2026-01-25 23:37:17
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U.S. bilateral trade reached $4.7 trillion between January and October 2025, in a volatile year for trade policy.
As the U.S.’s largest trading partner, the EU plays a central role in trade flows. While tariffs linked to Greenland were briefly threatened on eight EU countries before being withdrawn, trade dynamics vary across the bloc. The U.S. runs surpluses with countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, while having deficits with Ireland and Germany.
This graphic shows America’s biggest trading partners in 2025 through October, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Below, we show America’s top trading partners in a year of head-spinning trade policy:
| Rank | Country/Region | Total Trade Jan-Oct 2025 | Share of Total Trade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
EU |
$883.3B | 18.8% |
| 2 |
Mexico |
$731.2B | 15.6% |
| 3 |
Canada |
$606.7B | 12.9% |
| 4 |
China |
$357.2B | 7.6% |
| 5 |
Taiwan |
$201.1B | 4.3% |
| 6 |
Japan |
$190.7B | 4.1% |
| 7 |
Vietnam |
$170.5B | 3.6% |
| 8 |
South Korea |
$162.1B | 3.5% |
| 9 |
Switzerland |
$154.3B | 3.3% |
| 10 |
United Kingdom |
$133.5B | 2.8% |
| 11 |
India |
$126.4B | 2.7% |
| -- |
Other countries |
$977.2B | 20.8% |
| -- | Total Trade (Jan-Oct '25) | $4.69 trillion | 100.0% |
Trade with the EU stood at $883.3 billion, with Germany ($196.4 billion), Ireland ($140.8 billion), and the Netherlands ($108.7 billion) driving the most trade activity overall.
In August 2025, the U.S. and EU agreed to a framework that set a 15% tariff ceiling on most goods, while existing 50% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum were left in place for all global trading partners.
Mexico follows, with $731.2 billion in cross-border trade in 2025. After the U.S. announced tariffs on Mexican imports in February 2025, subsequent negotiations led to delays and partial exemptions.
Ranking in third is Canada, with $606.7 billion in trade value.
Meanwhile, U.S-China trade totaled $357.2 billion, with the U.S. trade deficit with the country sitting at $175.4 billion as of the end of October. Over the period, U.S imports from China sank 26.7%, the largest across U.S. trading partners.
In stark contrast, U.S. imports surged 40.4% from Vietnam and 37.4% from Thailand amid shifting trade alignments. When it comes to India, America’s 11th-biggest trading partner, trade increased moderately to $126.4 billion compared to the previous time period.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top import partner of each U.S. state.
2026-01-25 21:08:18
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After reaching 1 billion people in 1804, the world’s population has expanded eightfold over roughly 200 years.
Since 2022, the global population has increased by more than 200 million despite widespread declines in birth rates. While the populations of China and Brazil have shrunk, India and Nigeria have been significant drivers of overall population growth.
This graphic shows the world population by country, based on data from the United Nations.
Below, we show the population of 204 countries and territories in 2025:
| Rank | Country | Population in 2025 (M) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
India |
1,463.9 |
| 2 |
China |
1,416.1 |
| 3 |
U.S. |
347.3 |
| 4 |
Indonesia |
285.7 |
| 5 |
Pakistan |
255.2 |
| 6 |
Nigeria |
237.5 |
| 7 |
Brazil |
212.8 |
| 8 |
Bangladesh |
175.7 |
| 9 |
Russia |
144.0 |
| 10 |
Ethiopia |
135.5 |
| 11 |
Mexico |
132.0 |
| 12 |
Japan |
123.1 |
| 13 |
Egypt |
118.4 |
| 14 |
Philippines |
116.8 |
| 15 |
DR Congo |
112.8 |
| 16 |
Viet Nam |
101.6 |
| 17 |
Iran |
92.4 |
| 18 |
Türkiye |
87.7 |
| 19 |
Germany |
84.1 |
| 20 |
Thailand |
71.6 |
| 21 |
Tanzania |
70.6 |
| 22 |
UK |
69.6 |
| 23 |
France |
66.7 |
| 24 |
South Africa |
64.8 |
| 25 |
Italy |
59.2 |
| 26 |
Kenya |
57.5 |
| 27 |
Myanmar |
54.9 |
| 28 |
Colombia |
53.4 |
| 29 |
South Korea |
51.7 |
| 30 |
Sudan |
51.7 |
| 31 |
Uganda |
51.4 |
| 32 |
Spain |
47.9 |
| 33 |
Algeria |
47.4 |
| 34 |
Iraq |
47.0 |
| 35 |
Argentina |
45.9 |
| 36 |
Afghanistan |
43.8 |
| 37 |
Yemen |
41.8 |
| 38 |
Canada |
40.1 |
| 39 |
Angola |
39.0 |
| 40 |
Ukraine |
39.0 |
| 41 |
Morocco |
38.4 |
| 42 |
Poland |
38.1 |
| 43 |
Uzbekistan |
37.1 |
| 44 |
Malaysia |
36.0 |
| 45 |
Mozambique |
35.6 |
| 46 |
Ghana |
35.1 |
| 47 |
Peru |
34.6 |
| 48 |
Saudi Arabia |
34.6 |
| 49 |
Côte d'Ivoire |
32.7 |
| 50 |
Madagascar |
32.7 |
| 51 |
Cameroon |
29.9 |
| 52 |
Nepal |
29.6 |
| 53 |
Venezuela |
28.5 |
| 54 |
Niger |
27.9 |
| 55 |
Australia |
27.0 |
| 56 |
North Korea |
26.6 |
| 57 |
Syria |
25.6 |
| 58 |
Mali |
25.2 |
| 59 |
Burkina Faso |
24.1 |
| 60 |
Sri Lanka |
23.2 |
| 61 |
Malawi |
22.2 |
| 62 |
Zambia |
21.9 |
| 63 |
Chad |
21.0 |
| 64 |
Kazakhstan |
20.8 |
| 65 |
Chile |
19.9 |
| 66 |
Somalia |
19.7 |
| 67 |
Romania |
18.9 |
| 68 |
Senegal |
18.9 |
| 69 |
Guatemala |
18.7 |
| 70 |
Netherlands |
18.4 |
| 71 |
Ecuador |
18.3 |
| 72 |
Cambodia |
17.9 |
| 73 |
Zimbabwe |
17.0 |
| 74 |
Guinea |
15.1 |
| 75 |
Benin |
14.8 |
| 76 |
Rwanda |
14.6 |
| 77 |
Burundi |
14.4 |
| 78 |
Bolivia |
12.6 |
| 79 |
Tunisia |
12.4 |
| 80 |
South Sudan |
12.2 |
| 81 |
Haiti |
11.9 |
| 82 |
Belgium |
11.8 |
| 83 |
Dominican Republic |
11.5 |
| 84 |
Jordan |
11.5 |
| 85 |
UAE |
11.4 |
| 86 |
Honduras |
11.0 |
| 87 |
Cuba |
10.9 |
| 88 |
Papua New Guinea |
10.8 |
| 89 |
Tajikistan |
10.8 |
| 90 |
Sweden |
10.7 |
| 91 |
Czechia |
10.6 |
| 92 |
Azerbaijan |
10.4 |
| 93 |
Portugal |
10.4 |
| 94 |
Greece |
9.9 |
| 95 |
Togo |
9.7 |
| 96 |
Hungary |
9.6 |
| 97 |
Israel |
9.5 |
| 98 |
Austria |
9.1 |
| 99 |
Belarus |
9.0 |
| 100 |
Switzerland |
9.0 |
| 101 |
Sierra Leone |
8.8 |
| 102 |
Laos |
7.9 |
| 103 |
Turkmenistan |
7.6 |
| 104 |
Libya |
7.5 |
| 105 |
China |
7.4 |
| 106 |
Kyrgyzstan |
7.3 |
| 107 |
Nicaragua |
7.0 |
| 108 |
Paraguay |
7.0 |
| 109 |
Bulgaria |
6.7 |
| 110 |
Serbia |
6.7 |
| 111 |
Congo |
6.5 |
| 112 |
El Salvador |
6.4 |
| 113 |
Denmark |
6.0 |
| 114 |
Lebanon |
5.9 |
| 115 |
Singapore |
5.9 |
| 116 |
Liberia |
5.7 |
| 117 |
Finland |
5.6 |
| 118 |
Norway |
5.6 |
| 119 |
State of Palestine |
5.6 |
| 120 |
Central African Republic |
5.5 |
| 121 |
Oman |
5.5 |
| 122 |
Slovakia |
5.5 |
| 123 |
Ireland |
5.3 |
| 124 |
Mauritania |
5.3 |
| 125 |
New Zealand |
5.3 |
| 126 |
Costa Rica |
5.2 |
| 127 |
Kuwait |
5.0 |
| 128 |
Panama |
4.6 |
| 129 |
Croatia |
3.9 |
| 130 |
Georgia |
3.8 |
| 131 |
Eritrea |
3.6 |
| 132 |
Mongolia |
3.5 |
| 133 |
Uruguay |
3.4 |
| 134 |
Puerto Rico |
3.2 |
| 135 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
3.1 |
| 136 |
Namibia |
3.1 |
| 137 |
Qatar |
3.1 |
| 138 |
Armenia |
3.0 |
| 139 |
Republic of Moldova |
3.0 |
| 140 |
Albania |
2.8 |
| 141 |
Gambia |
2.8 |
| 142 |
Jamaica |
2.8 |
| 143 |
Lithuania |
2.8 |
| 144 |
Botswana |
2.6 |
| 145 |
Gabon |
2.6 |
| 146 |
Lesotho |
2.4 |
| 147 |
Guinea-Bissau |
2.3 |
| 148 |
Slovenia |
2.1 |
| 149 |
Equatorial Guinea |
1.9 |
| 150 |
Latvia |
1.9 |
| 151 |
North Macedonia |
1.8 |
| 152 |
Bahrain |
1.6 |
| 153 |
Trinidad and Tobago |
1.5 |
| 154 |
Cyprus |
1.4 |
| 155 |
Timor-Leste |
1.4 |
| 156 |
Estonia |
1.3 |
| 157 |
Eswatini |
1.3 |
| 158 |
Mauritius |
1.3 |
| 159 |
Djibouti |
1.2 |
| 160 |
Comoros |
0.9 |
| 161 |
Fiji |
0.9 |
| 162 |
Réunion |
0.9 |
| 163 |
Bhutan |
0.8 |
| 164 |
Guyana |
0.8 |
| 165 |
Solomon Islands |
0.8 |
| 166 |
Macao |
0.7 |
| 167 |
Luxembourg |
0.7 |
| 168 |
Malta |
0.6 |
| 169 |
Montenegro |
0.6 |
| 170 |
Suriname |
0.6 |
| 171 |
Western Sahara |
0.6 |
| 172 |
Brunei Darussalam |
0.5 |
| 173 |
Cabo Verde |
0.5 |
| 174 |
Maldives |
0.5 |
| 175 |
Bahamas |
0.4 |
| 176 |
Belize |
0.4 |
| 177 |
Guadeloupe |
0.4 |
| 178 |
Iceland |
0.4 |
| 179 |
Barbados |
0.3 |
| 180 |
French Guiana11 |
0.3 |
| 181 |
French Polynesia |
0.3 |
| 182 |
Martinique |
0.3 |
| 183 |
New Caledonia |
0.3 |
| 184 |
Vanuatu |
0.3 |
| 185 |
Curaçao |
0.2 |
| 186 |
Guam |
0.2 |
| 187 |
Saint Lucia |
0.2 |
| 188 |
Samoa |
0.2 |
| 189 |
Sao Tome and Principe |
0.2 |
| 190 |
Antigua and Barbuda |
0.1 |
| 191 |
Aruba |
0.1 |
| 192 |
Dominica |
0.1 |
| 193 |
Grenada |
0.1 |
| 194 |
Kiribati |
0.1 |
| 195 |
Micronesia |
0.1 |
| 196 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis |
0.1 |
| 197 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
0.1 |
| 198 |
Seychelles |
0.1 |
| 199 |
Tonga |
0.1 |
| 200 |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
0.1 |
| 201 |
United States Virgin Islands |
0.1 |
| 202 |
San Marino |
0.03 |
| 203 |
Sint Maarten |
0.00 |
| 204 |
Tuvalu |
0.00 |
India ranks as the world’s most populous country, with a population fast-approaching the 1.5 billion mark.
Between 2022 and 2025, India added roughly 53 million people, even as its fertility rate fell below the replacement level to 1.9 births per woman. Over the same period, life expectancy rose to more than 72 years, climbing roughly 10 years since 2000.
China, home to over 1.4 billion people, ranks second globally. Since 2022, its population has declined by almost 36 million, and India overtook China in 2023 as aging demographics and record-low fertility accelerated China’s population decline.
With 347 million people in 2025, the U.S. ranks third globally. However, Nigeria is projected to surpass it by 2050 as its population doubles given its younger demographic profile.
Looking over to Europe, Italy’s population has shrunk by over 1 million people in less than four years, while the population of Greece has declined by roughly 400,000. Both countries have among the highest median ages in the world, at 48 and 47 years, respectively.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on peak population by country.
2026-01-25 15:44:23
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While the European Union plays a central role in trade, regulation, and geopolitics, residents across member states do not view its leadership uniformly.
This chart shows how residents in EU member states rate the job performance of European Union leadership.
The data for this visualization comes from Gallup. Respondents were asked whether they approve or disapprove of the job performance of the leadership of the European Union.
Northern European countries top the rankings for EU leadership approval. Denmark leads with 75% approval, followed closely by Finland and Lithuania at 74%, and Sweden at 73%.
| Country | Approve | Disapprove |
|---|---|---|
Denmark |
75% | 21% |
Finland |
74% | 21% |
Lithuania |
74% | 18% |
Sweden |
73% | 23% |
Portugal |
72% | 18% |
Ireland |
71% | 27% |
Luxembourg |
71% | 27% |
Germany |
70% | 29% |
Malta |
65% | 32% |
Poland |
65% | 27% |
Netherlands |
64% | 30% |
Austria |
62% | 37% |
Belgium |
62% | 35% |
Spain |
60% | 38% |
Latvia |
59% | 21% |
Croatia |
56% | 33% |
Slovenia |
52% | 43% |
Estonia |
51% | 38% |
Italy |
51% | 48% |
France |
47% | 50% |
Romania |
46% | 36% |
Bulgaria |
44% | 42% |
Cyprus |
44% | 49% |
Slovakia |
44% | 46% |
Hungary |
42% | 48% |
Czechia |
40% | 41% |
Greece |
34% | 59% |
Northern European countries tend to combine strong economic performance with high institutional trust, which often translates into more favorable views of EU governance.
Support above 70% also appears in Portugal, Ireland, and Luxembourg, reflecting broad confidence in the EU’s direction.
Large Western European economies show generally positive but more divided opinions.
Germany reports 70% approval, placing it firmly in the upper tier, while the Netherlands and Belgium record approval in the low-to-mid 60% range.
France stands out as a notable exception, with approval at 47% and disapproval slightly higher at 50%, underscoring the country’s long-running domestic debates over EU authority and integration.
Approval declines sharply in parts of Southern and Eastern Europe. Greece records the lowest approval at 34%, alongside the highest disapproval rate at 59%. Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria also show approval below 45%, reflecting tensions over EU policy, national sovereignty, and economic outcomes.
Despite regional differences, approval outweighs disapproval in most EU member states.
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2026-01-25 03:21:33
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A new YouGov survey of U.S. adults finds deep partisan splits on support for major U.S. military interventions, including recent debates over Venezuela and strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
YouGov surveyed 1,097 U.S. adults from January 5–6, 2026. Respondents were asked whether, ‘given what you know now,’ U.S. military intervention in various conflicts was the right decision. Party affiliation reflects respondents’ most recent self-identification and is weighted to match estimated national party distribution.
For the 2026 operation to remove President Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela, 70.4% of Republicans say it was the right decision, compared with just 7.4% of Democrats.
Similarly, on U.S. bombing of Iran nuclear sites, 74.2% of Republicans view it favorably versus 17.4% of Democrats.
| U.S. Military Interventions | Independents | Democrats | Republicans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela (2025-present) | 20% | 7% | 70% |
| U.S. bombing of Iran nuclear sites (2025-present) | 26% | 17% | 74% |
| Yemeni Civil War (2015-present) | 11% | 9% | 28% |
| Syrian Civil War (2011-present) | 12% | 12% | 31% |
| Iraq War (2003-2011) | 18% | 16% | 40% |
| Afghanistan War (2001-2021) | 20% | 26% | 41% |
| The Gulf War (1990-1991) | 26% | 24% | 49% |
| Vietnam War (1955-1975) | 11% | 12% | 25% |
| World War II (1939-1945) | 63% | 69% | 75% |
| World War I (1914-1918) | 52% | 61% | 67% |
Partisan gaps appear across longer-running or historic U.S. engagements.
For example, support for the Iraq War is higher among Republicans (40.3%) than Democrats (16.2%), and the same is true for Afghanistan and the Gulf War.
Even for major conflicts like Vietnam, Republicans remain more inclined to view intervention as justified than Democrats.
Meanwhile, Independents are generally skeptical of U.S. military interventions, showing low approval for most post–Cold War conflicts, with majority support only for World Wars I and II.
Where clear national consensus exists—such as World War II—both parties are relatively supportive. Support among Republicans is 75.2% and Democrats 68.7%. Similarly, for World War I, Republicans show higher support but Democrats are not far behind.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Most Militarized Economies by 3 Metrics on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-01-24 23:35:50
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Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and renewed concerns about global security, NATO members have accelerated military investment after years of underfunding.
This visualization ranks NATO countries by their estimated defense spending in 2025, highlighting how military budgets vary widely across the alliance. While all members now meet NATO’s 2% of GDP guideline, the absolute dollar amounts reveal stark differences in scale and capacity.
The data for this visualization comes from the latest NATO report on spending. Germany’s figure reflects 2024 spending, the most recent data available.
The United States remains the backbone of NATO’s military power, with an estimated $980 billion in defense spending. This represents roughly 62% of NATO’s total defense budget, far exceeding any other member.
| Rank | Country | 2025e Spending (USD, millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
United States |
980,000 |
| 2 |
Germany* |
93,747 |
| 3 |
United Kingdom |
90,508 |
| 4 |
France |
66,531 |
| 5 |
Italy |
48,800 |
| 6 |
Poland |
44,314 |
| 7 |
Canada |
43,886 |
| 8 |
Spain |
35,670 |
| 9 |
Türkiye |
32,573 |
| 10 |
Netherlands |
28,107 |
| 11 |
Norway |
16,490 |
| 12 |
Sweden |
15,207 |
| 13 |
Denmark |
14,303 |
| 14 |
Belgium |
13,739 |
| 15 |
Romania |
9,308 |
| 16 |
Finland |
8,587 |
| 17 |
Greece |
7,673 |
| 18 |
Czechia |
7,223 |
| 19 |
Portugal |
6,391 |
| 20 |
Hungary |
4,807 |
| 21 |
Lithuania |
3,607 |
| 22 |
Slovak Republic |
3,094 |
| 23 |
Bulgaria |
2,389 |
| 24 |
Croatia |
2,006 |
| 25 |
Latvia |
1,653 |
| 26 |
Slovenia |
1,513 |
| 27 |
Estonia |
1,504 |
| 28 |
Luxembourg |
1,350 |
| 29 |
Albania |
570 |
| 30 |
North Macedonia |
358 |
| 31 |
Montenegro |
174 |
| — |
NATO Total |
1,587,999 |
*Germany spending data is from 2024.
While European allies have increased spending significantly, the U.S. still provides the bulk of the alliance’s capabilities, from advanced weapons systems to global force projection.
Among European members, the United Kingdom ($90.5 billion), Germany ($93.7 billion), and France ($66.5 billion) lead the pack.
Germany’s rapid rise in defense spending marks a historic shift, as the country moves away from decades of military restraint. Poland also stands out, with spending of $44.3 billion, reflecting its frontline position and heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe.
Smaller NATO members contribute far less in absolute terms, but many are now spending a significant share of national resources on defense. Countries such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—each spending under $4 billion—have among the strongest commitments relative to GDP.
Outside Europe, Canada ($43.9 billion) and Türkiye ($32.6 billion) play key strategic roles within the alliance.
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2026-01-24 21:01:21
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“Blue Zones” are regions of the world where people live longer and healthier lives, supported by habits that boost longevity.
Loma Linda, California is one of the few recognized Blue Zones, alongside Okinawa, Japan and Ikaria, Greece. Just as place can have a powerful influence on health outcomes, differences vary meaningfully across America.
This graphic shows the healthiest U.S. states, based on data from America’s Health Rankings Report by the UnitedHealth Foundation.
For the analysis, states were measured on 99 indicators such as economic hardship, smoking rates, and mortality rates. Overall values were measured in z-scores, with a score of 0 representing the national average.
Below, we show each state’s health rankings in 2025:
| Rank | State | Overall Score 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 0.99 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 0.91 |
| 3 | Vermont | 0.91 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 0.68 |
| 5 | Utah | 0.64 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 0.63 |
| 7 | Washington | 0.61 |
| 8 | Maryland | 0.59 |
| 9 | Hawaii | 0.54 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 0.51 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 0.51 |
| 12 | Colorado | 0.51 |
| 13 | Maine | 0.47 |
| 14 | Virginia | 0.40 |
| 15 | North Dakota | 0.37 |
| 16 | Idaho | 0.26 |
| 17 | Iowa | 0.24 |
| 18 | Delaware | 0.23 |
| 19 | Oregon | 0.21 |
| 20 | Nebraska | 0.20 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 0.16 |
| 22 | North Carolina | 0.13 |
| 23 | South Dakota | 0.12 |
| 24 | California | 0.10 |
| 25 | New York | 0.09 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | 0.07 |
| 27 | Kansas | 0.03 |
| 28 | Illinois | -0.03 |
| 29 | Wyoming | -0.04 |
| 30 | Florida | -0.05 |
| 31 | Montana | -0.05 |
| 32 | Arizona | -0.06 |
| 33 | Michigan | -0.08 |
| 34 | Ohio | -0.11 |
| 35 | Alaska | -0.13 |
| 36 | South Carolina | -0.18 |
| 37 | Indiana | -0.21 |
| 38 | Georgia | -0.27 |
| 39 | Missouri | -0.29 |
| 40 | Texas | -0.32 |
| 41 | New Mexico | -0.37 |
| 42 | Nevada | -0.39 |
| 43 | Kentucky | -0.50 |
| 44 | Tennessee | -0.55 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | -0.62 |
| 46 | West Virginia | -0.73 |
| 47 | Alabama | -0.75 |
| 48 | Mississippi | -0.77 |
| 49 | Arkansas | -0.83 |
| 50 | Louisiana | -0.94 |
The small state of New Hampshire leads the nation with a score of 0.99.
The state’s social and economic factors—seeing the lowest food insecurity, homicide rates, and highest high school completion—drive health outcomes. Additionally, it ranks among the top five in indicators like exercise rates and fruit and vegetable consumption.
As we can see, the Northeastern states of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut all follow next in line.
Utah, ranking in fifth, stands as a regional outlier. Notably, it ranks first nationally across indicators including smoking rates and income inequality. However, factors such as low public health funding and a lack of primary care providers weigh on its ranking.
Interestingly, Kansas and Illinois, both Midwestern states, had health scores falling closest to the national average.
Southern states, by contrast, see the lowest scores in health nationwide. Louisiana, with a score of -0.94 ranked worst overall, followed by bordering states, Arkansas (-0.83), and Mississippi (-0.77).
Beyond economic hardship, these states see some of the nation’s highest homicide rates, severe income inequality, and low levels of physical activity. Together, this highlights how health outcomes are shaped by a web of social and economic conditions.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on America’s most common drugs.