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Countries With the Highest Cost of Violence by Share of GDP

2025-11-29 05:57:57

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app.

Bar chart showing the countries with the highest economic cost of violence in 2024.

Top 10 Countries With the Highest Economic Cost of Violence

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

  • Afghanistan faced the greatest economic toll from violence in 2024, accounting for 41.6% of GDP.
  • Ukraine followed closely behind, with costs such as military spending, conflict deaths, and infrastructure destruction reaching an estimated 40.1% of GDP.

In 2024, the economic impact of violence reached $20 trillion globally in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Military spending and internal security costs accounted for 74% of the total, at a time of rising geopolitical fragmentation. The economic impact of refugees and GDP losses also climbed higher.

This graphic shows the countries with the greatest economic toll of violence, based on analysis from the Institute for Economics and Peace.

Ranked: The Top 10 Countries by Economic Cost of Violence

Below, we show the countries which faced the highest cost of violence as a share of GDP in 2024.

These figures include direct and indirect costs such as military spending, GDP losses, and the costs of conflict deaths. Estimates were calculated in PPP terms.

Country Economic Cost of Violence in 2024
(% of GDP)
🇦🇫 Afghanistan 41.6
🇺🇦 Ukraine 40.9
🇰🇵 North Korea 39.1
🇸🇾 Syria 34.0
🇸🇴 Somalia 24.7
🇨🇫 Central African Republic 22.5
🇨🇴 Colombia 19.7
🇵🇸 Palestinian Territories 19.4
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 19.0
🇨🇾 Cyprus 16.8
Average (Top 10) 27.8

Afghanistan ranks highest globally, largely driven by significant military expenditures and high costs associated with refugees.

While violence has fallen since the return of Taliban rule in 2021, Afghanistan has the third-highest military spending as a share of GDP in the world, at 15.1%. Meanwhile, the number of Afghani refugees stands at 5.8 million globally.

In Ukraine, the cost of violence stood at 40.9% of GDP last year. So far into the war, residential buildings have faced $60 billion in damage, while infrastructure and transportation have seen $38.5 billion in losses. Additionally, 260,000 private motor vehicles have been damaged or destroyed.

Meanwhile, Palestine ranks in eighth globally, with the economic cost of the war in Gaza equal to 19.4% of GDP. Following after Ukraine, it had the second-highest number of deaths globally in 2024.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on organized crime hotspots around the world.

Mapped: What Share of Each U.S. State’s Population is Foreign Born?

2025-11-29 00:45:38

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

Map showing the percentage of each U.S. state's population that is foreign-born in 2024, with California, New Jersey, and Florida leading

Mapped: What Share of Each State’s Population is Foreign Born?

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

  • California has the highest share of foreign-born residents at 27.7%—more than 1 in 4 people.
  • Montana, West Virginia, and Mississippi have the smallest shares, each under 3%.
  • The U.S. foreign-born population is at a historic high, with origins shifting towards Asia and Latin America.

The U.S. has long been shaped by waves of immigration, and today, those numbers are reaching historic highs. Using the latest 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, USAFacts visualizes the foreign-born share of each state’s population. California leads, but patterns vary widely depending on region and history.

Here’s the full dataset showing the share of each state’s population that is foreign-born:

Rank State Name Foreign-born Share (%)
1 California 27.7
2 New Jersey 25.0
3 New York 23.3
4 Florida 23.1
5 Nevada 19.9
6 Massachusetts 18.8
7 Hawaii 18.6
8 Texas 18.4
9 Maryland 17.1
10 Washington 16.1
11 Connecticut 15.9
12 Rhode Island 15.7
13 District of Columbia 15.5
14 Illinois 15.4
15 Virginia 13.6
16 Arizona 13.4
17 Georgia 11.9
18 Delaware 11.6
19 Colorado 10.5
20 New Mexico 10.0
21 Oregon 10.0
22 North Carolina 9.9
23 Utah 9.8
24 Minnesota 9.0
25 Nebraska 9.0
26 Pennsylvania 8.3
27 Kansas 7.8
28 Alaska 7.7
29 Michigan 7.7
30 Indiana 7.0
31 Oklahoma 6.6
32 Tennessee 6.5
33 South Carolina 6.4
34 Idaho 6.3
35 Iowa 6.3
36 New Hampshire 5.9
37 Arkansas 5.8
38 Ohio 5.5
39 Wisconsin 5.5
40 North Dakota 5.3
41 Kentucky 5.2
42 Louisiana 5.2
43 Missouri 4.9
44 Maine 4.7
45 Alabama 4.5
46 Vermont 4.5
47 South Dakota 4.2
48 Wyoming 3.5
49 Mississippi 2.7
50 Montana 2.1
51 West Virginia 2.1

Unsurprisingly, states with major urban centers and global hubs top the list.

California (27.7%), New Jersey (25.0%), and Florida (23.1%) all host large immigrant communities. On the other hand, states like West Virginia (2.1%) and Montana (2.1%) have far fewer foreign-born residents.

America’s Foreign-Born Population at a Record High

As of 2024, the share of foreign-born individuals in the United States stands at about 14.8%, marking a record high not seen since the early 20th century. Today, over 46 million immigrants live in the U.S., a number that has nearly doubled since 1990.

Regional Patterns and State-by-State Trends

While the national share is high, foreign-born populations are not distributed evenly. Coastal and larger Southern states tend to have larger immigrant populations. Texas (18.4%) and New York (23.3%) are key gateways for immigration, hosting a diverse array of foreign-born residents.

In contrast, more rural and landlocked states tend to have smaller foreign-born shares. For example, North Dakota (5.3%) and South Dakota (4.2%) have limited international migration due to fewer economic and social pull factors.

Where Are U.S. Immigrants From?

Immigrants to the U.S. come from a wider range of places than ever before. While Mexico remains the largest single country of origin, accounting for around 18 million arrivals since 1965, the composition of newcomers has shifted significantly.

In recent years, arrivals from Asia and Latin America have surged. For example, in 2022, immigrants from Asia saw the largest numerical increase in authorized arrivals, and immigration from Mexico more than doubled compared to 2006.

According to the latest rankings, after Mexico, the largest immigrant groups are from India, China and Philippines—all contributing millions of people to the U.S. population.

These changes reflect a U.S. immigration profile that is both sizable and increasingly diverse, reshaping the nation’s demographic and cultural landscape.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

Explore more global comparisons in our Voronoi post: Which OECD Countries Have the Largest Foreign-born Populations?

All of the World’s Gold, in One Visual

2025-11-28 22:29:18

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Illustrative graphic showing how much gold is in the world by category as of year-end 2024.

Use This Visualization

How Much Gold is 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

  • The total above-ground stock of gold stands at 216,265 tonnes, with the largest share found in jewelry.
  • Below-ground stock is estimated to be 132,110 tonnes as of year-end 2024.

Today, gold prices sit roughly 40% above their previous inflation-adjusted peak seen in 1980.

Despite tumbling 54% from the October 20th high of $4,380, gold remains at historically elevated levels, as investors rely on the metal as a reliable store of value. In total, the world’s above-ground gold stock would fit into a cube approximately 22.3 meters tall (73 feet).

This graphic shows the global supply of gold as of year-end 2024, based on data from the World Gold Council.

How Much Gold is in the World, by Category

Below, we show all the world’s gold, covering both above and below-ground stock:

Category Tonnes of Gold (t)
Jewelry 97,149
Bars and coins (including gold backed ETFs) 48,634
Central banks 37,755
Industrial uses (electronics, dentistry, etc.) 32,727
Reserves 54,770
Resources 77,340

Jewelry is the largest category of above-ground gold, at 97,149 tonnes.

Last year, India was the largest buyer of gold jewelry globally, with 560 tonnes in purchases. China ranked second, with 510 tonnes. Across the region, gold is deeply intertwined with major life events such as weddings and cultural traditions.

Bars, coins, and gold-backed ETFs make up 48,634 tonnes of gold, exceeding central bank holdings (37,755 tonnes) by a substantial margin. Overall, the U.S., Germany, and Italy held the most gold in their central bank reserves as of year-end 2024.

Meanwhile, industrial uses such as electronics and dentistry make up 32,727 tonnes. Many semiconductor chips, for instance, use gold for coating or bonding wires thanks to its conductivity.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on gold production by region.

The Future of World Energy Supply (2024–2050), Charted

2025-11-28 20:12:54

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This chart highlights how global energy supply evolves from 2024 to 2050, showing which sources grow, plateau, or decline.

Use This Visualization

The Future of World Energy Supply (2024–2050), Charted

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

  • Between 2024 and 2050, nearly all net new global energy supply comes from renewables.
  • Coal declines sharply while oil and gas flatten, shifting the long-term balance of the energy mix.

The world’s energy system is undergoing its most significant transition in modern history. While demand continues to rise, the types of energy supplying that demand are shifting at an accelerating pace. This chart highlights how global energy supply evolves from 2024 to 2050, showing which sources grow, plateau, or decline.

The data for this visualization comes from the IEA World Energy Outlook 2025. It outlines global energy supply in exajoules (EJ) from 2024 through forecasts for 2035 and 2050.

Renewables Become the Core of New Supply

Renewables more than double from 83 EJ in 2024 to 233 EJ by 2050, rising from 13% to 31% of global supply. Solar and wind make up most of this increase, with solar alone growing nearly ninefold over the forecast period. Hydro continues to rise more gradually. By 2050, renewables represent the largest source of net new global energy.

Exajoules (EJ) 2024 2035F 2050F
🔆 Solar 9 40 79
💨 Wind 9 25 40
💧 Hydro 16 19 23
🌿 Other renewables 49 65 91
🔥 Traditional biomass 19 14 10
⚛ Nuclear 31 43 61
🟦 Natural gas 148 165 161
🛢 Oil 193 192 184
🟫 Coal 178 143 95
🌱 Renewables (total) 83 149 233
🌍 Total energy supply 654 708 747

Fossil Fuels Flatten as Coal Declines

Coal shows the steepest drop, falling from 178 EJ in 2024 to just 95 EJ by 2050. This reflects both policy-driven phase-downs and competitive pressure from clean technologies.

Nuclear and Other Low-Carbon Sources Expand

Nuclear grows steadily from 31 EJ in 2024 to 61 EJ in 2050, maintaining a small but meaningful role in global baseload power. Traditional biomass declines as regions transition to modern energy systems. Meanwhile, “other” renewables—such as geothermal and modern bioenergy—expand significantly, helping diversify the low-carbon supply portfolio.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Visualizing Future Solar Power Capacity by Country on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Charted: Why U.S. Employers Are Cutting Jobs in 2025

2025-11-28 04:11:17

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Treemap graphic showing top reasons for job cuts in the U.S. in 2025.

Charted: Why U.S. Employers Are Cutting Jobs 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

  • Employers have announced 1.1 million job cuts through October, up 65% year over year, the highest total since 2020.
  • The actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and broader economic factors together account for more than half of all layoffs — over 520,000 jobs.
  • Despite widespread public concern about artificial intelligence, AI-related cuts make up less than 5% of total layoffs.
  • Restructuring and cost-cutting were cited by companies as reasons for over 185,000 job losses combined.

The U.S. labor market is undergoing a marked shift in 2025. After several years of strong hiring, companies across industries are now pulling back as economic uncertainty deepens.

This infographic visualizes the reasons behind more than one million announced job cuts so far this year, highlighting which trends are driving the bulk of reductions.

Overall layoffs through October now total 1,099,550, the highest year-to-date figure in five years. Much of this increase stems from firms preparing for slower growth, weaker consumer demand, and tighter financial conditions. The data for this visualization comes from Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Macroeconomic Conditions Drive the Majority of Layoffs

DOGE-related actions top all categories, accounting for nearly 294,000 job cuts. These reflect federal efficiency mandates that have had ripple effects across contractors, suppliers, and downstream industries.

Market and economic conditions follow closely behind, with more than 229,000 announced reductions. Combined, over half of all layoffs this year stem from these two forces alone.

Reason Jobs Lossed (YTD 2025)
DOGE Actions 293,753
Economic Conditions 229,331
Closing 161,391
Restructuring 108,038
Cost-Cutting 77,285
Artificial Intelligence 48,414
Bankruptcy 38,590
No Reason Provided 21,918
DOGE Downstream Impact 20,976
Technological Update (possibly AI) 20,219
Acquisition/Merger 17,348
Contract Loss 13,705
Federal Cuts/Shutdown 8,983
Demand Downturn 8,701
EV Tax Credit Expiration 7,539
Financial Loss 7,364
Tariffs 5,847
Relocation (Domestic) 3,859
Consolidation 1,466
Labor Dispute 1,389
Voluntary Severance/Buyouts 1,045
Natural Disaster 870
COVID Recovery 705
Plant Upgrades 512
Government Regulations 140
Outsourcing Operations to Another U.S. Company 76
COVID-19 36
TOTAL 1,099,550

Business Strategy Over Crisis: A Corporate Reset

Company closures have resulted in more than 161,000 job losses, while restructuring and cost-cutting add another 185,000 combined.

Bankruptcies, by contrast, account for only 38,590 job cuts — far below pandemic-era levels, suggesting that 2025’s layoff wave is more about recalibration than collapse.

AI-Related Labor Market Impact Remains Limited

Despite intense debate around automation, AI accounts for just 48,414 cuts. Even when including technological updates that may involve AI, the combined figure remains relatively small. This shows that, at least for now, companies are not replacing large sections of their workforce with automation. Instead, layoffs are concentrated in legacy operations, cost centers, and areas affected by policy shifts.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The United States of Unemployment on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Mapped: Thanksgiving Travel Across 100 Airports in 2025

2025-11-28 01:02:05

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U.S. map of thanksgiving air travel in 2025

Mapped: Thanksgiving Travel by Airport 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

  • Long Beach (LGB) and Oakland (OAK) show the sharpest increases in Thanksgiving week arrivals, rising 111% and 84%, respectively, year-over-year.
  • Major hubs like San Francisco International (SFO) and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta (ATL) expect declines in Thanksgiving arrivals, highlighting 2025 travelers’ preference for smaller airports.

Thanksgiving remains one of the busiest travel periods in the United States, with millions of passengers moving through airports nationwide.

This visualization uses data from Amadeus to map out where air traffic is rising the most—and where it is falling—across 100 airports for Thanksgiving week 2025 compared to 2024.

Thanksgiving Air Travel Across the U.S. in 2025

The key trend in Thanksgiving air travel for 2025 is that smaller regional airports are experiencing surges in arrivals while major hubs are seeing notable pullbacks.

The data table below shows the year-over-year change in scheduled Thanksgiving week arrivals for 100 U.S. airports. Thanksgiving week is defined as the period from November 25th to December 2nd.

Airport code Destination airport Annual change in Thanksgiving week (2025) arrivals
LGB Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field) 111%
OAK San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport 84%
BUR Hollywood Burbank Airport 39%
PVD Theodore Francis Green State Airport 35%
SAC Sacramento Executive Airport 31%
SAN San Diego International Airport 31%
ELP El Paso International Airport 27%
PIT Pittsburgh International Airport 27%
MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 23%
BZN Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport 22%
PWM Portland International Jetport 22%
TUL Tulsa International Airport 22%
SJC Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 21%
AUS Austin Bergstrom International Airport 19%
ECP Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport 19%
COS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport 18%
ROC Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 18%
BOI Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field 18%
SNA John Wayne Orange County International Airport 17%
LIH Lihue Airport 17%
RNO Reno Tahoe International Airport 16%
ICT Wichita Eisenhower National Airport 16%
ALB Albany International Airport 16%
CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport 15%
IND Indianapolis International Airport 15%
MKC Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport 15%
OMA Eppley Airfield 15%
BHM Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 14%
OGG Kahului International Airport 14%
ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport 14%
SAT San Antonio International Airport 13%
STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport 12%
TUS Tucson International Airport / Morris Air National Guard Base 12%
BNA Nashville International Airport 12%
FAT Fresno Yosemite International Airport 11%
EUG Mahlon Sweet Field 11%
GRR Gerald R. Ford International Airport 11%
KOA Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole 11%
HFD Hartford Brainard Airport 10%
OKC Will Rogers World Airport 8%
MYR Myrtle Beach International Airport 7%
MSN Dane County Regional Truax Field 7%
PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 7%
CHS Charleston International Airport 7%
HAR Capital City Airport 7%
LIT Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field 6%
PBI Palm Beach International Airport 6%
RIC Richmond International Airport 6%
SRQ Sarasota Bradenton International Airport 6%
DSM Des Moines International Airport 6%
FMY Page Field 6%
HNL Daniel K. Inouye International Airport 5%
FLL Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport 5%
ORF Norfolk International Airport 5%
DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 5%
BOS Logan International Airport 4%
MEM Memphis International Airport 4%
SBA Santa Barbara Municipal Airport 4%
JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport 3%
SLC Salt Lake City International Airport 3%
TPA Tampa International Airport 2%
PSC Tri Cities Airport 2%
GSP Greenville Spartanburg International Airport 2%
FYV Drake Field 2%
MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold‚ Chamberlain Field 2%
MKE General Mitchell International Airport 1%
LAX Los Angeles International Airport 1%
ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport 1%
MIA Miami International Airport 1%
PSP Palm Springs International Airport 1%
GEG Spokane International Airport 0%
FSD Sioux Falls Regional Airport / Joe Foss Field 0%
SAV Savannah Hilton Head International Airport 0%
LAS Harry Reid International Airport 0%
HOU William P Hobby Airport 0%
JAX Jacksonville International Airport -1%
ORL Orlando Executive Airport -1%
JAN Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport -2%
VPS Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport -2%
SFO San Francisco International Airport -2%
DFW Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport -2%
SEA Seattle‚ Tacoma International Airport -2%
BUF Buffalo Niagara International Airport -3%
RDU Raleigh Durham International Airport -4%
SDF Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport -5%
IAD Washington Dulles International Airport -5%
ATL Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport -6%
PNS Pensacola International Airport -6%
HSV Huntsville International Carl T. Jones Field -8%
PDX Portland International Airport -9%
DEN Denver International Airport -11%
ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport -12%
CLE Cleveland Hopkins International Airport -12%
PHL Philadelphia International Airport -13%
CVG Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport -13%
CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport -14%
TYS McGhee Tyson Airport -15%
SYR Syracuse Hancock International Airport -15%
GSO Piedmont Triad International Airport -24%
CAE Columbia Metropolitan Airport -26%

Across the dataset, changes range from a 111% surge at Long Beach Airport (LGB) to a 26% decline at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE).

While Thanksgiving week air bookings in 2025 have increased 4% compared to last year, mid-sized and secondary airports have seen 9% growth, suggesting travelers are being more deliberate about their destinations as they try to avoid congestion.

West Coast Airports Lead Thanksgiving Arrivals Growth

The strongest growth appears at several California airports. Long Beach (111%), Oakland (84%), and Burbank (39%) rank as the top three increases in Thanksgiving airport destinations in 2025.

These gains suggest that travelers are favoring secondary West Coast airports, especially as San Francisco International Airport sees a 2% decline.

Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC) and San Diego International Airport also both feature a notable 31% rise in 2025 compared to last year’s Thanksgiving week.

Providence’s Theodore Francis Green Memorial State Airport (PVD) posts a 35% increase—one of the stronger gains outside the West Coast.

Thanksgiving Travel Declines Concentrated in the Southeast

The steepest declines in Thanksgiving arrivals in 2025 compared to last year are primarily across Southern airports.

Columbia (CAE) sees a 26% decline, followed closely by Greensboro’s Piedmont Triad (GSO) at -24%.

Other airports such as McGhee Tyson (TYS) in Tennessee, Syracuse Hancock (SYR) in New York, and Charlotte Douglas (CLT) in North Carolina also show double-digit decreases.

Overall, some of the country’s largest airports are seeing significant declines, like Atlanta International Airport (the world’s busiest airport in 2024) expecting 6% fewer arrivals compared to last year.

Other major airports with declines include Dallas/Fort Worth (-2%), Denver International (-11%), and Philadelphia International (-13%), all of which expect significant drops in Thanksgiving travel in 2025.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about Thanksgiving in 2025, check out this graphic on the Voronoi app, which breaks down the most affordable grocery stores for Thanksgiving dinner items.