2026-02-04 02:47:03
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.
Political identity in the U.S. is changing, and the divide is increasingly generational.
Younger Americans are stepping away from traditional party labels, while older generations remain more closely tied to the two-party system.
This visualization shows how political affiliation varies across generations, highlighting the growing role of independents in American politics.
The data comes from Gallup. It is based on annual averages from Gallup’s telephone interviews, asking respondents whether they identify as Republican, Democrat, or independent. “No opinion” responses are excluded, and figures may not total 100% due to rounding.
A majority of both Generation Z and Millennials identify as independents. Among Gen Z, 56% say they are independent, compared with just 17% identifying as Republican and 27% as Democrat. Millennials show a similar pattern, with 54% identifying as independent.
| Political Affiliation | Republican | Independent | Democrat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (born 1997-2007) | 17% | 56% | 27% |
| Millennials (born 1981-1996) | 21% | 54% | 24% |
| Generation X (born 1965-1980) | 31% | 42% | 25% |
| Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) | 34% | 33% | 32% |
| Silent Generation (born before 1946) | 37% | 30% | 32% |
Political affiliation becomes more evenly split among older generations. Generation X shows a more balanced distribution, with 31% Republican, 25% Democrat, and 42% independent. Among Baby Boomers, party identification nearly overtakes independence altogether.
The Silent Generation is the most partisan group, with roughly seven in 10 identifying as either Republican or Democrat. This cohort came of age during periods when party affiliation was more stable and closely tied to identity, such as the New Deal era and the Cold War.
The rise of independents among younger generations has major implications for elections and governance. While independents may still lean toward one party, their lack of formal affiliation makes voter behavior less predictable. It also complicates messaging for political parties trying to mobilize younger voters.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Distribution of Income in America (2024 vs 1974) on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-02-04 00:47:00
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) juggle high-stakes decisions daily, from financial strategy to risk management. Their compensation reflects this pressure, but how much are the top earners making per hour?
This graphic, in partnership with Terzo, highlights the highest paid CFOs in America. It’s part of our Markets in a Minute series, which features quick economic insights for executives.
Based on the 50 largest companies in the U.S., we’ve compiled a ranking of the 10 highest paid CFOs. Their hourly earnings reflect total compensation including salary, bonuses, stocks, stock options, and other items like retirement contributions.
Here’s how it breaks down, based on a 55-hour workweek.
| Company | CFO Name | CFO Compensation Per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla | Vaibhav Taneja | $48,767 |
| Alphabet | Ruth Porat, Anat Ashkenazi | $13,462 |
| Microsoft | Amy E. Hood | $10,308 |
| Amazon | Brian T. Olsavsky | $8,992 |
| Cisco | R. Scott Herren | $8,494 |
| Meta | Susan Li | $8,259 |
| Netflix | Spencer Neumann | $8,008 |
| NVIDIA | Colette M. Kress | $7,469 |
| Goldman Sachs | Denis Coleman | $7,370 |
| Apple | Luca Maestri, Kevan Parekh | $7,225 |
Source: company SEC filings as of January 14, 2025. Based on the latest fiscal year. In cases where a CFO changed mid-year, total compensation was prorated accordingly.
Tesla’s Vaibhav Taneja earns the highest hourly compensation in the ranking, at nearly $49,000 per hour. This outsized figure stems largely from a one-time award of stocks and stock options totaling over $139 million, in recognition of Taneja’s promotion to CFO. About 80% was granted in stock options, making the value of Taneja’s earnings heavily tied to Tesla’s stock price.
Anat Ashkenazi, CFO at Alphabet and Google, takes the second spot. She was appointed CFO on July 31, 2024, so we’ve prorated her salary along with Ruth Porat, who previously served in the role. Ashkenazi’s negotiated compensation included nearly $39 million in stock awards and a one-time cash sign-on bonus of nearly $10 million.
The two highest earners were new to their roles, highlighting the negotiating power executives have when accepting a promotion or moving to another company.
It’s also worth noting that nine of the top 10 highest earners are in the technology space, including all of the Magnificent Seven. Goldman Sachs’ CFO is the sole executive from the financial services space in the compensation ranking.
When your time is valuable, fast access to the right information is critical. NirvanAI is an all-in-one AI system that helps CFOs turn contracts into clear, actionable insights.
See NirvanAI in action and learn how it helps you make decisions with confidence.
This visualization breaks down the U.S. $13.4 trillion ETF market by asset class, showing how ETFs allocate capital across equities, bonds, and more.
Which country led stock markets in 2025? See the biggest shocks, rebounds, and year-end returns in this global recap.
Which global cities are most at risk of a housing bubble? This new map ranks the world’s most overheated real estate markets.
Want AI your team will trust? Pull back the curtain on the top factors that make people believe in artificial intelligence.
Find out how common AI hallucination is for leading models, and what that means for the businesses that rely on them.
Among the dangers of AI, one stands apart as causing trouble for almost a third of companies. What do leaders need to know?
Which university has had the most alumni become entrepreneurs in the last decade? Hint: its not Stanford or Harvard.
In many advanced economies, the number of retirees is climbing while the working-age population shrinks. What are the countries where workers are supporting the most seniors?
The national unemployment rate for the U.S. rose to 4.3% in August 2025. But that figure masks vast differences in local labor market health across states.
A trade war has threatened economic ties in 2025. Which economies are most exposed to these shifts in international trade?
Tariff rates vary by country, as does the value of goods each nation exports to the U.S. Which countries contribute the most?
As the U.S. labor market cools, which industries are still hiring—and which are cutting back their workforces?
Global debt continues to climb, reaching $150T in Q1 2025. Which countries carry the heaviest burdens?
How do Fed rate cuts in the U.S. compare with the interest rate changes in other G7 countries, and what does it mean for business?
Explore the fastest growing jobs by projected growth rate, plus salary insights, in a rapidly changing job market.
This graphic pieces together the $127T global stock market to reveal which countries and regions dominate—and how much equity they control.
The median age of first-time home buyers has reached a historic high. See just how long it’s taking people to get on the property ladder.
The Silent Generation’s share of real estate has dropped dramatically as people age, but how have Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials fared?
Real estate is the biggest industry by GDP in 26 states. Find out why it dominates—and what fuels the rest of the country.
Tariffs are rising to boost American-made goods. Which states gain the most—and least—from manufacturing today?
Collectively, the ten most profitable U.S. companies have a net income of $684 billion—more than the entire GDP of Belgium.
New York City has the highest millionaire population globally. Which other cities attract the world’s wealthiest?
The global economy is expected to have slighter slower growth going forward. Which countries are on track to have the biggest GDP increases?
The U.S. has kept their target rate the same at 4.25-4.50%. What do interest rates look like in other countries amid economic uncertainty?
The national housing market saw a 4.5% rise in house prices. This graphic reveals which states had high price growth, and which didn’t.
If you held a $1,000 investment from 1975-2024, this chart shows how the inflation rate can drastically reduce the value of your money.
Trump cites trade deficits—the U.S. importing more than it exports—as one reason for tariffs. Which countries represent the largest deficits?
2026-02-03 23:27:03
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.
Geopolitical tensions are pushing trade into the spotlight, with many countries looking to diversify their imports.
However, the most import-dependent economies are often small islands or landlocked nations. In Hong Kong, for example, 99% of fossil fuels are imported to meet energy needs. Cuba imports up to 80% of its food, driven by low domestic production.
This graphic shows the countries with the highest imports as a share of GDP, based on data from the World Bank.
Below, we show the countries with the highest import-to-GDP ratios in 2024 (or the latest available data):
| Rank | Country or Entity | Imports as a Share of GDP (%) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Hong Kong SAR |
178 | Asia |
| 2 |
 Luxembourg |
160 | Europe |
| 3 |
 San Marino |
155 | Europe |
| 4 |
 Singapore |
144 | Asia |
| 5 |
 Djibouti |
115 | Africa |
| 6 |
 Nauru |
111 | Oceania |
| 7 |
 Seychelles |
103 | Africa |
| 8 |
 Ireland |
102 | Europe |
| 9 |
 Kiribati |
102 | Oceania |
| 10 |
 Malta |
100 | Europe |
| 11 |
 Somalia |
99 | Africa |
| 12 |
 Lesotho |
99 | Africa |
| 13 |
 Cyprus |
93 | Asia |
| 14 |
 UAE |
92 | Asia |
| 15 |
 Slovak Republic |
86 | Europe |
| 16 |
 Timor-Leste |
85 | Asia |
| 17 |
 Kyrgyz Republic |
84 | Asia |
| 18 |
 Vietnam |
84 | Asia |
| 19 |
 Cuba |
82 | North America |
| 20 |
 Marshall Islands |
82 | Oceania |
| 21 |
 Palau |
80 | Oceania |
| 22 |
 Belgium |
80 | Europe |
| 23 |
 Mauritius |
78 | Africa |
| 24 |
 Maldives |
78 | Asia |
| 25 |
 Armenia |
76 | Asia |
| 26 |
 Aruba |
76 | North America |
| 27 |
 Estonia |
75 | Europe |
| 28 |
 Slovenia |
75 | Europe |
| 29 |
 North Macedonia |
75 | Europe |
| 30 |
 Lebanon |
74 | Asia |
With imports equal to 178% of GDP, Hong Kong ranks first globally.
As one of the world’s busiest shipping hubs, many goods enter Hong Kong and are then re-exported elsewhere. Because imports are counted at full value, this inflates its import-to-GDP ratio.
Other trade and financial hubs—including Luxembourg, San Marino, and Singapore—show similarly high import shares for the same reason.
Beyond these hubs, several small island nations such as Nauru, Seychelles, and Kiribati post import values above 100% of GDP. Moreover, 26 of the top 30 most import-dependent countries have populations under 10 million.
The UAE is also heavily reliant on imports—especially food—making it more exposed to supply chain disruptions. Notably, as much as 90% of its food is imported.
In Europe, landlocked Slovakia ranks among the most import-dependent. It was also one of the few European countries exempted from the Russia oil ban to mitigate shortages, with Russia supplying 87% of its oil.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on global oil trade flows.
2026-02-03 21:07:43
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.
America’s population has grown by over 10 million people since 2020, with nearly three-quarters of this growth concentrated in the South.
With the rise of remote work, many migrated to Florida and Texas thanks to their sunnier climates and favorable taxes. Meanwhile, California has seen net out-migration, with people increasingly heading to more affordable states like Utah and Idaho.
This graphic shows population growth by state since 2020, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Between 2020 and 2025, the U.S. population increased by 3.1% with the South growing the fastest across U.S. regions:
Below, we show how population growth breaks down by state, based on data from April 2020 to July 2025:
| Rank | State | Absolute Population Growth Rate 2020-2025 |
Change in Number of Residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 10.4% | 190,610 |
| 2 | Florida | 8.9% | 1,924,311 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 8.8% | 452,024 |
| 4 | Texas | 8.8% | 2,560,323 |
| 5 | Utah | 8.2% | 267,303 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 7.2% | 756,576 |
| 7 | Delaware | 7.1% | 70,002 |
| 8 | Arizona | 6.5% | 465,714 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 5.8% | 402,757 |
| 10 | Nevada | 5.7% | 176,595 |
| 11 | Montana | 5.6% | 60,473 |
| 12 | Georgia | 5.5% | 588,887 |
| 13 | South Dakota | 5.5% | 48,438 |
| 14 | Colorado | 4.1% | 237,235 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 4.1% | 163,934 |
| 16 | Maine | 3.8% | 51,656 |
| 17 | Washington | 3.8% | 293,501 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 3.4% | 103,261 |
| 19 | Alabama | 3.3% | 167,651 |
| 20 | Nebraska | 2.9% | 56,026 |
| 21 | Virginia | 2.9% | 248,688 |
| 22 | Indiana | 2.8% | 186,728 |
| 23 | New Jersey | 2.8% | 259,191 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | 2.7% | 37,769 |
| 25 | North Dakota | 2.6% | 20,222 |
| 26 | Connecticut | 2.2% | 80,746 |
| 27 | Kentucky | 2.2% | 100,577 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 2.2% | 123,672 |
| 29 | Wyoming | 2.1% | 11,881 |
| 30 | Missouri | 1.9% | 115,628 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 1.7% | 120,972 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | 1.6% | 17,164 |
| 33 | Iowa | 1.5% | 47,805 |
| 34 | Maryland | 1.4% | 83,707 |
| 35 | Kansas | 1.3% | 39,234 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 1.3% | 78,464 |
| 37 | Ohio | 0.9% | 101,065 |
| 38 | Oregon | 0.9% | 36,304 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | 0.6% | 4,101 |
| 40 | Alaska | 0.5% | 3,887 |
| 41 | Michigan | 0.5% | 48,522 |
| 42 | New Mexico | 0.4% | 8,006 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | 0.4% | 56,679 |
| 44 | Vermont | 0.2% | 1,586 |
| 45 | Mississippi | -0.2% | -7,104 |
| 46 | California | -0.5% | -200,394 |
| 47 | Illinois | -0.8% | -102,600 |
| 48 | Louisiana | -0.9% | -39,705 |
| 49 | New York | -1.0% | -201,269 |
| 50 | Hawaii | -1.5% | -22,447 |
| 51 | West Virginia | -1.5% | -27,612 |
| -- | U.S. | 3.1% | 10,268,744 |
Idaho witnessed the fastest population growth overall, at 10.4%.
Roughly a quarter of this growth is from California, drawn by the state’s lower cost of living, while roughly another 18% came from Washington. The vast majority, equal to about 80% of new residents, are under the age of 55.
Florida follows next in line, with 8.9% growth. Since April 2020, the state’s population has swelled by more than 1.9 million people, the largest absolute gain only after Texas. In total, five of the top 10 states by population growth were in the South.
In contrast, California and New York top the list for the largest population declines. Both states have lost more than 200,000 residents, with high living costs playing a major role.
As of December 2025, the median home price hit $818,000 in California and $501,000 in New York, well above the national median of $446,000. Combined with shifting work opportunities, these affordability challenges are helping fuel the outmigration.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on average home prices by state.
2026-02-03 02:41:23
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.
A trade surplus occurs when a country exports more goods and services than it imports, resulting in a net inflow of foreign currency. For China in 2025, this surplus has grown to unprecedented levels, topping $1.19 trillion according to the General Administration of Customs.
The visualization above, created by Aneesh Anand, maps out which countries contributed most to this surplus. The dataset highlights China’s top 15 surplus partners, showcasing a global pattern of economic interdependence and imbalance.
Hong Kong topped the list with a surplus of $303.9 billion, largely due to re-exports and transshipment trade.
| Rank | Trade Partner | China's Surplus (US$ bn) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Hong Kong |
303.93 |
| 2 |
 U.S. |
280.35 |
| 3 |
 India |
116.12 |
| 4 |
Vietnam |
100.15 |
| 5 |
 Netherlands |
73.39 |
| 6 |
 UK |
66.44 |
| 7 |
 Thailand |
53.75 |
| 8 |
Singapore |
46.08 |
| 9 |
 Philippines |
38.87 |
| 10 |
 Italy |
26.31 |
| 11 |
 Germany |
25.42 |
| 12 |
 Malaysia |
15.69 |
| 13 |
 France |
11.63 |
| 14 |
 Canada |
6.21 |
| 15 |
 Indonesia |
3.16 |
Close behind Hong Kong was the United States at $280 billion, continuing a long-standing trade imbalance. India and Vietnam, at over $100 billion each, underline China’s deepening trade ties in Asia.
Despite rising protectionism, tariffs, and diplomatic tensions, China’s manufacturing engine remains robust. Even American tariffs have failed to dent the flow of consumer electronics, machinery, and intermediate goods being exported from China.
Part of the explanation lies in global supply chains. Many goods are still assembled or completed in China, especially electronics, before being shipped abroad. This entrenched role as the “workshop of the world” has kept China’s exports high, even in an era of attempted decoupling.
As the Council on Foreign Relations notes, China’s massive surpluses remain a puzzle to some economists, particularly due to underreported service imports or capital flows that mask the true extent of imbalances.
For major partners like the U.S., this imbalance has long been a political flashpoint. A large trade deficit means the U.S. imports significantly more from China than it exports in return, which has raised concerns about domestic job losses, the decline of American manufacturing, and growing economic dependence.
Successive U.S. administrations have tried to reverse this pattern, most notably through tariffs, reshoring incentives, and supply chain diversification. However, these efforts have yielded limited results. China continues to dominate in key export sectors like electronics, machinery, and intermediate goods, making it difficult for American producers to compete without incurring higher costs.
For policymakers, the trade gap is about more than just numbers. It touches on national security, global influence, and the sustainability of U.S. debt, as trade deficits are often financed by foreign investment in American assets. Reducing the trade imbalance with China remains a central, if elusive, goal in broader economic strategy.
For more historical context, check out our related post on Eight-plus years of the US–China trade gap on the Voronoi app.
2026-02-02 23:22:50
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 global billionaire map continues to shift as wealth creation accelerates in some regions and stalls in others. While the United States and China still dominate in absolute numbers, several smaller economies are seeing faster percentage growth in their billionaire populations.
This infographic ranks countries by the number of billionaires in 2025. The data for this visualization comes from UBS.
With 924 billionaires, the United States remains the clear global leader. Combined billionaire wealth in the U.S. totals roughly $6.9 trillion, far exceeding any other country.
| Rank | Country or Entity | Billionaires 2025 | Wealth 2025 (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
United States |
924 | 6.9T |
| 2 |
 China |
470 | 1.8T |
| 3 |
India |
188 | 888B |
| 4 |
Germany |
156 | 692B |
| 5 |
United Kingdom |
91 | 456B |
| 6 |
 Switzerland |
84 | 518B |
| 7 |
Hong Kong SAR |
76 | 328B |
| 8 |
Italy |
61 | 197B |
| 9 |
Singapore |
55 | 259B |
| 10 |
 Taiwan |
51 | 164B |
| 11 |
 Brazil |
47 | 126B |
| 12 |
Canada |
47 | 211B |
| 13 |
France |
46 | 509B |
| 14 |
 Australia |
43 | 213B |
| 15 |
 Japan |
41 | 179B |
| 16 |
 Israel |
36 | 108B |
| 17 |
 Spain |
32 | 213B |
| 18 |
 South Korea |
31 | 88B |
| 19 |
 Sweden |
31 | 132B |
| 20 |
Indonesia |
27 | 156B |
| 21 |
Thailand |
25 | 94B |
| 22 |
 Mexico |
22 | 167B |
| 23 |
 Saudi Arabia |
19 | 81B |
| 24 |
UAE |
19 | 169B |
| 25 |
Philippines |
15 | 54B |
| 26 |
Malaysia |
14 | 41B |
| 27 |
 Norway |
11 | 30B |
| 28 |
 Austria |
8 | 77B |
| 29 |
 Denmark |
8 | 50B |
| 30 |
Netherlands |
8 | 16B |
| 31 |
 Finland |
7 | 15B |
| 32 |
 South Africa |
7 | 36B |
| 33 |
 Argentina |
5 | 26B |
| 34 |
 Chile |
5 | 35B |
| 35 |
Ireland |
4 | 11B |
| 36 |
 Egypt |
4 | 17B |
| 37 |
 Nigeria |
4 | 37B |
| 38 |
Lebanon |
2 | 6B |
| 39 |
 Colombia |
1 | 8B |
| 40 |
 Peru |
1 | 2B |
| -- | Other | 193 | n/a |
The country is also home to the world’s richest individual, Elon Musk ($726B). SpaceX has been valued as high as $800 billion in recent secondary share sales, and a potential IPO in 2026 could make Musk the world’s first trillionaire.
Mainland China ranks second globally, with 470 billionaires and $1.8 trillion in combined wealth. While growth has moderated compared to past years, the country still added billionaires at a double-digit rate in 2025.
India follows with 188 billionaires, reflecting steady expansion driven by technology, manufacturing, and infrastructure investment. In contrast, wealth hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore punch above their weight, with high concentrations of billionaires relative to population size.
In China, Zhong Shanshan ($69.4B) remains the country’s richest individual. The founder of Nongfu Spring left school during the Cultural Revolution and later built China’s bottled-water giant after working in construction, journalism, and sales.
Germany stands out in Europe, recording a 33% year-over-year increase to reach 156 billionaires. This surge contrasts with flatter growth in countries like France and the UK, where billionaire counts remained stable or grew modestly compared to 2024 numbers.
The UK still hosts 91 billionaires, while France counts 46.
Some of the fastest growth rates come from countries with smaller billionaire bases. Saudi Arabia saw its billionaire count surge by 217%, while Malaysia and Argentina also posted strong gains.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: The Best Countries at Math on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
