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2026-01-17 01:55:41

Visualized: The Cost of Everyday Things in China vs. the U.S.

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.

From broadband to Big Macs, the price of everyday essentials can vary dramatically depending on where you live.

This visual, by Julie Peasley, compares the cost of 20+ common items in China and the United States using data from Numbeo, the world’s largest crowdsourced cost-of-living database.

The chart offers a direct side-by-side view of consumer prices in U.S. dollars, giving insight into which country is more affordable across key spending categories. While the U.S. boasts higher average salaries, China’s everyday living expenses are very low.

Here’s a detailed look at the dataset used in the visualization:

The biggest shock? Broadband internet in the U.S. costs over $72/month, compared to just $11 in China. Yet for some essentials, the tables turn: milk and gasoline are both more expensive in China, despite its typical cost structure.

Housing, Utilities, and Connectivity: Cheap in China

When it comes to fixed monthly costs, China is significantly cheaper. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in a city center costs $559 in China versus $1,747 in the U.S., a nearly 70% discount.

Likewise, basic utilities like electricity, heating, and garbage removal for an 85 m² apartment are just $52 per month in China, while Americans shell out over $210 on average. This massive difference is partly due to government subsidies and lower energy costs in China’s urban centers.

Food and Dining: Affordable Meals, but Not Always Cheaper Groceries

In China, an inexpensive restaurant meal costs just $2.84, versus $20 in the U.S., while a McDonald’s combo meal is less than half the price.

However, grocery items tell a more nuanced story. A gallon of milk in China costs $6.77, which is well above the U.S. average of $4. Meanwhile, a dozen eggs are $1.57 in China compared to $4.41 in the United States. Pricing discrepancies like this often stem from differing production models and import dependencies.

Salaries vs. Spending Power

The U.S. may be more expensive, but it also pays more: the average monthly salary after tax in the U.S. is $4,276, compared to just $1,007 in China. While this gap is significant, lower prices in China offset much of the income disparity, offering residents stronger local purchasing power for basic needs.

Still, U.S. consumers benefit from better affordability in certain categories like cigarettes, gasoline, and even gym memberships, which suggests the cost balance isn’t universally tilted.

For a wider global context, see our earlier piece: Mapped: The Global Cost of Living Index (2025).

Learn More on the Voronoi App

Explore even more global cost-of-living data in this post: Ranked: U.S. Cities With the Highest Cost of Living.

2026-01-16 23:17:06

Mapped: Paid Vacation Days Across Europe

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.

Europe is widely known for its generous work-life balance policies, and paid time off is a major part of that reputation. Across the continent, employees are legally entitled to a combination of paid vacation days and public holidays, with totals varying widely by country.

This map shows the minimum total number of paid leave days in Europe in 2025. The data for this visualization comes from World Population Review.

Europe’s Most Generous Leave Policies

Several countries stand out for offering more than 40 days of paid leave annually. Andorra tops the ranking with 45 days, including 31 paid vacation days and 14 paid public holidays.

Countries such as France, Luxembourg, Malta, and Russia also provide more than 40 days of total paid leave.

Country	Minimum Paid Leave
Andorra	45
Russia	42.5
France	42
Luxembourg	42
Malta	41
Albania	40
Georgia	39
Estonia	39
Austria	38
Iceland	38
Denmark	37.5
Ukraine	37
Romania	37
Spain	36
Poland	36
Finland	36
Armenia	36
Norway	35
Bosnia and Herzegovina	35
Sweden	34
Slovakia	34
Lithuania	34
Cyprus	34
Czechia	33
Hungary	33
Belarus	33
Croatia	33
Slovenia	33
Italy	32
Bulgaria	32
Latvia	32
North Macedonia	32
Portugal	31
Serbia	31
Germany	30
Belgium	30
Ireland	30
UK	29
Greece	29
Netherlands	28
Switzerland	27
Turkey	26.5
Montenegro	21
Moldova	20
Jersey	19
San Marino	10

The regional average sits at 33 days, and many countries fall close to this level. Nations such as Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, and Belarus offer between 32 and 34 days of paid leave per year.

Lower Leave Totals at Europe’s Edges

At the lower end of the spectrum, San Marino offers the fewest paid leave days at just 10, followed by Jersey, Moldova, and Montenegro, all of which fall well below the European average.

Meanwhile, countries like Germany, Belgium, and Ireland sit near the middle, offering around 30 days of total paid leave—still higher than many non-European economies.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Rise of Senior Populations by Region on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2026-01-16 20:39:36

Life Expectancy by Country in the World’s Top 30 Economies

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.

Despite living in the world’s largest economy, Americans have shorter life expectancies than residents of many other wealthy nations.

People in Japan—the world’s fourth-largest economy—live about five years longer on average. Meanwhile, residents in countries like France and Italy outlive Americans by roughly four years.

This graphic shows life expectancy by country across the world’s 30 largest economies, based on data from the United Nations. GDP data was drawn from the International Monetary Fund.

A Closer Look at Life Expectancy by Country

Below, we rank countries based on GDP in 2025, including their life expectancies at birth:

Rank by GDP	Country	Life Expectancy
1	United States	80
2	China	79
3	Germany	82
4	Japan	85
5	India	73
6	United Kingdom	82
7	France	84
8	Italy	84
9	Russia	74
10	Canada	83
11	Brazil	76
12	Spain	84
13	Mexico	76
14	South Korea	84
15	Australia	84
16	Türkiye	78
17	Indonesia	72
18	Netherlands	83
19	Saudi Arabia	80
20	Poland	79
21	Switzerland	84
22	Belgium	83
23	Ireland	83
24	Argentina	78
25	Sweden	84
26	Israel	83
27	Singapore	84
28	United Arab Emirates	83
29	Austria	83
30	Thailand	77

With an average life expectancy of 80 years, Americans live shorter lives than those in many other major economies. This gap is driven by several factors, including limited access to healthcare, high obesity rates, and elevated homicide rates.

Notably, the U.S. is the only G10 country without universal healthcare. It also has some of the highest healthcare costs among wealthy nations, at $14,885 per person, roughly double the OECD average.

China, the world’s second-largest economy, has an average life expectancy of 79 years, up from 68 in 1990. In recent years, national policies have focused on improving disease prevention and expanding medical insurance coverage.

India’s life expectancy stands at 73 years, among the lowest of the top 30 economies by GDP. Life expectancy also varies significantly by caste, with lower-caste individuals shown to live about four years fewer on average than those in higher castes.

However, India has recorded some of the largest gains in life expectancy globally over the past six decades. Since 1965, the average lifespan has increased by 27 years. In particular, this reflects growing advancements in healthcare, child mortality, and enhanced nutrition, further aided by strong economic growth.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries with the longest life expectancies.

2026-01-16 03:52:31

Chart: The 2026 Growth Outlook for G20 Nations

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.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently released its World Economic Outlook (October 2025), providing updated real GDP growth forecasts for 2026. The latest projections give us a snapshot of where G20 economies are headed, and how they stack up against each other.

Based on these projections, emerging markets appear poised to drive global growth, while many advanced economies are expected to grow at a pace below the global average.

G20 Economic Growth Forecast for 2026

The chart above, created by Aneesh Anand, shows IMF’s projected real GDP growth for all G20 nations in 2026.

Rank	Economy	Annual Real Growth Rate (in %, 2026P)
1	India	6.2
2	Indonesia	4.9
3	China	4.2
4	Argentina	4.0
5	Saudi Arabia	4.0
6	Turkiye	3.7
7	Australia	2.1
8	U.S.	2.1
9	Brazil	1.9
10	Korea	1.8
11	Canada	1.5
12	Mexico	1.5
13	EU	1.4
14	UK	1.3
15	South Africa	1.2
16	Russia	1.0
17	France	0.9
18	Germany	0.9
19	Italy	0.8
20	Japan	0.6
--	World	3.1

India leads the pack at 6.2%, followed by Indonesia (4.9%) and China (4.2%). In contrast, major advanced economies such as Japan (0.6%), Italy (0.8%), and Germany (0.9%) trail the group significantly.

India Emerges as a Global Growth Engine

India’s standout performance is part of a broader macroeconomic shift. The country’s expanding middle class, demographic advantage, and growing role in global supply chains position it as a key player in the realignment of global economic trends.

This is also reflected in the long-term shift in global economic power, where countries like India and China have steadily increased their share of global GDP.

Advanced Economies Lag Behind

While global real GDP growth is projected at 3.1%, many G20 advanced economies are expected to underperform:

• The U.S. and Australia are forecast to grow at 2.1% each. Modest, but still above much of Europe.
• The EU as a whole is projected to grow at just 1.4%, with core economies like France and Germany stuck below 1%.
• Japan, facing demographic headwinds and weak domestic demand, is expected to grow just 0.6%.

These projections highlight the widening divergence in global growth, with emerging markets taking on a larger share of economic momentum in 2026.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

Explore related insights on Ranked: Productivity of the World’s Largest 30 Economies (2005–2025) to understand how economic output per worker has shifted alongside GDP growth trends.

2026-01-16 02:53:21

Charted: Silver Supply–Demand Imbalance (2015–2025)

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.

Silver has staged another powerful rally at the beginning of 2026, pushing to fresh highs as market fundamentals tighten.

Futures prices have surged above $85, driven by export restrictions from China, rising demand from green technologies, and renewed interest in silver as a safe-haven asset.

This chart highlights how global silver supply and demand have diverged over the past decade.

While supply growth has remained relatively flat, demand has surged, creating a series of structural deficits that are reshaping the market.

The data for this visualization comes from the Silver Institute. Total silver supply includes mine production, recycling, net hedging supply, and net official sector sales. Total demand spans industrial use, photography, jewelry, silverware, physical investment, and net hedging demand.

Persistent Deficits Since 2021

After several years of modest surpluses, the silver market flipped into deficit in 2021. That year saw demand jump to 1,112 million ounces, while supply lagged behind at 1,023 million ounces.

The imbalance worsened dramatically in 2022, when demand surged to a record 1,306 million ounces. This resulted in the largest deficit on record, at 272 million ounces, marking a turning point for the market.

Green Energy Is Driving Demand

A major driver behind silver’s demand surge is its critical role in green technologies. Solar panels, electric vehicles, and power grid infrastructure all rely heavily on silver’s conductive properties.

In 2022, green-energy demand accelerated sharply, combining with a post-pandemic rebound in jewelry, bar, and coin purchases. Even as demand moderates slightly after 2023, it remains well above pre-2020 levels.

Prices Reflect Tight Market Conditions

Silver prices have tracked these supply-demand pressures closely. From an average of $15–$17 per ounce between 2015 and 2019, prices jumped to over $25 in 2021.

Despite some volatility, prices continued climbing as deficits persisted, reaching $28.30 in 2024. In 2025, silver surged rapidly, surpassing $80 per ounce as export controls, geopolitical risk, and investment demand collided with limited supply growth.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out this graphic about gold price evolution in 2025 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2026-01-15 23:22:14

Ranked: The World’s 50 Most Powerful Militaries

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.

The recent U.S. operation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro demonstrated that military power is not only about troop numbers or superior combat technology.

With the successful extraction of Maduro and his wife from a military compound in just 2.5 hours, the extremely effective operation showed how far training, intelligence, and logistics go towards driving military power.

This infographic ranks the world’s most powerful militaries in 2025. The data for this visualization comes from the Global Firepower Index, which assesses 145 countries.

The World’s Top Military Powers

The index evaluates more than 60 factors, including active military manpower, land, air and naval assets, logistics, natural resources, and geographic considerations. Importantly, a lower Military Power Index score indicates greater overall strength.

Rank	Country	Military Power Index	Active Military Manpower
1	United States	0.07	1,328,000
2	Russia	0.08	1,320,000
3	China	0.08	2,035,000
4	India	0.12	1,455,550
5	South Korea	0.17	600,000
6	United Kingdom	0.18	184,860
7	Japan	0.18	247,150
8	France	0.19	200,000
9	Turkiye	0.19	355,200
10	Italy	0.22	165,500
11	Brazil	0.24	360,000
12	Pakistan	0.25	654,000
13	Indonesia	0.26	400,000
14	Germany	0.26	181,600
15	Israel	0.27	170,000
16	Iran	0.3	610,000
17	Spain	0.32	133,282
18	Australia	0.33	57,350
19	Egypt	0.34	440,000
20	Algeria	0.36	325,000
21	Ukraine	0.38	900,000
22	Poland	0.38	202,100
23	Taiwan	0.4	215,000
24	Vietnam	0.4	600,000
25	Saudi Arabia	0.42	257,000
26	Thailand	0.45	360,850
27	Sweden	0.48	24,400
28	Canada	0.52	68,000
29	Singapore	0.53	51,000
30	Greece	0.53	142,700
31	Nigeria	0.58	230,000
32	Mexico	0.6	412,000
33	Argentina	0.6	108,000
34	North Korea	0.6	1,320,000
35	Bangladesh	0.61	163,000
36	Netherlands	0.64	41,380
37	Myanmar	0.67	150,000
38	Norway	0.68	23,250
39	Portugal	0.69	24,000
40	South Africa	0.69	71,235
41	Philippines	0.7	150,000
42	Malaysia	0.74	113,000
43	Iraq	0.77	193,000
44	Switzerland	0.79	101,584
45	Denmark	0.81	20,000
46	Colombia	0.84	293,200
47	Chile	0.84	80,000
48	Finland	0.84	24,000
49	Peru	0.86	120,000
50	Venezuela	0.89	109,000

The United States ranks first, with the lowest Military Power Index score and more than 1.3 million active-duty personnel. Its position reflects unmatched global reach, advanced technology, and extensive logistical capabilities.

Russia and China follow closely behind. China stands out for having the largest active military manpower among the top three, with just over 2 million personnel, while Russia combines large troop numbers with extensive land and strategic capabilities.

Manpower Isn’t Everything

While troop numbers matter, they do not tell the full story. Countries like Japan, the United Kingdom, and France rank among the top 10 despite having far smaller active forces than some lower-ranked nations.

Japan ranks highly due to its advanced naval and air forces, including one of the world’s most capable destroyer fleets, modern fighter jets, and strong missile defense systems.

Despite a smaller army, the UK maintains strong air and naval assets and benefits from deep integration with NATO operations. Meanwhile, France ranks among the top militaries thanks to its nuclear arsenal, blue-water navy, and proven ability to conduct overseas operations independently.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Countries With the Highest Cost of Violence on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.