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2026-03-19 20:43:59

Where the World’s Population Falls on the Happiness Scale

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The world’s happiest countries are often ranked, but looking at happiness scores from the latest 2026 World Happiness Report in relation to population gives a clearer view of the global population’s happiness or unhappiness.

While Nordic nations consistently top global happiness rankings, they represent only a small fraction of the world’s population. Meanwhile, billions of people live in countries with more moderate—or lower—levels of life satisfaction.

Using data from the 2026 World Happiness Report, this visualization combines happiness scores with population data from the UN World Population Prospects to reveal how happiness is truly distributed across the globe.

The World’s Happiness Distribution by Population

At the top of the rankings, countries like Finland, Denmark, and Iceland continue to report the highest levels of life satisfaction.

Life satisfaction was measured using the Cantril Ladder, which asked people to rate their lives on a scale of 0-10, where 10 represents the best possible life, and 0 represents the worst. Rankings averaged data over three years, to better capture happiness and well-being.

The data table below shows the happiness score and population of each country in the 2026 World Happiness Report:

Rank	Country	Happiness Score	Population	Region
1	Finland	7.8	5.6M	Europe
2	Iceland	7.5	398K	Europe
3	Denmark	7.5	6.0M	Europe
4	Costa Rica	7.4	5.2M	North America
5	Sweden	7.3	10.7M	Europe
6	Norway	7.2	5.6M	Europe
7	Netherlands	7.2	18.3M	Europe
8	Israel	7.2	9.5M	Asia
9	Luxembourg	7.1	680K	Europe
10	Switzerland	7.0	9.0M	Europe
11	New Zealand	7.0	5.3M	Oceania
12	Mexico	7.0	131.9M	North America
13	Ireland	6.9	5.3M	Europe
14	Belgium	6.9	11.8M	Europe
15	Australia	6.9	27.0M	Oceania
16	Kosovo	6.9	1.7M	Europe
17	Germany	6.9	84.1M	Europe
18	Slovenia	6.9	2.1M	Europe
19	Austria	6.8	9.1M	Europe
20	Czechia	6.8	11.3M	Asia
21	United Arab Emirates	6.8	10.6M	Europe
22	Saudi Arabia	6.8	34.6M	Asia
23	United States	6.8	347.3M	North America
24	Poland	6.8	38.1M	Europe
25	Canada	6.7	40.1M	North America
26	Taiwan	6.7	23.1M	Asia
27	Belize	6.7	423K	North America
28	Lithuania	6.7	2.8M	Europe
29	United Kingdom	6.7	69.6M	Europe
30	Serbia	6.7	6.7M	Europe
31	Uruguay	6.6	3.4M	South America
32	Brazil	6.6	212.8M	South America
33	Kazakhstan	6.6	20.8M	Asia
34	Romania	6.6	18.9M	Europe
35	France	6.6	66.7M	Europe
36	Singapore	6.6	5.9M	Asia
37	El Salvador	6.6	6.4M	North America
38	Italy	6.6	59.1M	Europe
39	Panama	6.5	4.6M	North America
40	Kuwait	6.5	5.0M	Asia
41	Spain	6.5	47.9M	Europe
42	Guatemala	6.5	18.7M	North America
43	Malta	6.4	545K	Europe
44	Argentina	6.4	45.9M	South America
45	Viet Nam	6.4	101.6M	Asia
46	Estonia	6.4	1.3M	Europe
47	Bosnia and Herzegovina	6.4	3.1M	Europe
48	Latvia	6.4	1.9M	Europe
49	Jamaica	6.3	2.8M	North America
50	Chile	6.3	19.9M	South America
51	Nicaragua	6.3	7.0M	North America
52	Thailand	6.3	71.6M	Asia
53	Uzbekistan	6.3	37.1M	Asia
54	Slovakia	6.3	5.5M	Europe
55	Bahrain	6.3	1.6M	Asia
56	Philippines	6.2	116.8M	Asia
57	Paraguay	6.2	7.0M	South America
58	Oman	6.2	5.5M	Asia
59	Ecuador	6.1	18.3M	South America
60	Montenegro	6.1	633K	Europe
61	Japan	6.1	123.1M	Asia
62	Cyprus	6.1	1.4M	Europe
63	Honduras	6.1	11.0M	North America
64	Dominican Republic	6.1	11.5M	North America
65	China	6.1	1.42B	Asia
66	Kyrgyzstan	6.0	7.3M	Asia
67	Republic of Korea	6.0	53.4M	South America
68	Colombia	6.0	51.7M	Asia
69	Portugal	6.0	10.4M	Europe
70	Croatia	6.0	3.8M	Europe
71	Malaysia	6.0	36.0M	Asia
72	Peru	6.0	34.6M	South America
73	Mauritius	5.9	1.3M	Africa
74	Hungary	5.9	9.6M	Europe
75	Mongolia	5.9	3.5M	Asia
76	Trinidad and Tobago	5.9	1.5M	North America
77	Republic of Moldova	5.9	3.0M	Europe
78	Bolivia	5.8	12.6M	South America
79	Russian Federation	5.8	144.0M	Europe
80	Venezuela	5.8	28.5M	South America
81	Libya	5.7	7.5M	Africa
82	North Macedonia	5.7	1.8M	Europe
83	Algeria	5.7	47.4M	Africa
84	Bulgaria	5.7	6.7M	Europe
85	Greece	5.7	9.9M	Europe
86	Albania	5.7	2.8M	Europe
87	Indonesia	5.6	285.7M	Asia
88	Tajikistan	5.6	10.8M	Asia
89	Armenia	5.6	3.0M	Asia
90	Hong Kong SAR	5.6	7.4M	Asia
91	Georgia	5.5	3.8M	Asia
92	Lao PDR	5.5	7.9M	Asia
93	Mozambique	5.3	35.6M	Africa
94	Türkiye	5.3	87.7M	Asia
95	Iraq	5.2	47.0M	Asia
96	Gabon	5.2	2.6M	Africa
97	Iran	5.2	92.4M	Asia
98	Côte d’Ivoire	5.1	32.7M	Africa
99	Nepal	5.1	29.6M	Asia
100	Cameroon	5.1	29.9M	Africa
101	South Africa	5.0	64.7M	Africa
102	Azerbaijan	5.0	10.4M	Asia
103	Niger	4.9	27.9M	Africa
104	Pakistan	4.9	255.2M	Asia
105	Tunisia	4.8	12.3M	Africa
106	Nigeria	4.8	237.5M	Africa
107	Senegal	4.8	18.9M	Africa
108	Namibia	4.8	3.1M	Africa
109	State of Palestine	4.7	5.6M	Asia
110	Kenya	4.7	57.5M	Africa
111	Ukraine	4.7	39.0M	Europe
112	Morocco	4.6	38.4M	Africa
113	Guinea	4.6	15.1M	Africa
114	Mali	4.6	25.2M	Africa
115	Ghana	4.6	35.1M	Africa
116	India	4.5	1.46B	Asia
117	Somalia	4.5	19.7M	Africa
118	Uganda	4.5	51.4M	Africa
119	Jordan	4.5	11.5M	Asia
120	Mauritania	4.5	5.3M	Africa
121	Cambodia	4.5	17.8M	Asia
122	Congo	4.5	6.5M	Africa
123	Burkina Faso	4.5	24.1M	Africa
124	Benin	4.4	14.8M	Africa
125	Chad	4.4	21.0M	Africa
126	Lesotho	4.4	2.4M	Africa
127	Bangladesh	4.3	175.7M	Asia
128	Gambia	4.3	21.9M	Africa
129	Myanmar	4.3	54.9M	Asia
130	Liberia	4.3	5.7M	Africa
131	Togo	4.3	9.7M	Africa
132	Madagascar	4.2	32.7M	Africa
133	Zambia	4.1	21.9M	Africa
134	Sri Lanka	4.0	23.2M	Asia
135	Ethiopia	4.0	135.5M	Africa
136	Comoros	3.9	883K	Africa
137	Eswatini	3.9	1.3M	Africa
138	Tanzania	3.9	70.5M	Africa
139	Egypt	3.9	118.4M	Africa
140	DR Congo	3.8	112.8M	Africa
141	Lebanon	3.7	5.8M	Asia
142	Yemen	3.5	41.8M	Asia
143	Botswana	3.5	2.6M	Africa
144	Zimbabwe	3.3	17.0M	Africa
145	Malawi	3.3	22.2M	Africa
146	Sierra Leone	3.3	8.8M	Africa
147	Afghanistan	1.4	43.8M	Asia

Across all nations in the top 10, populations stood below 20 million, or well under it.

Mexico, meanwhile, stood as a clear outlier. Ranking in 12th globally, it not only holds a 131.9 million population, but it outranks several major economies like Germany and the UK which have significantly smaller populations.

Moreover, the U.S. (#23), Brazil (#32), and Vietnam (#45) are among the few large populations that rank in the top 50.

Happiness of the World’s Population Giants

With nearly a 1.5 billion population, India is the world’s most populous nation, but ranks 116th overall in happiness.

Covering 17% of the global population, India ranks below countries like Ukraine, Venezuela, and Iran. Despite strong economic growth, this has yet to translate into improved lived experience across its population.

China, the world’s second-most populous country, ranked significantly higher. In the past decade, its ranking has climbed from 79th to 65th, although it still remains lower than most other major economies.

Together, these population giants highlight a key reality: global happiness is shaped far more by where most people live than by which countries rank at the top.

While the happiest nations tend to dominate headlines, they represent only a small share of humanity. In contrast, billions of people live in countries where happiness levels are more moderate—or still developing—shifting the true center of global well-being away from the top of the rankings.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries with the highest and lowest life expectancy in the world.

2026-03-19 15:01:00

Published

12 hours ago

on

March 19, 2026

By

Julia Wendling

Graphics & Design

• Abha Patil

• Athul Alexander

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The following content is sponsored by Adobe

How AI Could Add $600B to India’s Economy by 2035

   

Key Takeaways

• AI could add up to $607B in productivity gains to India’s GDP by 2035, representing about 6% of the economy.
       
• Manufacturing and agriculture will drive the majority of gains, accounting for over two-thirds of projected value creation.
       
• Productivity gains could be a key economic lever, as AI enhances everyday processes across industries.
       

India’s AI boom is poised to reshape one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. According to PwC, artificial intelligence could contribute between $550 billion and $607 billion to India’s GDP by 2035, equivalent to roughly 6% of total GDP.

This visualization, created in partnership with Adobe, explores how AI could unlock hundreds of billions in economic value across India’s key industries. The projected gains reflect not just technological innovation, but a broad productivity shift across foundational sectors of the economy.

AI‑powered productivity tools are driving this shift by streamlining everyday document workflows. They help teams analyze information faster, collaborate more efficiently, and turn data into decisions seamlessly.

Productivity Boost by Sector

Manufacturing is expected to see the largest gains, generating between $235.0 billion (low estimate) and $259.1 billion (high estimate) in value. From predictive maintenance to intelligent automation and supply chain optimization, AI could help Indian manufacturers increase output while lowering costs.

Sector	Value Creation (high) ($ billions)	Value Creation (low) ($ billions)
Agriculture	153.9	139.3
Education	77.6	70.2
Energy Utilities	84.6	76.6
Health	32.1	29.1
Manufacturing	259.1	235.0
Total	607.3	550.2

Agriculture follows closely behind, with $139.3–$153.9 billion in projected value creation. AI-driven crop monitoring, smarter irrigation, and advanced weather forecasting could significantly improve yields and reduce waste in a sector that employs millions.

Other sectors also stand to benefit:

• Energy & Utilities: $76.6–$84.6 billion
• Education: $70.2–$77.6 billion
• Healthcare: $29.1–$32.1 billion

In the education sector, AI is streamlining administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus on high-value activities that enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes.

Altogether, these sector gains total between $550.2 and $607.3 billion by 2035.

The Productivity Revolution Starts Now

AI transformation doesn’t begin with futuristic robotics—it starts by improving everyday document workflows. Tasks like editing reports, reviewing scanned files, or updating PDFs are increasingly handled through browser‑based PDF tools that help simplify routine workflows and support faster decision‑making.

Explore AI-powered Document Workflows.

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2026-03-19 08:02:08

Ranked: The World’s Happiest and Unhappiest 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.

Every year, the World Happiness Report reveals where people feel most satisfied with their lives, and where they don’t.

This graphic uses data from the 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report to show the happiest and unhappiest countries in the world.

The report ranks 147 countries using data from the Gallup World Poll, where respondents score their lives on a scale from 0 to 10, known as the Cantril Ladder. The rankings are based on a three-year average from 2023 to 2025, offering a more stable snapshot of global well-being.

The Top 30 Happiest Countries in 2026

Finland ranks as the world’s happiest country as of the 2026 report, extending a streak that has lasted nine consecutive years.

Alongside Iceland and Denmark, it highlights that high trust in institutions and quality of life remain key drivers of well-being.

The data table below ranks the top 30 countries by their happiness score from the World Happiness Report 2026:

Rank	Country	Life evaluation (3-year average)
1	Finland	7.8
2	Iceland	7.5
3	Denmark	7.5
4	Costa Rica	7.4
5	Sweden	7.3
6	Norway	7.2
7	Netherlands	7.2
8	Israel	7.2
9	Luxembourg	7.1
10	Switzerland	7.0
11	New Zealand	7.0
12	Mexico	7.0
13	Ireland	6.9
14	Belgium	6.9
15	Australia	6.9
16	Kosovo	6.9
17	Germany	6.9
18	Slovenia	6.9
19	Austria	6.8
20	Czechia	6.8
21	United Arab Emirates	6.8
22	Saudi Arabia	6.8
23	United States	6.8
24	Poland	6.8
25	Canada	6.7
26	Taiwan	6.7
27	Belize	6.7
28	Lithuania	6.7
29	United Kingdom	6.7
30	Serbia	6.7

Beyond Europe, Costa Rica and Mexico are notable standouts, ranking in the global top 10 and outperforming many wealthier nations. Costa Rica’s rise to fourth is the strongest recording ever for a Latin American nation, while Mexico has jumped to 12th spot up from 36th in 2022.

The U.S. ranks 23rd, one of its lowest positions on record.

This follows a broadly declining trend seen over the past 15 years. The U.S. ranked 11th in 2011, but by 2024 it had fallen down to its lowest ranking of 24th. A key driver is the sharp drop in well-being among younger Americans, often linked to rising social media use and declining mental health.

Elsewhere, Israel ranks eighth, making it the highest-ranked country in the Middle East, followed by the UAE (21st) and Saudi Arabia (22nd). In Asia, Taiwan stands out as the only country to make the global top 30, ranking 26th overall.

Which Countries Are the Least Happy?

Afghanistan ranks as the world’s unhappiest country, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.

For years, Afghanistan’s political instability, war, and restrictions on rights and freedoms has led to an increased sense of hopelessness. Over the course of the past decade, its score has dropped from 3.8 in 2016 to just 1.4.

The data table below ranks the bottom 30 countries by their happiness score from the World Happiness Report 2026:

Rank	Canada	Life evaluation (3-year average)
1	Afghanistan	1.4
2	Sierra Leone	3.3
3	Malawi	3.3
4	Zimbabwe	3.3
5	Botswana	3.5
6	Yemen	3.5
7	Lebanon	3.7
8	DR Congo	3.8
9	Egypt	3.9
10	Tanzania	3.9
11	Eswatini	3.9
12	Comoros	3.9
13	Ethiopia	4.0
14	Sri Lanka	4.0
15	Zambia	4.1
16	Madagascar	4.2
17	Togo	4.3
18	Liberia	4.3
19	Myanmar	4.3
20	Gambia	4.3
21	Bangladesh	4.3
22	Lesotho	4.4
23	Chad	4.4
24	Benin	4.4
25	Burkina Faso	4.5
26	Congo	4.5
27	Cambodia	4.5
28	Mauritania	4.5
29	Jordan	4.5
30	Uganda	4.5

Myanmar also ranks among the least happy countries globally, as ongoing conflict between the military junta and rebel groups since 2021 has displaced millions and deepened a severe humanitarian crisis.

Political upheaval has also swept across other Asian countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, amid economic difficulties. In recent years, both countries have seen protests that led to the ousting of their leaders.

Ultimately, the global happiness rankings reveal a clear divide: countries with stability, strong institutions, and social support systems consistently rank highest, while those facing conflict and uncertainty continue to fall behind.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries where people live the longest.

2026-03-19 08:01:25

Mapped: The Happiest Countries 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.

Finland tops the global happiness rankings once again, according to the World Happiness Report 2026. But beyond the familiar Nordic dominance, this year’s rankings include some standout surprises.

Costa Rica places fourth globally, while Mexico also ranks ahead of many wealthier nations. Together, these results show how social trust, community, and everyday quality of life can matter as much as income.

The map shows how happiness levels compare across countries worldwide.

Global Happiness Rankings by Country

Finland ranks first with a score of 7.8 out of 10, continuing its long-standing lead in global happiness.

The nation’s continued lead reinforces a broader trend: countries with strong institutions, high trust, and robust social safety nets consistently rank highest in life satisfaction.

Rank	Country	Happiness Score
1	Finland	7.8
2	Iceland	7.5
3	Denmark	7.5
4	Costa Rica	7.4
5	Sweden	7.3
6	Norway	7.2
7	Netherlands	7.2
8	Israel	7.2
9	Luxembourg	7.1
10	Switzerland	7.0
11	New Zealand	7.0
12	Mexico	7.0
13	Ireland	6.9
14	Belgium	6.9
15	Australia	6.9
16	Kosovo	6.9
17	Germany	6.9
18	Slovenia	6.9
19	Austria	6.8
20	Czechia	6.8
21	United Arab Emirates	6.8
22	Saudi Arabia	6.8
23	United States	6.8
24	Poland	6.8
25	Canada	6.7
26	Taiwan	6.7
27	Belize	6.7
28	Lithuania	6.7
29	United Kingdom	6.7
30	Serbia	6.7
31	Uruguay	6.6
32	Brazil	6.6
33	Kazakhstan	6.6
34	Romania	6.6
35	France	6.6
36	Singapore	6.6
37	El Salvador	6.6
38	Italy	6.6
39	Panama	6.5
40	Kuwait	6.5
41	Spain	6.5
42	Guatemala	6.5
43	Malta	6.4
44	Argentina	6.4
45	Viet Nam	6.4
46	Estonia	6.4
47	Bosnia and Herzegovina	6.4
48	Latvia	6.4
49	Jamaica	6.3
50	Chile	6.3
51	Nicaragua	6.3
52	Thailand	6.3
53	Uzbekistan	6.3
54	Slovakia	6.3
55	Bahrain	6.3
56	Philippines	6.2
57	Paraguay	6.2
58	Oman	6.2
59	Ecuador	6.1
60	Montenegro	6.1
61	Japan	6.1
62	Cyprus	6.1
63	Honduras	6.1
64	Dominican Republic	6.1
65	China	6.1
66	Kyrgyzstan	6.0
67	Republic of Korea	6.0
68	Colombia	6.0
69	Portugal	6.0
70	Croatia	6.0
71	Malaysia	6.0
72	Peru	6.0
73	Mauritius	5.9
74	Hungary	5.9
75	Mongolia	5.9
76	Trinidad and Tobago	5.9
77	Republic of Moldova	5.9
78	Bolivia	5.8
79	Russian Federation	5.8
80	Venezuela	5.8
81	Libya	5.7
82	North Macedonia	5.7
83	Algeria	5.7
84	Bulgaria	5.7
85	Greece	5.7
86	Albania	5.7
87	Indonesia	5.6
88	Tajikistan	5.6
89	Armenia	5.6
90	Hong Kong SAR	5.6
91	Georgia	5.5
92	Lao PDR	5.5
93	Mozambique	5.3
94	Türkiye	5.3
95	Iraq	5.2
96	Gabon	5.2
97	Iran	5.2
98	Côte d’Ivoire	5.1
99	Nepal	5.1
100	Cameroon	5.1
101	South Africa	5.0
102	Azerbaijan	5.0
103	Niger	4.9
104	Pakistan	4.9
105	Tunisia	4.8
106	Nigeria	4.8
107	Senegal	4.8
108	Namibia	4.8
109	State of Palestine	4.7
110	Kenya	4.7
111	Ukraine	4.7
112	Morocco	4.6
113	Guinea	4.6
114	Mali	4.6
115	Ghana	4.6
116	India	4.5
117	Somalia	4.5
118	Uganda	4.5
119	Jordan	4.5
120	Mauritania	4.5
121	Cambodia	4.5
122	Congo	4.5
123	Burkina Faso	4.5
124	Benin	4.4
125	Chad	4.4
126	Lesotho	4.4
127	Bangladesh	4.3
128	Gambia	4.3
129	Myanmar	4.3
130	Liberia	4.3
131	Togo	4.3
132	Madagascar	4.2
133	Zambia	4.1
134	Sri Lanka	4.0
135	Ethiopia	4.0
136	Comoros	3.9
137	Eswatini	3.9
138	Tanzania	3.9
139	Egypt	3.9
140	DR Congo	3.8
141	Lebanon	3.7
142	Yemen	3.5
143	Botswana	3.5
144	Zimbabwe	3.3
145	Malawi	3.3
146	Sierra Leone	3.3
147	Afghanistan	1.4

Nordic nations, in particular, combine relatively high incomes with low inequality, accessible public services, and strong social cohesion, factors associated with self-reported well-being.

Costa Rica (4th) and Mexico (12th) stand out as notable examples, ranking well above many higher-income countries like Ireland, Australia, and Germany. Their performance highlights the role of social connection, community, and lifestyle factors not fully captured by GDP.

How Happiness Rankings Are Calculated

The report uses the Cantril ladder (a scale from 0 to 10) to capture life satisfaction across 147 countries and a sample size greater than 100,000 people. Scores are averaged from 2023 to 2025 to better capture happiness and well being, and to reduce sampling error.

Economic and Regional Trends in Country Happiness

High income doesn’t always translate into higher life satisfaction rankings.

Many advanced economies—including the U.S., Canada, the UK, and much of Western Europe—fall within a narrow band of scores between 6.7 and 6.9. While still high by global standards, this clustering suggests that life satisfaction has plateaued across wealthier nations.

At the same time, key countries in Eastern Europe, such as Poland and Estonia, are steadily climbing the rankings, pointing to improving living standards and social conditions.

Across Asia, Taiwan ranks as the region’s happiest country at 26th place, well ahead of Japan (61st) and China (65th). In Africa, Mauritius leads the continent, supported by relatively low corruption and high life expectancy.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top 30 countries by quality of life.

2026-03-18 23:55:00

Published

1 day ago

on

March 18, 2026

By

Cody Good

Graphics & Design

• Zack Aboulazm

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The following content is sponsored by National Public Utilities Council

U.S. States Winning and Losing Data Center Market Share

Key Takeaways

• Texas (+142%) is expected to have the largest increase of data center market share, while Nebraska (-75%) loses the most by 2028.
• Virginia (-35%) is the largest data center market in the world and is expected to lose over a third of its relative market share despite absolute growth by 2028.
• The rest of the U.S. (+21%) will gain market share while select legacy markets like California (-50%) and Oregon (-67%) lose.

Demand for new data centers is soaring across the United States. By 2028, the projected growth of total U.S. load capacity for data centers is about 150 GW.

That’s nearly double the 80 GW capacity from 2025 and the equivalent of 75 Hoover Dams worth of power demand.

In response, new growth is shifting to places where power is cheaper, faster to secure, and easier to expand.

This graphic, in partnership with the National Public Utilities Council, shows which U.S. states may win or lose data center market share by 2028. It uses data from Bloom Energy’s 2026 Data Center Power Report.

Redrawing the Data Center Market Map

Power availability, or lack of it, is redrawing the traditional map of U.S. data centers.

The table below shows the expected change in U.S. data center market share among the top markets in 2025 to 2028:

U.S. State	Expected Change (%)
Texas	142
Georgia	75
Rest of U.S.	21
Arizona	0
Ohio	-17
Illinois	-25
Virginia	-35
California	-50
Iowa	-60
Oregon	-67
Nebraska	-75

Here, market share means each state’s slice of the overall U.S. market. Expected change is how much that slice will increase or decrease over time.

Everything is Bigger in Texas

By 2028, Texas has the largest expected growth of any U.S. state with an increase of 142%. This is an addition of over 40 GW, or about 30% of the total projected U.S. capacity of 150 GW.

This means that in two years the Lone Star State will grow the most and control the most in terms of U.S. market share.

Following Texas is Georgia (+75%) with the second-largest gain while the rest of the U.S. will grow by 21% overall.

The geographic shift in growth suggests that developers are moving future growth away from legacy markets towards the Southeast.

Legacy Markets: Falling from Grace

Unlike the Southeast, many legacy markets are losing market share. The largest expected loss is Nebraska (-75%), followed by Oregon (-67%), then Iowa (-60%).

Most notable declines may be in California (-50%) and Virginia (-35%), two states tied closely to data centers.

California is home to Silicon Valley, the HQ hub for many of the tech companies driving the data center market forward, like Apple, Meta, and Google.

Virginia is currently the largest data center market in the world and home to 35% of the world’s known hyperscale data centers.

Despite growth in absolute terms, market share decline is expected in both states. This indicates developers are turning to new regions with fewer grid constraints for future expansion.

Questions about powering gigawatt-scale data centers? Contact NPUC

Related Topics: #technology #texas #electricity #ai #california #Virginia #data centers #Georgia

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2026-03-18 22:35:32

Mapped: Life Expectancy by U.S. State

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.

Life expectancy varies widely across the U.S., with clear regional patterns emerging in the latest data.

States in the Northeast and on the West Coast tend to have higher life expectancies, while many in the South and Appalachia rank lower.

This map shows these differences using data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, based on 2022 life tables published in December 2025, the latest publicly available state-level figures as of March 2026.

The CDC’s report uses period life tables, which estimate how long a hypothetical group would live if it experienced the death rates observed in 2022 at every age. In other words, the measure captures current mortality conditions in each state, not a forecast for babies born there today.

Where Americans Live the Longest, and the Shortest

Among the 50 states and D.C., Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at birth in 2022 at 80.0 years. Massachusetts followed at 79.8, with New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut close behind.

The data table below shows the life expectancy of every U.S. state and D.C.:

On the other end of the ranking, West Virginia came in last at 72.2 years, behind Mississippi at 72.6 and Kentucky at 73.6.

The broad pattern is regional: the Northeast and West Coast have higher life expectancies, while many Southern and Appalachian states cluster at the bottom.

Why the National Average Misses the State Divide

While the national average is 77.5 years, only 21 states cleared that mark. Illinois and Virginia matched it exactly, and the remaining 28 states came in below it.

The CDC also found that females had higher life expectancy than males in every state and D.C., but the size of that gender gap varied widely. States on the lower end of life expectancy tended to have larger divides, while higher-ranked states had smaller gaps.

For example, New Mexico (ninth-lowest life expectancy at 74.5) recorded the largest female-male gap at 6.9 years, while Utah (ninth-highest at 79 years) had the smallest at 3.6 years.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

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