2026-02-21 06:05:01
In 1950, South Korea’s population was overwhelmingly young. By 2100, nearly four in ten residents are projected to be 65 or older.
This visualization, created by Oscar Leo of DataCanvas using data from the UN World Population Prospects 2024, shows how South Korea’s age distribution evolves year by year across a 150-year span.
The result is one of the most dramatic demographic transformations ever recorded in a developed economy.
Below we can see how the population distribution changes each year between 1950 and the 2100 projection.
| Year | 0–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 29.9% | 22.3% | 15.1% | 12.0% | 9.1% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| 1951 | 29.5% | 23.1% | 14.9% | 11.9% | 9.1% | 6.4% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| 1952 | 29.1% | 23.7% | 14.9% | 11.9% | 9.2% | 6.2% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| 1953 | 28.8% | 23.9% | 14.9% | 12.0% | 9.2% | 6.1% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| 1954 | 28.8% | 23.8% | 15.1% | 12.1% | 9.2% | 6.0% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| 1955 | 28.9% | 23.4% | 15.4% | 12.1% | 9.2% | 5.9% | 3.8% | 1.2% | 0.1% |
| 1956 | 29.1% | 23.1% | 15.7% | 12.1% | 9.1% | 5.8% | 3.8% | 1.2% | 0.1% |
| 1957 | 29.3% | 22.6% | 16.1% | 12.0% | 9.0% | 5.8% | 3.7% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| 1958 | 29.7% | 21.9% | 16.6% | 11.9% | 8.9% | 5.8% | 3.7% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| 1959 | 30.3% | 21.2% | 16.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.2% |
| 1960 | 30.8% | 20.6% | 17.2% | 11.7% | 8.6% | 5.9% | 3.6% | 1.4% | 0.2% |
| 1961 | 31.4% | 20.1% | 17.3% | 11.6% | 8.6% | 5.9% | 3.5% | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| 1962 | 31.9% | 19.8% | 17.3% | 11.5% | 8.5% | 5.9% | 3.5% | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| 1963 | 32.1% | 19.8% | 17.1% | 11.4% | 8.5% | 5.9% | 3.4% | 1.6% | 0.2% |
| 1964 | 32.2% | 20.0% | 16.7% | 11.5% | 8.5% | 5.9% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 0.2% |
| 1965 | 31.9% | 20.6% | 16.3% | 11.7% | 8.4% | 5.9% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
| 1966 | 31.4% | 21.3% | 16.0% | 11.9% | 8.4% | 5.9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 0.3% |
| 1967 | 30.9% | 21.8% | 15.8% | 12.1% | 8.3% | 5.9% | 3.4% | 1.5% | 0.3% |
| 1968 | 30.2% | 22.4% | 15.6% | 12.3% | 8.4% | 5.9% | 3.4% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
| 1969 | 29.3% | 23.1% | 15.5% | 12.5% | 8.4% | 5.8% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
| 1970 | 28.5% | 23.8% | 15.4% | 12.6% | 8.5% | 5.8% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.3% |
| 1971 | 27.7% | 24.4% | 15.2% | 12.7% | 8.5% | 5.8% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| 1972 | 27.1% | 24.7% | 15.2% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 5.9% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| 1973 | 26.5% | 25.0% | 15.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% | 6.0% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| 1974 | 26.0% | 25.0% | 15.6% | 12.9% | 8.9% | 6.0% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| 1975 | 25.4% | 24.9% | 16.1% | 12.7% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| 1976 | 24.8% | 24.7% | 16.6% | 12.6% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 3.6% | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| 1977 | 24.3% | 24.5% | 17.0% | 12.6% | 9.6% | 6.2% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| 1978 | 23.7% | 24.1% | 17.6% | 12.6% | 9.9% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| 1979 | 23.0% | 23.6% | 18.4% | 12.6% | 10.1% | 6.4% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| 1980 | 22.2% | 23.3% | 19.1% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 6.5% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| 1981 | 21.5% | 23.0% | 19.7% | 12.6% | 10.5% | 6.5% | 3.9% | 1.8% | 0.5% |
| 1982 | 20.9% | 22.8% | 20.2% | 12.7% | 10.6% | 6.6% | 4.0% | 1.8% | 0.5% |
| 1983 | 20.2% | 22.5% | 20.6% | 12.8% | 10.7% | 6.7% | 4.0% | 1.9% | 0.5% |
| 1984 | 19.7% | 22.1% | 20.9% | 13.2% | 10.6% | 6.9% | 4.1% | 1.9% | 0.5% |
| 1985 | 19.1% | 21.8% | 21.0% | 13.8% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 4.2% | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| 1986 | 18.6% | 21.5% | 20.8% | 14.4% | 10.5% | 7.4% | 4.3% | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| 1987 | 18.2% | 21.1% | 20.7% | 14.9% | 10.6% | 7.6% | 4.3% | 2.1% | 0.6% |
| 1988 | 17.7% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 15.4% | 10.6% | 7.8% | 4.4% | 2.1% | 0.6% |
| 1989 | 17.3% | 20.0% | 20.6% | 16.1% | 10.7% | 8.0% | 4.5% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| 1990 | 16.7% | 19.5% | 20.5% | 16.9% | 10.7% | 8.2% | 4.6% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| 1991 | 16.0% | 19.2% | 20.3% | 17.6% | 10.8% | 8.4% | 4.8% | 2.3% | 0.7% |
| 1992 | 15.4% | 18.8% | 20.0% | 18.2% | 10.9% | 8.7% | 4.9% | 2.4% | 0.7% |
| 1993 | 15.0% | 18.4% | 19.8% | 18.6% | 11.2% | 8.8% | 5.1% | 2.5% | 0.7% |
| 1994 | 14.8% | 17.8% | 19.6% | 18.9% | 11.5% | 8.9% | 5.3% | 2.6% | 0.8% |
| 1995 | 14.7% | 17.2% | 19.4% | 18.9% | 12.1% | 8.8% | 5.5% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| 1996 | 14.6% | 16.7% | 19.1% | 18.8% | 12.6% | 8.8% | 5.8% | 2.7% | 0.9% |
| 1997 | 14.6% | 16.3% | 18.7% | 18.7% | 13.1% | 8.9% | 6.0% | 2.8% | 0.9% |
| 1998 | 14.6% | 15.9% | 18.3% | 18.5% | 13.6% | 9.1% | 6.3% | 2.9% | 0.9% |
| 1999 | 14.5% | 15.4% | 17.9% | 18.3% | 14.2% | 9.2% | 6.5% | 3.1% | 1.0% |
| 2000 | 14.3% | 14.9% | 17.7% | 18.2% | 14.8% | 9.2% | 6.7% | 3.2% | 1.0% |
| 2001 | 14.1% | 14.4% | 17.5% | 18.0% | 15.5% | 9.3% | 6.9% | 3.3% | 1.1% |
| 2002 | 13.7% | 14.0% | 17.1% | 18.0% | 16.0% | 9.4% | 7.2% | 3.5% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 13.1% | 13.9% | 16.8% | 17.8% | 16.5% | 9.7% | 7.3% | 3.7% | 1.2% |
| 2004 | 12.6% | 13.8% | 16.4% | 17.7% | 16.8% | 10.0% | 7.4% | 3.9% | 1.3% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | 13.8% | 16.1% | 17.6% | 17.0% | 10.6% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 1.4% |
| 2006 | 11.4% | 13.9% | 15.8% | 17.4% | 17.0% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 4.4% | 1.5% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | 13.9% | 15.4% | 17.2% | 17.1% | 11.6% | 7.7% | 4.6% | 1.6% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | 13.9% | 15.0% | 17.0% | 17.1% | 12.1% | 7.9% | 4.9% | 1.7% |
| 2009 | 10.0% | 13.9% | 14.6% | 16.7% | 17.1% | 12.7% | 8.0% | 5.1% | 1.8% |
| 2010 | 9.7% | 13.8% | 14.2% | 16.5% | 17.1% | 13.3% | 8.1% | 5.3% | 1.9% |
| 2011 | 9.5% | 13.5% | 13.9% | 16.2% | 17.1% | 14.0% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 2.1% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | 13.0% | 13.7% | 16.0% | 17.1% | 14.6% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 2.2% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | 12.4% | 13.5% | 15.8% | 17.1% | 15.2% | 8.7% | 5.9% | 2.4% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | 11.8% | 13.3% | 15.5% | 17.1% | 15.7% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 2.5% |
| 2015 | 8.9% | 11.2% | 13.3% | 15.2% | 17.1% | 16.0% | 9.5% | 6.1% | 2.7% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | 10.7% | 13.3% | 15.0% | 16.9% | 16.2% | 10.1% | 6.2% | 2.9% |
| 2017 | 8.6% | 10.3% | 13.4% | 14.7% | 16.7% | 16.3% | 10.6% | 6.3% | 3.1% |
| 2018 | 8.3% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 14.4% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 11.2% | 6.5% | 3.3% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | 9.6% | 13.5% | 14.1% | 16.1% | 16.6% | 11.7% | 6.7% | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 7.7% | 9.3% | 13.5% | 13.8% | 15.9% | 16.6% | 12.5% | 6.9% | 3.8% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | 9.0% | 13.4% | 13.5% | 15.8% | 16.5% | 13.3% | 7.1% | 4.0% |
| 2022 | 6.9% | 8.9% | 13.1% | 13.3% | 15.6% | 16.6% | 14.0% | 7.2% | 4.3% |
| 2023 | 6.5% | 8.9% | 12.7% | 13.3% | 15.5% | 16.6% | 14.5% | 7.5% | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 6.1% | 8.9% | 12.3% | 13.3% | 15.2% | 16.7% | 14.9% | 7.8% | 4.7% |
| 2025 | 5.8% | 8.9% | 11.9% | 13.4% | 14.9% | 16.7% | 15.2% | 8.3% | 4.9% |
| 2026 | 5.5% | 8.9% | 11.5% | 13.5% | 14.7% | 16.6% | 15.4% | 8.9% | 5.1% |
| 2027 | 5.3% | 8.7% | 11.2% | 13.6% | 14.5% | 16.4% | 15.6% | 9.4% | 5.3% |
| 2028 | 5.1% | 8.5% | 10.9% | 13.7% | 14.3% | 16.2% | 15.8% | 9.9% | 5.5% |
| 2029 | 5.0% | 8.3% | 10.7% | 13.7% | 14.1% | 16.0% | 16.0% | 10.5% | 5.8% |
| 2030 | 5.0% | 8.0% | 10.4% | 13.6% | 13.8% | 15.8% | 16.0% | 11.2% | 6.0% |
| 2031 | 5.0% | 7.6% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 15.7% | 16.1% | 12.0% | 6.2% |
| 2032 | 5.0% | 7.2% | 10.3% | 13.2% | 13.4% | 15.6% | 16.2% | 12.6% | 6.5% |
| 2033 | 5.1% | 6.8% | 10.3% | 12.8% | 13.3% | 15.5% | 16.3% | 13.1% | 6.8% |
| 2034 | 5.1% | 6.5% | 10.3% | 12.4% | 13.3% | 15.3% | 16.4% | 13.5% | 7.2% |
| 2035 | 5.1% | 6.2% | 10.3% | 12.0% | 13.5% | 15.1% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 7.6% |
| 2036 | 5.1% | 5.8% | 10.3% | 11.6% | 13.6% | 14.9% | 16.4% | 14.1% | 8.1% |
| 2037 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 10.2% | 11.3% | 13.7% | 14.8% | 16.3% | 14.3% | 8.7% |
| 2038 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 10.0% | 11.0% | 13.8% | 14.6% | 16.1% | 14.6% | 9.2% |
| 2039 | 5.1% | 5.4% | 9.8% | 10.8% | 13.9% | 14.4% | 16.0% | 14.8% | 9.8% |
| 2040 | 5.1% | 5.4% | 9.5% | 10.6% | 13.9% | 14.2% | 15.9% | 15.0% | 10.5% |
| 2041 | 5.1% | 5.4% | 9.1% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 13.9% | 15.9% | 15.1% | 11.2% |
| 2042 | 5.0% | 5.4% | 8.7% | 10.5% | 13.5% | 13.8% | 15.8% | 15.3% | 11.9% |
| 2043 | 5.0% | 5.5% | 8.3% | 10.5% | 13.1% | 13.8% | 15.8% | 15.5% | 12.5% |
| 2044 | 5.0% | 5.5% | 8.0% | 10.5% | 12.8% | 13.9% | 15.6% | 15.7% | 13.0% |
| 2045 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.6% | 10.6% | 12.4% | 14.1% | 15.4% | 15.8% | 13.4% |
| 2046 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.3% | 10.6% | 12.0% | 14.3% | 15.3% | 15.8% | 13.9% |
| 2047 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.1% | 10.5% | 11.7% | 14.5% | 15.3% | 15.8% | 14.4% |
| 2048 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.0% | 10.4% | 11.5% | 14.6% | 15.2% | 15.7% | 15.0% |
| 2049 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.9% | 10.1% | 11.3% | 14.7% | 15.0% | 15.6% | 15.5% |
| 2050 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.9% | 9.9% | 11.1% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 15.7% | 16.1% |
| 2051 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.0% | 9.5% | 11.0% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 15.7% | 16.7% |
| 2052 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 7.0% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 14.5% | 14.6% | 15.8% | 17.2% |
| 2053 | 5.1% | 5.7% | 7.1% | 8.7% | 11.1% | 14.2% | 14.6% | 15.8% | 17.7% |
| 2054 | 5.0% | 5.7% | 7.2% | 8.4% | 11.2% | 13.8% | 14.8% | 15.7% | 18.1% |
| 2055 | 4.9% | 5.7% | 7.3% | 8.1% | 11.3% | 13.5% | 15.1% | 15.7% | 18.5% |
| 2056 | 4.9% | 5.8% | 7.3% | 7.8% | 11.4% | 13.1% | 15.4% | 15.6% | 18.7% |
| 2057 | 4.8% | 5.8% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 11.4% | 12.8% | 15.7% | 15.6% | 19.0% |
| 2058 | 4.7% | 5.9% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 11.2% | 12.6% | 15.9% | 15.6% | 19.2% |
| 2059 | 4.6% | 5.9% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 11.0% | 12.5% | 16.1% | 15.5% | 19.5% |
| 2060 | 4.6% | 5.9% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 16.2% | 15.4% | 19.9% |
| 2061 | 4.5% | 5.9% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 10.4% | 12.2% | 16.3% | 15.3% | 20.4% |
| 2062 | 4.5% | 5.9% | 7.5% | 7.6% | 10.0% | 12.4% | 16.0% | 15.3% | 20.8% |
| 2063 | 4.5% | 5.9% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 9.6% | 12.5% | 15.7% | 15.5% | 21.1% |
| 2064 | 4.5% | 5.8% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 12.6% | 15.4% | 15.7% | 21.4% |
| 2065 | 4.5% | 5.8% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 8.8% | 12.8% | 15.0% | 16.1% | 21.5% |
| 2066 | 4.6% | 5.7% | 7.7% | 8.0% | 8.5% | 12.9% | 14.7% | 16.4% | 21.6% |
| 2067 | 4.6% | 5.6% | 7.8% | 8.0% | 8.3% | 12.9% | 14.4% | 16.8% | 21.7% |
| 2068 | 4.7% | 5.5% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 12.7% | 14.2% | 17.1% | 21.8% |
| 2069 | 4.7% | 5.4% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 12.5% | 14.0% | 17.3% | 21.9% |
| 2070 | 4.8% | 5.4% | 8.0% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 12.2% | 13.9% | 17.5% | 22.1% |
| 2071 | 4.8% | 5.3% | 8.0% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 11.8% | 13.8% | 17.5% | 22.3% |
| 2072 | 4.9% | 5.3% | 8.0% | 8.2% | 8.3% | 11.4% | 14.0% | 17.3% | 22.7% |
| 2073 | 5.0% | 5.3% | 7.9% | 8.3% | 8.5% | 10.9% | 14.1% | 17.0% | 23.1% |
| 2074 | 5.0% | 5.3% | 7.9% | 8.3% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 14.3% | 16.7% | 23.5% |
| 2075 | 5.1% | 5.3% | 7.8% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 10.0% | 14.4% | 16.3% | 23.9% |
| 2076 | 5.1% | 5.4% | 7.7% | 8.5% | 8.8% | 9.7% | 14.6% | 15.9% | 24.3% |
| 2077 | 5.2% | 5.4% | 7.6% | 8.6% | 8.9% | 9.4% | 14.6% | 15.7% | 24.7% |
| 2078 | 5.3% | 5.5% | 7.5% | 8.7% | 8.9% | 9.3% | 14.4% | 15.5% | 25.0% |
| 2079 | 5.3% | 5.6% | 7.4% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 9.2% | 14.2% | 15.3% | 25.3% |
| 2080 | 5.4% | 5.6% | 7.3% | 8.8% | 9.0% | 9.2% | 13.9% | 15.2% | 25.6% |
| 2081 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 7.3% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 9.4% | 13.4% | 15.1% | 25.9% |
| 2082 | 5.5% | 5.8% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 9.5% | 12.9% | 15.3% | 26.0% |
| 2083 | 5.5% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 8.7% | 9.2% | 9.6% | 12.4% | 15.5% | 26.0% |
| 2084 | 5.5% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 9.3% | 9.8% | 11.9% | 15.7% | 26.0% |
| 2085 | 5.5% | 6.0% | 7.3% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 9.9% | 11.4% | 15.9% | 26.0% |
| 2086 | 5.6% | 6.1% | 7.3% | 8.4% | 9.4% | 10.1% | 11.0% | 16.1% | 26.0% |
| 2087 | 5.6% | 6.1% | 7.4% | 8.3% | 9.5% | 10.1% | 10.7% | 16.1% | 26.1% |
| 2088 | 5.6% | 6.2% | 7.5% | 8.2% | 9.6% | 10.2% | 10.5% | 15.9% | 26.2% |
| 2089 | 5.5% | 6.3% | 7.6% | 8.1% | 9.7% | 10.3% | 10.5% | 15.7% | 26.3% |
| 2090 | 5.5% | 6.3% | 7.6% | 8.0% | 9.8% | 10.3% | 10.6% | 15.4% | 26.5% |
| 2091 | 5.5% | 6.4% | 7.7% | 8.0% | 9.8% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 14.9% | 26.7% |
| 2092 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 7.8% | 7.9% | 9.8% | 10.4% | 10.9% | 14.3% | 26.9% |
| 2093 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 10.5% | 11.1% | 13.7% | 27.1% |
| 2094 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 8.0% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 13.2% | 27.3% |
| 2095 | 5.5% | 6.6% | 8.1% | 8.0% | 9.6% | 10.7% | 11.4% | 12.7% | 27.5% |
| 2096 | 5.5% | 6.6% | 8.1% | 8.0% | 9.4% | 10.8% | 11.5% | 12.3% | 27.7% |
| 2097 | 5.5% | 6.6% | 8.2% | 8.1% | 9.3% | 11.0% | 11.6% | 11.9% | 27.8% |
| 2098 | 5.5% | 6.6% | 8.3% | 8.2% | 9.1% | 11.1% | 11.7% | 11.8% | 27.7% |
| 2099 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 8.4% | 8.3% | 9.0% | 11.1% | 11.8% | 11.7% | 27.6% |
| 2100 | 5.6% | 6.5% | 8.5% | 8.4% | 8.9% | 11.2% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 27.3% |
The shift is stark. In 1960, children aged 0–9 made up over 30% of the population.
By 2100, that figure is projected to fall to just 5.5%, while those aged 80 and over surge into double digits.
In the decades following the Korean War, South Korea had a classic population pyramid: a wide base of young people and relatively few elderly citizens. In 1970, nearly 29% of the population was under 10 years old.
Fast forward to today, and the structure has inverted. Persistently low fertility—frequently cited as the lowest in the world—has led to a shrinking base of young people. This trend is frequently described as a “demographic meltdown,” driven by high housing costs, intense education pressures, and shifting social norms.
By 2050, people aged 60 and older are projected to account for roughly 40% of the population. The 80–89 and 90+ cohorts grow especially quickly in the second half of the century.
This has major economic implications. A smaller working-age population must support a rapidly expanding elderly population, pushing up the old-age dependency ratio. As we’ve explored in our breakdown of the top economies by old-age dependency, countries with aging populations face rising pension and healthcare burdens, as well as slower potential growth.
Labor shortages, fiscal strain, and intergenerational inequality are likely to intensify unless offset by higher productivity, immigration, or policy reform.
After years of record-low fertility, South Korea has recently seen a modest increase in births. While still far below replacement level, even a small shift is notable after such a prolonged decline.
Whether this “baby bump” signals a sustained recovery or merely a temporary fluctuation remains to be seen. For now, long-term projections continue to point toward a much older, and smaller, South Korea by the end of the century.
2026-02-21 00:16:00
Across the United States, the ground beneath many major cities is gradually subsiding. Research published in Nature Cities shows that 25 of the 28 largest U.S. urban areas are sinking, a trend with serious implications for infrastructure durability, flood risk, and long-term resilience.
Created in partnership with Inigo, this visualization maps the major U.S. cities most at risk of sinking.
In coastal cities such as San Diego and New York, subsidence amplifies sea level rise and leaves communities more exposed to storm surge and tidal flooding. Inland cities face different pressures. In places like Houston, Phoenix, and Denver, groundwater extraction and soil compaction accelerate vertical land movement.
Because subsidence happens gradually, it often goes unnoticed. Still, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, New York, and Chicago are all sinking by more than 2.0 mm per year. Even small drops in elevation can strain pipelines, damage roads, and weaken building foundations.
| City | State | Vertical land movement (mm/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | Texas | -5.2 |
| Fort Worth | Texas | -4.4 |
| Dallas | Texas | -3.8 |
| New York | New York | -2.4 |
| Chicago | Illinois | -2.3 |
| Columbus | Ohio | -1.9 |
| Seattle | Washington | -1.8 |
| Detroit | Michigan | -1.7 |
| Denver | Colorado | -1.7 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | -1.5 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | -1.4 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | -1.3 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | -1.3 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | -1.1 |
| San Antonio | Texas | -1.1 |
| San Diego | California | -1.1 |
| Portland | Oregon | -0.9 |
| San Francisco | California | -0.9 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | -0.8 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | -0.8 |
| Austin | Texas | -0.8 |
| El Paso | Texas | -0.8 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | -0.7 |
| Los Angeles | California | -0.7 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | -0.5 |
Many other major cities, including Seattle, Detroit, and Denver, are sinking at rates between 1.5 and 2.0 mm per year.
Although subtle, subsidence affects millions of people and tens of thousands of buildings, many of which sit in high damage risk zones. As elevation changes accumulate, mitigation and adaptation costs rise, often after damage has already occurred.
For property risk professionals, this data highlights an important reality. Climate risk does not move in only one direction. In some cities, the threat is not just rising water levels, but the ground itself sinking beneath critical infrastructure and assets.
Explore the data behind emerging global property risks.
Wildfires in the United States are becoming more destructive, with many of the most severe seasons occurring in the past decade.
As housing spreads into the fire line, exposure is rising sharply, compounding loss potential and challenging long-term insurability.
Rising labor and material costs mean every insured dollar now rebuilds less, widening the recovery gap after disasters across the United States.
Lower interest rates have often supported stronger real estate returns and improved valuations. Will that trend return in 2026?
From climate volatility to economic and technological shifts, a wide range of forces are reshaping property risk in the U.S.
Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation.
Global temperatures are climbing—but how is this trend playing out across the United States, and which regions are being hit the hardest?
Wildfire events are growing increasingly frequent and destructive around the world as human-driven climate impacts continue to escalate.
Drought grips much of the U.S., affecting over 60 million people today.
Weight loss drugs have surged in popularity in recent years, transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. Which brands are dominating this space?
The pharmaceutical industry has made enormous strides in treating—and even curing—a wide range of diseases and conditions. Which areas are seeing the most R&D in 2025?
Pharma giants don’t just make medicine—they shape the future of healthcare. Who are the world’s major players?
The fraud and financial crime landscapes are evolving rapidly. What are the key threats shaping risk in 2025?
Some of the largest digital heists didn’t rely on brute-force hacking, they exploited the weakest link in security: human trust.
As cybersecurity threats escalate, which financial crimes are causing the most harm? The FBI has the data.
Suspicious activity has been rising in the U.S., but is it spread evenly throughout all 50 states? Certainly not.
As technology and AI become more widespread, fraud and other suspicious activity are rising across America. Which types are the most common?
From money laundering to fraud, financial crime acts as a drain on the economy, totaling an incredible $3.1 trillion.
Over half the global population is ruled by non-centrist types of government, including autocracies and left or right wing parties.
Ukraine will require an estimated $524B over the next decade to recover from the Russia-Ukraine war. Which sectors have been most impacted?
Amid tariff increases, consumers’ expectations for U.S. inflation in the next five years have reached their highest level since March 1991.
In his first 100 days, President Trump has issued far more executive orders than any other president in history.
2026-02-20 22:47:34
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 cash that companies hold is important for paying employees, funding operations, and as a measure of financial health.
This chart shows the 50 companies with the largest cash holdings, using data from TradingView to highlight who is sitting on the largest war chests.
This metric captures a company’s most liquid assets: cash plus short-term securities like T-bills that typically mature within a year.
Berkshire Hathaway leads the rankings with an impressive $382 billion.
The data table below shows the top 50 companies worldwide with the largest cash and short-term securities holdings:
| Rank | Company | Cash and short-term investments holdings (billions) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkshire Hathaway | $381.7 |
| 2 | CITIC Limited | $171.5 |
| 3 | Daiwa Securities Group | $131.4 |
| 4 | Alphabet | $126.8 |
| 5 | Amazon | $126.3 |
| 6 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing | $97.8 |
| 7 | Interactive Brokers Group | $93.4 |
| 8 | Microsoft | $89.5 |
| 9 | Charles Schwab | $88.9 |
| 10 | Meta Platforms | $82.4 |
| 11 | Volkswagen | $76.9 |
| 12 | PDD Holdings | $69.5 |
| 13 | Apple | $66.9 |
| 14 | NVIDIA | $60.6 |
| 15 | Tencent | $59.2 |
| 16 | Alibaba Group Holding | $58.2 |
| 17 | Saudi Aramco | $56.0 |
| 18 | Contemporary Amperex Technology | $51.6 |
| 19 | Toyota Motor | $50.5 |
| 20 | SBI Holdings | $50.0 |
| 21 | China State Construction Engineering | $48.5 |
| 22 | American Express | $47.8 |
| 23 | SoftBank Group | $45.8 |
| 24 | Tesla | $44.5 |
| 25 | China Mobile | $43.8 |
| 26 | Daou Technology | $43.7 |
| 27 | Hon Hai Precision Industry | $42.5 |
| 28 | CNPC Capital | $41.9 |
| 29 | Japan Securities Finance | $41.0 |
| 30 | PetroChina | $40.7 |
| 31 | Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing | $39.4 |
| 32 | Fannie Mae | $39.4 |
| 33 | Stellantis | $38.7 |
| 34 | Ford Motor | $38.5 |
| 35 | International Holding Company | $37.6 |
| 36 | Intel | $37.4 |
| 37 | BP | $36.8 |
| 38 | Rakuten Group | $36.0 |
| 39 | CNOOC | $35.8 |
| 40 | Nomura Holdings | $35.7 |
| 41 | SAIC Motor | $35.1 |
| 42 | Honda Motor | $30.9 |
| 43 | Deutsche Boerse | $30.6 |
| 44 | General Motors | $30.6 |
| 45 | Shell | $30.3 |
| 46 | JD.com | $29.6 |
| 47 | Boeing | $29.4 |
| 48 | China Railway Group | $28.6 |
| 49 | TotalEnergies | $28.3 |
| 50 | Daou Data | $26.8 |
Source: TradingView | Cash and Short-Term Investments | as of Feb 11, 2026
Following Berkshire are CITIC—a Chinese state-backed financial conglomerate—and Daiwa Securities Group, one of Japan’s biggest financial brokerages.
Big Tech rounds out the top five, with Alphabet holding $127 billion and Amazon holding $126 billion.
Among the top 50 companies, the Financials sector collectively holds the largest cash reserves at $1.2 trillion—partially driven by strict capital rules requiring banks to maintain large liquid buffers.
Berkshire Hathaway is different: its cash position is strategic, not regulatory.
After 12 straight quarters as a net seller of stocks, Buffett and the team have parked much of the company’s liquidity in short-term U.S. Treasury bills, implying that equity valuations look expensive.
The Oracle’s cash and cash equivalents as a percentage of total assets is at an all-time high—roughly 31% of total assets.
Historically, this has coincided with periods when he waits for a major economic or market dislocation before deploying capital as prices begin to mean-revert—quietly accumulating dry powder in the meantime.
The Magnificent Seven: Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia and Tesla collectively hold $597 billion—enough to buy most S&P 500 companies.
Traditionally, Big Tech companies are massive cash machines: high gross margins and scalable cost structures mean incremental revenue converts into cash quickly.
Despite spending heavily to build AI factories, they’ve used little of their cash reserves to finance them—opting instead for debt.
They hold large cash stockpiles both to fund acquisitions and guard against potential economic turmoil, such as threats from tariffs or geopolitical conflicts.
To learn more about the world’s largest companies, check out this graphic on Voronoi.
2026-02-20 20:47:15
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 U.S. has the world’s largest economy at $30.6 trillion. But if you break it apart, individual states would rank among the world’s economic superpowers.
In 2025, 19 U.S. states place within the top 50 largest economies globally, according to IMF projections and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data.
California alone, with a $4.30 trillion economy, now ranks fourth in the world, ahead of Japan and India. Texas and New York also outperform entire G7 nations.
This graphic compares countries and U.S. states side by side, revealing just how economically powerful America’s largest states have become.
Below, we break down the economic output of U.S. states compared to the world’s largest economies:
| Rank | Country/ State | Entity Type | GDP 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 United States |
Country | $30.62T |
| 2 |
 China |
Country | $19.40T |
| 3 |
 Germany |
Country | $5.01T |
| 4 |
California |
U.S. State | $4.30T |
| 5 |
 Japan |
Country | $4.28T |
| 6 |
 India |
Country | $4.13T |
| 7 |
 United Kingdom |
Country | $3.96T |
| 8 |
 France |
Country | $3.36T |
| 9 |
Texas |
U.S. State | $2.94T |
| 10 |
 Italy |
Country | $2.54T |
| 11 |
 Russia |
Country | $2.54T |
| 12 |
New York |
U.S. State | $2.50T |
| 13 |
 Canada |
Country | $2.28T |
| 14 |
 Brazil |
Country | $2.26T |
| 15 |
 Spain |
Country | $1.89T |
| 16 |
 Mexico |
Country | $1.86T |
| 17 |
 South Korea |
Country | $1.86T |
| 18 |
Florida |
U.S. State | $1.85T |
| 19 |
 Australia |
Country | $1.83T |
| 20 |
 Türkiye |
Country | $1.57T |
| 21 |
 Indonesia |
Country | $1.44T |
| 22 |
 Netherlands |
Country | $1.32T |
| 23 |
 Saudi Arabia |
Country | $1.27T |
| 24 |
Illinois |
U.S. State | $1.22T |
| 25 |
Pennsylvania |
U.S. State | $1.07T |
| 26 |
 Poland |
Country | $1.04T |
| 27 |
 Switzerland |
Country | $1.00T |
| 28 |
Ohio |
U.S. State | $979.1B |
| 29 |
Georgia |
U.S. State | $935.8B |
| 30 |
North Carolina |
U.S. State | $905.2B |
| 31 |
Washington |
U.S. State | $903.7B |
| 32 |
New Jersey |
U.S. State | $896.4B |
| 33 |
 Taiwan |
Country | $884.4B |
| 34 |
Massachusetts |
U.S. State | $828.3B |
| 35 |
Virginia |
U.S. State | $807.3B |
| 36 |
Michigan |
U.S. State | $738.3B |
| 37 |
 Belgium |
Country | $717.0B |
| 38 |
 Ireland |
Country | $708.8B |
| 39 |
 Argentina |
Country | $683.4B |
| 40 |
 Sweden |
Country | $662.3B |
| 41 |
 Israel |
Country | $610.8B |
| 42 |
Arizona |
U.S. State | $604.3B |
| 43 |
Tennessee |
U.S. State | $596.6B |
| 44 |
Colorado |
U.S. State | $589.9B |
| 45 |
Maryland |
U.S. State | $574.4B |
| 46 |
 Singapore |
Country | $574.2B |
| 47 |
 UAE |
Country | $569.1B |
| 48 |
 Austria |
Country | $566.5B |
| 49 |
 Thailand |
Country | $558.6B |
| 50 |
Indiana |
U.S. State | $551.8B |
In 2024, California officially overtook Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy.
Tech, real estate, and finance sectors have powered the state’s economy, with real GDP per capita rising 60% between 2000 and 2024. With one of the fastest growth rates overall, it far exceeds the U.S. average of 37% over the same period.
Texas, ranked ninth, commands a $2.94 trillion economy. The Lone Star State is bigger than both Italy ($2.54 trillion) and Russia ($2.54 trillion), driven by its growing population, economic strength, and energy industry.
With a $2.50 trillion economy, New York state falls in 12th place, eclipsing Canada’s entire economy. Meanwhile, Illinois’ GDP of $1.22 trillion is roughly equivalent to Saudi Arabia ($1.27 trillion), the world’s second-largest producer of oil.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on every state’s share of U.S. GDP.
2026-02-20 06:06:23
Wildfires across the United States are becoming more destructive and more costly. Data from the National Interagency Fire Center shows that the annual area burned has increased over time, with several of the most severe wildfire seasons on record occurring within the past decade.
Created in partnership with Inigo, this visualization provides visual context for the rising impact of U.S. wildfires.
Across the country, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and stronger winds are intensifying fire behavior, even as housing development pushes further into fire-prone areas.
In January 2025 alone, California wildfires burned 64,038 acres, the third-highest January total on record. The figure shows that extreme fire conditions are no longer limited to peak summer months.
| Year | Acres Burned |
|---|---|
| Jan.-Oct. 2025 | 4,711,179 |
| 2024 | 8,924,884 |
| 2023 | 2,693,910 |
| 2022 | 7,577,183 |
| 2021 | 7,125,643 |
| 2020 | 10,122,336 |
| 2019 | 4,664,364 |
| 2018 | 8,767,492 |
| 2017 | 10,026,086 |
| 2016 | 5,509,995 |
| 2015 | 10,125,149 |
| 2014 | 3,595,613 |
| 2013 | 4,319,546 |
| 2012 | 9,326,238 |
| 2011 | 8,711,367 |
| 2010 | 3,422,724 |
| 2009 | 5,921,786 |
| 2008 | 5,292,468 |
| 2007 | 9,328,045 |
| 2006 | 9,873,745 |
| 2005 | 8,689,389 |
| 2004 | 8,097,880 |
| 2003 | 3,960,842 |
| 2002 | 7,184,712 |
| 2001 | 3,570,911 |
| 2000 | 7,393,493 |
| 1999 | 5,626,093 |
| 1998 | 1,329,704 |
| 1997 | 2,856,959 |
| 1996 | 6,065,998 |
| 1995 | 1,840,546 |
| 1994 | 4,073,579 |
| 1993 | 1,797,574 |
| 1992 | 2,069,929 |
| 1991 | 2,953,578 |
| 1990 | 4,621,621 |
| 1989 | 1,827,310 |
| 1988 | 5,009,290 |
| 1987 | 2,447,296 |
| 1986 | 2,719,162 |
| 1985 | 2,896,147 |
| 1984 | 1,148,409 |
| 1983 | 1,323,666 |
Although the most destructive wildfire years occurred across several decades, the broader pattern remains unmistakable. The long-term trend in acres burned is steadily rising.
In 2024, nearly 9 million acres burned, far exceeding the 40-year average of just over 5 million acres. Only two years in the past decade recorded fewer acres burned.
The expanding overlap between people, property, and high-risk terrain is amplifying both human and economic exposure. Over the past decade, wildfires damaged one in four buildings that stood within a previous burn zone, highlighting how rebuilding in the same areas can magnify future losses.
Insurers, property owners, and policymakers can no longer treat wildfire risk as a regional issue confined to the Western states. It is a national challenge reshaping how communities build, insure, and recover. As climate volatility increases, understanding where fires are occurring and how risk is accumulating will be critical to managing future losses.
Explore the data behind emerging global property risks.
Across the U.S., the ground beneath many major cities is gradually subsiding. 25 out of America’s 28 largest cities are slowly sinking.
As housing spreads into the fire line, exposure is rising sharply, compounding loss potential and challenging long-term insurability.
Rising labor and material costs mean every insured dollar now rebuilds less, widening the recovery gap after disasters across the United States.
Lower interest rates have often supported stronger real estate returns and improved valuations. Will that trend return in 2026?
From climate volatility to economic and technological shifts, a wide range of forces are reshaping property risk in the U.S.
Hurricanes are a defining force in the U.S. climate, capable of leaving behind profound environmental, social, and economic devastation.
Global temperatures are climbing—but how is this trend playing out across the United States, and which regions are being hit the hardest?
Wildfire events are growing increasingly frequent and destructive around the world as human-driven climate impacts continue to escalate.
Drought grips much of the U.S., affecting over 60 million people today.
Weight loss drugs have surged in popularity in recent years, transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. Which brands are dominating this space?
The pharmaceutical industry has made enormous strides in treating—and even curing—a wide range of diseases and conditions. Which areas are seeing the most R&D in 2025?
Pharma giants don’t just make medicine—they shape the future of healthcare. Who are the world’s major players?
The fraud and financial crime landscapes are evolving rapidly. What are the key threats shaping risk in 2025?
Some of the largest digital heists didn’t rely on brute-force hacking, they exploited the weakest link in security: human trust.
As cybersecurity threats escalate, which financial crimes are causing the most harm? The FBI has the data.
Suspicious activity has been rising in the U.S., but is it spread evenly throughout all 50 states? Certainly not.
As technology and AI become more widespread, fraud and other suspicious activity are rising across America. Which types are the most common?
From money laundering to fraud, financial crime acts as a drain on the economy, totaling an incredible $3.1 trillion.
Over half the global population is ruled by non-centrist types of government, including autocracies and left or right wing parties.
Ukraine will require an estimated $524B over the next decade to recover from the Russia-Ukraine war. Which sectors have been most impacted?
Amid tariff increases, consumers’ expectations for U.S. inflation in the next five years have reached their highest level since March 1991.
In his first 100 days, President Trump has issued far more executive orders than any other president in history.
2026-02-20 03:08:14
See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app.
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.
Nearly 2 billion metric tons of sugar cane are harvested globally each year, making it the most-produced crop on Earth by a wide margin.
This visualization highlights the scale of global crop production in 2024, showing how staple foods and key commercial crops compare. The data for this visualization is sourced from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
While some top crops are dietary staples, others support large industries such as biofuels, sweeteners, and packaged foods.
Sugar cane stands as the dominant crop grown globally at 1.94 billion metric tons, far surpassing all other crops.
Maize follows at 1.22 billion tons, while rice and wheat—two of the world’s most essential food staples—come in at 820 million and 798 million tons, respectively.
| Rank | Crop | Metric tons produced in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sugar cane | 1,939,782,021 |
| 2 | Maize (corn) | 1,218,205,574 |
| 3 | Rice | 820,223,277 |
| 4 | Wheat | 798,481,711 |
| 5 | Oil palm fruit | 418,696,914 |
| 6 | Soya beans | 397,671,688 |
| 7 | Potatoes | 390,428,972 |
| 8 | Cassava, fresh | 341,905,934 |
| 9 | Sugar beet | 293,624,598 |
| 10 | Tomatoes | 188,498,383 |
| 11 | Barley | 141,996,861 |
| 12 | Bananas | 139,413,684 |
| 13 | Onions and shallots, dry | 108,260,011 |
| 14 | Watermelons | 104,959,426 |
| 15 | Apples | 97,880,076 |
Brazil is notably the top producer of both sugar cane and soybeans, while Eurasian giants like China, India, and Russia are the main wheat growers worldwide.
Lots of the crops in question have regional production hubs; soybeans, for example, tend to be produced in China, the U.S., and South American countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
More sugar cane is harvested in Brazil each year than in the next three largest annual producers. Sugar cane is not only processed into the table sugar you buy at the supermarkets, but also refined into biofuel, molasses, and other sweeteners.
Meanwhile, over 294 million tons of sugar beet were grown in 2024, accounting for roughly 20% of global sugar output. Sugar beet is grown specifically for sugar extraction and refined sugar.
Corn, also known internationally as maize, is the runner-up for global agricultural production, with the United States as the top grower worldwide. Most corn today, especially in the U.S., is harvested for use in animal feed or the production of biofuels such as ethanol. The U.S. has maintained large corn subsidies for over half a century.
The Corn Belt is a geographic region of the U.S. dominated by the corn industry, and is centered around the Midwestern state of Iowa. Today Iowa grows three times more corn than all of Mexico, the country where corn was first harvested in pre-Columbian times.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Big Four American Crops Compared to Entire Countries on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
