago 6 Fraud Trends Reshaping Risk in 2025 The fraud and financial crime landscapes are evolving rapidly. What are the key threats shaping risk in 2025? Cryptocurrency7 months ago Ranked: The 10 Biggest Digital Heists Some of the largest digital heists didn’t rely on brute-force hacking, they exploited the weakest link in security: human trust. Crime7 months ago The Most Costly Financial Crimes in 2024 As cybersecurity threats escalate, which financial crimes are causing the most harm? The FBI has the data. Crime8 months ago Mapped: U.S. Financial Crime Activity by State Suspicious activity has been rising in the U.S., but is it spread evenly throughout all 50 states? Certainly not. Crime8 months ago Ranked: America’s Most Common Financial Crimes As technology and AI become more widespread, fraud and other suspicious activity are rising across America. Which types are the most common? Economy8 months ago Tracking the $3.1 Trillion Financial Crime Pandemic From money laundering to fraud, financial crime acts as a drain on the economy, totaling an incredible $3.1 trillion. Politics9 months ago Which Types of Government Rule the World? Over half the global population is ruled by non-centrist types of government, including autocracies and left or right wing parties. Politics9 months ago Breaking Down the $524 Billion Investment Needed to Rebuild Ukraine Ukraine will require an estimated $524B over the next decade to recover from the Russia-Ukraine war. Which sectors have been most impacted? Politics9 months ago Are Tariffs Causing U.S. Inflation Fears? Amid tariff increases, consumers’ expectations for U.S. inflation in the next five years have reached their highest level since March 1991. Politics10 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 visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: China’s Largest Trading Partners in 2025 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The U.S. remained China’s largest trading partner in 2025, with $560 billion in trade. China’s total trade surpassed $6.3 trillion, generating a record $1.2 trillion surplus. Trade growth accelerated across Southeast Asia, while German car exports to China have fallen sharply since 2022. China’s trade engine continues to expand, but the geography of that growth is shifting. In 2025, total trade exceeded $6.3 trillion, driving a record $1.2 trillion surplus as exports outpaced relatively flat imports. While the U.S. remained China’s largest trading partner, trade momentum increasingly tilted toward Southeast Asia. At the same time, strains are emerging in Europe. German car exports to China have dropped 66% since 2022, reflecting intensifying competition in the world’s largest auto market. This graphic shows the country’s largest trading partners in 2025, based on data from China’s General Administration of Customs. The U.S. Remains China’s Largest Trading Partner At $560 billion in total trade, the U.S. accounted for 8.8% of China’s global trade in 2025. However, bilateral trade declined 18.7% year over year amid escalating tariff tensions. RankCountryTrade Value2025Share2025Change2024-2025 1 U.S.$560B8.8%-18.7% 2 Hong Kong SAR$367B5.8%18.9% 3 South Korea$331B5.2%1.2% 4 Japan$322B5.1%4.5% 5 Taiwan$314B5.0%7.3% 6 Vietnam$296B4.7%13.7% 7 Russia$228B3.6%-6.9% 8 Germany$211B3.3%4.6% 9 Australia$207B3.3%-2.3% 10 Malaysia$192B3.0%-9.6% 11 Brazil$188B3.0%-0.1% 12 Indonesia$167B2.6%13.4% 13 India$156B2.4%12.4% 14 Thailand$153B2.4%14.4% 15 Singapore$119B1.9%7.5% 16 Netherlands$114B1.8%3.9% 17 Mexico$109B1.7%0.0% 18 Saudi Arabia$108B1.7%0.5% 19 UAE$108B1.7%6.0% 20 UK$104B1.6%5.3% Hong Kong ranked second at $367 billion, followed by South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan—all of which saw modest trade growth. Meanwhile, Vietnam posted a 13.7% increase in bilateral trade, part of a broader surge in trade across the ASEAN region. Chinese exports to Africa also rose 25.8% year over year. Europe’s Auto Weakness Stands Out China-Germany trade reached $211 billion in 2025, up 4.6% overall. However, German exports to China fell 9.3% during the year. Much of that decline reflects weakness in autos. Since 2022, German car exports to China have fallen 66%, raising pressure on manufacturers as domestic Chinese brands gain share. India ranked 12th overall with $156 billion in trade, posting double-digit growth alongside Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top import partner of each U.S. state.

See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The World’s Data Centers by Country (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 The U.S. leads with 3,960 data centers, the largest footprint in the dataset. That’s more data centers than the next 14 countries combined. Europe clusters heavily (UK, Germany, France lead), while Asia’s footprint is growing (China, India, Japan). Data centers power everything from streaming and cloud storage to the AI systems reshaping industries. When it comes to scale, one country stands far ahead. The U.S. has 3,960 data centers in this dataset—more than the next 14 countries combined. The map above, based on data from Data Center Map, counts operational facilities by country, from small cloud hubs to sprawling colocation campuses. While totals vary by methodology, the concentration of infrastructure in a few major economies is unmistakable. U.S. Leads by a Wide Margin With nearly four thousand data centers in this dataset, the U.S. is the world’s largest data center market. CountryData Centers USA3,960 United Kingdom498 Germany470 China365 France335 Canada285 India275 Australia268 Japan249 Italy206 Brazil198 Spain189 The Netherlands186 Indonesia184 Russia178 Ireland128 Switzerland113 Sweden110 Malaysia109 Poland97 Finland90 Norway87 South Korea86 Hong Kong85 Denmark81 Turkey76 Chile66 Singapore65 Israel65 Romania63 Mexico62 South Africa61 Thailand59 Saudi Arabia58 United Arab Emirates57 New Zealand57 Czech Republic54 Austria53 Belgium48 Portugal44 Argentina43 Colombia41 Vietnam41 Ukraine37 Taiwan37 Philippines36 Bulgaria31 Pakistan30 Greece25 Latvia24 Nigeria23 Iran20 Slovenia20 Lithuania19 Kenya19 Cyprus18 Hungary17 Panama17 Oman16 Luxembourg16 Kazakhstan15 Bangladesh15 Croatia15 Morocco14 Peru14 Serbia13 Egypt13 Slovakia13 Estonia12 Iceland12 Costa Rica12 Tanzania11 Qatar11 Angola10 Nepal10 Cambodia10 Malta10 Mauritius10 Uruguay10 Ecuador9 Ghana8 Puerto Rico8 Jordan8 Bahrain8 Paraguay7 Guatemala7 Mongolia7 Senegal7 Macedonia7 Venezuela7 Liechtenstein7 Ethiopia6 Uzbekistan6 Moldova6 Ivory Coast6 Mozambique6 Gibraltar6 Algeria6 Isle of Man6 Libya6 Botswana5 Bolivia5 Trinidad and Tobago5 Myanmar5 Reunion5 Kuwait5 Jersey5 Bosnia and Herzegovina4 Sri Lanka4 DR Congo4 Uganda4 Tunisia4 Albania4 Honduras4 Georgia4 Bahamas4 Brunei4 Guam3 El Salvador3 New Caledonia3 Dominican Republic3 Madagascar3 Monaco3 Djibouti3 Curacao3 Rwanda3 Zambia3 Kyrgyzstan3 Nicaragua3 Azerbaijan3 Bhutan3 Guernsey3 Maldives3 Andorra3 Zimbabwe3 Armenia2 Namibia2 French Polynesia2 Belarus2 Togo2 Cameroon2 Jamaica2 Afghanistan2 Bermuda2 Laos2 Lebanon2 Sudan2 Cayman Islands2 Suriname2 Greenland2 Lesotho2 Mayotte1 Iraq1 Guyana1 Syria1 Martinique1 Guinea1 Burkina Faso1 Macau1 French Guiana1 Malawi1 Papua New Guinea1 Republic of the Congo1 Palestine1 Gabon1 Mali1 Equatorial Guinea1 Eswatini1 Kosovo1 Solomon Islands1 Seychelles1 Sierra Leone1 Somalia1 US Virgin Islands1 This U.S. dominance reflects heavy investment by major cloud providers and tech companies. Years of hyperscaler investment help explain why much of the world’s cloud and AI capacity is built in the country. Some other industry estimates place the U.S. total above 5,000 facilities, reflecting differences in how data centers are defined and counted. Europe’s Strong Presence Europe represents the second-largest concentration of data centers globally. The United Kingdom, Germany, and France each have hundreds of data centers. These nations host key internet exchange points and serve as hubs for multinational cloud and IT services. Other countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden also maintain strong data center footprints. Growing Markets in Asia and Beyond Asia’s footprint is expanding rapidly, led by China, Japan, and India. Rising digital demand and cloud adoption are driving continued expansion across major Asian markets. Emerging economies also appear on the list, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea. Meanwhile, smaller countries like Singapore and Hong Kong punch above their weight due to strategic connectivity and business-friendly environments. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Charted: The Jobs Most Exposed to Generative AI on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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. That widening recovery gap amplifies the economic impact of every disaster, making accurate valuation, coverage limits, and risk pricing more critical than ever. Explore the data behind emerging global property risks. You may also like Real Estate4 days ago How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market? Lower interest rates have often supported stronger real estate returns and improved valuations. Will that trend return in 2026? Real Estate5 days ago 6 Trends Reshaping U.S. Property Insurance From climate volatility to economic and technological shifts, a wide range of forces are reshaping property risk in the U.S. Environment4 months ago Ranked: The 10 Most Powerful U.S. Hurricanes (1900-2025) Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation. Environment5 months ago Mapped: Which U.S. Cities Saw Record-Breaking Temperatures in 2024? Global temperatures are climbing—but how is this trend playing out across the United States, and which regions are being hit the hardest? Environment6 months ago Ranked: The Most Expensive U.S. Wildfire Events, So Far Wildfire events are growing increasingly frequent and destructive around the world as human-driven climate impacts continue to escalate. Environment6 months ago Mapped: The United States of Drought Drought grips much of the U.S., affecting over 60 million people today. Healthcare7 months ago The $58B Weight Loss Drug Market in One Chart Weight loss drugs have surged in popularity in recent years, transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. Which brands are dominating this space? Healthcare7 months ago Ranked: Which Areas Receive the Most Pharma R&D? The pharmaceutical industry has made enormous strides in treating—and even curing—a wide range of diseases and conditions. Which areas are seeing the most R&D in 2025? Healthcare7 months ago The $5.6T Pharmaceutical Industry in One Chart Pharma giants don’t just make medicine—they shape the future of healthcare. Who are the world’s major players? Crime7 months ago 6 Fraud Trends Reshaping Risk in 2025 The fraud and financial crime landscapes are evolving rapidly. What are the key threats shaping risk in 2025? Cryptocurrency7 months ago Ranked: The 10 Biggest Digital Heists Some of the largest digital heists didn’t rely on brute-force hacking, they exploited the weakest link in security: human trust. Crime7 months ago The Most Costly Financial Crimes in 2024 As cybersecurity threats escalate, which financial crimes are causing the most harm? The FBI has the data. Crime8 months ago Mapped: U.S. Financial Crime Activity by State Suspicious activity has been rising in the U.S., but is it spread evenly throughout all 50 states? Certainly not. Crime8 months ago Ranked: America’s Most Common Financial Crimes As technology and AI become more widespread, fraud and other suspicious activity are rising across America. Which types are the most common? Economy8 months ago Tracking the $3.1 Trillion Financial Crime Pandemic From money laundering to fraud, financial crime acts as a drain on the economy, totaling an incredible $3.1 trillion. Politics9 months ago Which Types of Government Rule the World? Over half the global population is ruled by non-centrist types of government, including autocracies and left or right wing parties. Politics9 months ago Breaking Down the $524 Billion Investment Needed to Rebuild Ukraine Ukraine will require an estimated $524B over the next decade to recover from the Russia-Ukraine war. Which sectors have been most impacted? Politics9 months ago Are Tariffs Causing U.S. Inflation Fears? Amid tariff increases, consumers’ expectations for U.S. inflation in the next five years have reached their highest level since March 1991. Politics10 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

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.