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2026-03-18 20:06:07

Mapped: The World’s Biggest Energy Sources by Country

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Despite rapid growth in renewables, much of the world still relies on a small group of traditional energy sources. In many countries, oil, coal, or natural gas continues to supply the largest share of energy used across transportation, industry, and electricity generation.

This map shows the largest primary energy source in 112 countries using data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Primary energy refers to energy in its raw form before it is converted into electricity or refined fuels.

The global picture highlights how different regions depend on different fuels. Oil dominates in many economies, coal still powers several of Asia’s largest countries, and traditional biomass remains central to energy use across parts of Africa.

Oil Leads in the Largest Number of Countries

Oil is the most common primary energy source globally, with 39 of the countries in the dataset relying on it more than any other fuel. It dominates across much of Europe, the Middle East, and large parts of Asia-Pacific.

In many economies, petroleum products remain essential for transportation and heavy industry. Even countries that produce natural gas, coal, or hydropower domestically often still rely on oil for a significant share of their overall energy supply.

Country	Largest source of energy
Albania	Oil
Algeria	Natural Gas
Angola	Biomass
Argentina	Natural Gas
Armenia	Natural Gas
Australia	Oil
Austria	Oil
Azerbaijan	Natural Gas
Bangladesh	Natural Gas
Belarus	Natural Gas
Belgium	Oil
Benin	Biomass
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Coal
Botswana	Coal
Brazil	Oil
Bulgaria	Oil
Burkina Faso	Biomass
Cameroon	Biomass
Canada	Natural Gas
Chad	Biomass
Chile	Oil
China	Coal
China Hong Kong SAR	Natural Gas
Colombia	Oil
Côte d’Ivoire	Biomass
Croatia	Oil
Cyprus	Oil
Czechia	Coal
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Biomass
Ecuador	Oil
Egypt	Natural Gas
Eritrea	Biomass
Estonia	Coal
Ethiopia	Biomass
Finland	Biomass
France	Nuclear
Gabon	Biomass
Georgia	Natural Gas
Germany	Oil
Ghana	Oil
Greece	Oil
Hungary	Oil
Iceland	Renewables/Geothermal
India	Coal
Indonesia	Coal
Iran	Natural Gas
Iraq	Oil
Israel	Natural Gas
Italy	Natural Gas
Japan	Oil
Kazakhstan	Coal
Kenya	Biomass
Kuwait	Natural Gas
Latvia	Biomass
Lithuania	Oil
Luxembourg	Oil
Madagascar	Biomass
Malaysia	Natural Gas
Malta	Natural Gas
Mexico	Natural Gas
Moldova	Natural Gas
Montenegro	Oil
Morocco	Oil
Mozambique	Biomass
Namibia	Oil
Netherlands	Oil
New Zealand	Oil
Niger	Biomass
North Macedonia	Oil
Norway	Hydro
Oman	Natural Gas
Pakistan	Biomass
Peru	Oil
Philippines	Coal
Poland	Oil
Portugal	Oil
Qatar	Natural Gas
Republic of the Congo	Biomass
Romania	Oil
Russian Federation	Natural Gas
Rwanda	Biomass
Saudi Arabia	Oil
Senegal	Oil
Serbia	Coal
Singapore	Oil
Slovakia	Nuclear
Slovenia	Oil
South Africa	Coal
South Korea	Oil
Spain	Oil
Sri Lanka	Biomass
Sudan	Biomass
Sweden	Nuclear
Switzerland	Oil
Taiwan	Coal
Tanzania	Biomass
Thailand	Oil
Togo	Biomass
Trinidad & Tobago	Natural Gas
Tunisia	Natural Gas
Türkiye	Oil
Turkmenistan	Natural Gas
Uganda	Biomass
Ukraine	Natural Gas
United Arab Emirates	Natural Gas
United Kingdom	Natural Gas
United States	Oil
Uzbekistan	Natural Gas
Venezuela	Natural Gas
Vietnam	Coal
Zambia	Biomass
Zimbabwe	Biomass

Major economies such as the United States, Japan, and Germany still rely primarily on oil despite growing investments in renewables and electrification.

Following oil, natural gas is the next most common primary energy source globally, with 29 countries relying on it the most.

Coal Remains Key in Major Asian Economies

Coal continues to dominate the energy mix in several of the world’s largest emerging economies. China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam all rely on coal as their biggest primary energy source.

One reason is simple: availability. Many of these countries have large domestic coal reserves and long-established mining and power infrastructure built around the fuel.

At the same time, coal remains one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, making these economies central to the future trajectory of global energy transitions.

Biomass Leads in Many African Countries

Across much of Africa, biomass remains the largest primary energy source. This includes fuels such as firewood, charcoal, and agricultural waste.

In many rural areas, these fuels are still widely used for everyday needs like cooking and heating, particularly where access to electricity or modern fuels remains limited.

Outside of Africa, only three other countries in the dataset rely primarily on biomass for energy: Finland, Latvia, and Pakistan.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out All of the World’s Oil Reserves by Country, in One Visualization on Voronoi.

2026-03-18 03:14:34

Ranked: The Companies Shipping the Most Humanoid Robots

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.

Global humanoid robot shipments surpassed 14,500 in 2025. By 2030, they could reach mass adoption.

By far, China dominated global sales last year, covering 90% of total sales. While early deployments are largely for research and industrial purposes, their applications could soon break into wider retail uses and household tasks.

Based on data from multiple sources via Rest of World, this graphic ranks the companies shipping the world’s humanoid robots as the industry expands.

The Top Companies by Humanoid Robot Sales in 2025

The table below ranks humanoid robot shipments by company in 2025, highlighting which firms are leading the early commercialization of this emerging technology.

Company	Units Sold 2025	Country
Unitree	5,500	China
AgiBot	5,168	China
UBTECH	1,000	China
Leju Robotics	500	China
Engine AI	400	China
Fourier Intelligence	300	China
Figure AI	150	U.S.
Agility Robotics	150	U.S.
Tesla	150	U.S.
Others	1,350	N/A

Unitree ranks first globally, with 5,500 units sold in 2025, up from around 1,500 a year earlier.

Moreover, Unitree’s models stand among the world’s most advanced and affordable. Its cheapest R1 model, for instance, costs just $5,900, while the company also sells robot dogs for $1,600.

Competitor AgiBot followed next seeing 5,168 units sold, with its lowest-cost model standing at $14,500. Overall, 21 new models were introduced in China in 2025, rising from three in 2022.

While Elon Musk projects humanoid robots will outnumber the human population by 2040, Tesla’s rollout has been markedly slower. In 2025, it shipped 150 of its Optimus models, with public sales forecasted to begin in 2027.

Similarly, other leading U.S. companies Figure AI and Agility Robotics each shipped about the same amount. Despite limited deliveries so far, Figure AI soared to a $39 billion valuation, jumping from $2.6 billion in 2024.

China’s Deep Supply Chains

China’s Yangtze River Delta contains the world’s most vertically integrated supply chain for humanoid robotics.

Not only are Unitree and AgiBot based in the region, it is home to several leading suppliers of robotics parts. DeepSeek and Alibiba—which launched an AI model designed for robotics—are also found in the cluster.

Additionally, the region’s role as a EV manufacturing hub serves as a key catalyst to production. Like autos, humanoids require thousands of precision components. In many cases, EV actuators and gears can be repurposed for humanoid robotics manufacturing.

Today, China controls about 26% of the global actuator market, compared with roughly 5% for the United States.

Along with this industrial base, humanoid robots depend heavily on critical minerals and rare earth elements, materials that China dominates, driving roughly 60% of global production. Together, these supply chain advantages give China a structural edge in scaling these emerging technologies.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the growth of industrial robots by country.

2026-03-17 22:25:00

Mapped: The World’s LNG Chokepoints

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.

Much like crude oil, LNG markets rely on safe passage through just a handful of narrow waterways. When passable, 54% of global LNG trade is shipped through these critical chokepoints to feed the world energy system every single day.

This visualization maps out the most important LNG chokepoints and their share of global LNG trade. The data is from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and is for the first half of 2025 in billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d).

What is Liquefied Natural Gas?

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been supercooled down to about  -260° F / -162° C. When this happens, the gas condenses into a liquid, reducing its volume by roughly 600 times.

The massive reduction in volume enables local storage and global transport via tanker ships. It’s what allows countries with large reserves of natural gas, like the U.S. or Qatar, to sell to customers across the world.  Once ‘re-gasified’ on land, that energy goes towards electric power generation, chemical feedstocks, and residential heating.

The Strait of Hormuz: The Most Critical LNG Chokepoint

Located between Iran and Oman, the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It is the single most critical LNG chokepoint in the world, relied upon for 21% (11.4 Bcf) of global LNG volume.

While some oil can bypass the Strait of Hormuz using pipelines, this is the only path for natural gas producers, like Qatar, to move product to market. When over one-fifth of global LNG trade is disrupted, market volatility is sure to follow.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Since 2023, Yemen-based Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have stopped LNG flow entirely. The Bab el-Mandeb is the southern gateway of the Red Sea, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal and to European markets.

To avoid the LNG chokepoint, tankers must sail around the southern tip of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, which accounts for 10% (5.7 Bcf/d) of global LNG trade. The reroute adds roughly two weeks of travel time and significantly higher fuel costs to every voyage.

Other LNG Chokepoints (or Lack of) Around the World

In addition to Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, several other chokepoints control global LNG flow. The Strait of Malacca in Asia, second only to Hormuz, sees 17% (9.2 Bcf/d) of global LNG trade. In Europe, The Danish Straits move about 1.6 Bcf/d while the Turkish Straits move 0.6 Bcf/d.

North American LNG exports to Europe face no chokepoint dependencies, moving freely across the Atlantic. Though shipments to Asia may pass through the Panama Canal, North America’s extensive pipeline network can reroute fuels if necessary.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about the global natural gas market, check out this graphic visualizing the countries with the largest proven natural gas reserves on Voronoi.

2026-03-17 20:06:08

Ranked: The Top Crude Oil Producers in 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.

The U.S. produced more crude oil than any other country in 2025, by a wide margin.

But while America leads the ranking, the Middle East remains the world’s biggest production hub, with five countries in the global top 10.

This graphic shows crude oil production by country, using 2025 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The ranking highlights how oil production is spread across multiple continents, while still concentrated among a small group of leading producers.

America Leads Global Crude Oil Production

The U.S. was the world’s top crude oil producer in 2025, with more than 13.58 million barrels per day (mb/d), representing a 16% share of global production.

The country surpassed Russia in 2018 and in 2023 became the largest producer of crude oil of any country in history.

Here’s how the world’s top producers stack up, based on annualized data from Jan-Nov 2025:

Rank	Country	Annualized Average Crude Oil production (million barrels per day)
1	United States	13.577
2	Russia	9.867
3	Saudi Arabia	9.509
4	Canada	4.938
5	Iraq	4.394
6	China	4.337
7	Iran	4.192
8	United Arab Emirates	3.817
9	Brazil	3.745
10	Kuwait	2.575
11	Kazakhstan	2.065
12	Norway	1.846
13	Mexico	1.724
14	Nigeria	1.609
15	Libya	1.357
16	Qatar	1.311
17	Algeria	1.140
18	Angola	1.033
19	Oman	1.000
20	Venezuela	0.974
21	Argentina	0.788
22	Colombia	0.746
23	Guyana	0.733
24	United Kingdom	0.612
25	India	0.602
26	Indonesia	0.582
27	Azerbaijan	0.562
28	Malaysia	0.515
29	Egypt	0.509
30	Ecuador	0.439
31	Australia	0.245
32	Congo-Brazzaville	0.240
33	Gabon	0.238
34	Turkmenistan	0.191
35	Ghana	0.183
36	Bahrain	0.183
37	Vietnam	0.164
38	Thailand	0.160
39	Chad	0.127
40	Turkiye	0.125
41	South Sudan	0.112
42	Niger	0.101
43	Brunei	0.100
44	Senegal	0.100
45	Italy	0.084
46	Equatorial Guinea	0.078
47	Syria	0.073
48	Denmark	0.072
49	Cameroon	0.059
50	Pakistan	0.058
51	Cote d'Ivoire	0.054
52	Romania	0.052
53	Trinidad and Tobago	0.051
54	Peru	0.045
55	Germany	0.032
56	Papua New Guinea	0.032
57	Sudan	0.030
58	Uzbekistan	0.030
59	Belarus	0.026
60	Cuba	0.026
61	Tunisia	0.026
62	Hungary	0.023
63	Netherlands	0.021
64	Israel	0.020
65	Bolivia	0.018
66	Poland	0.016
67	Congo-Kinshasa	0.016
68	Yemen	0.015
69	Mongolia	0.014
70	Albania	0.012
71	Suriname	0.012
72	Serbia	0.012
73	France	0.010
74	Croatia	0.009
75	Austria	0.009
76	New Zealand	0.007
77	Burma	0.006
78	Kyrgyzstan	0.006
79	Guatemala	0.005
80	Japan	0.003
81	Bangladesh	0.003
82	Timor-Leste	0.002
83	Chile	0.002
84	Greece	0.001
85	Czechia	0.001
86	Bulgaria	0.001
87	Barbados	0.001
88	Belize	0.001
89	Lithuania	0.001
90	Philippines	0.001

Roughly a quarter of U.S. production comes from the Permian Basin, a sedimentary region spanning western Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

Beyond the Permian and other Texas deposits, the U.S. also has major oil reserves in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. In Alaska, oil revenues have supported the Alaska Permanent Fund since the 1970s, a state-owned sovereign wealth fund that pays dividends to residents.

The Middle East Remains the World’s Biggest Oil Hub

Five Middle Eastern countries ranked among the world’s top 10 crude oil producers in 2025: Saudi Arabia (9.51 mb/d), Iraq (4.39), Iran (4.19), the United Arab Emirates (3.82), and Kuwait (2.58).

All five sit along the Persian Gulf, giving the region an outsized role in global energy markets. That also means conflict or disruption around the Strait of Hormuz can have major consequences for global oil supply.

Since the 1960s, each of these countries has also been a core member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which coordinates among major oil producers on output and pricing strategy.

Other Major Oil Producers Outside OPEC

The U.S. is not a member of OPEC. Nor are Canada (4.94 mb/d) and China (4.34), both of which produced more than 4 million barrels per day in 2025 and ranked among the global top 10.

Meanwhile, two other major producers, Russia (9.87) and Brazil (3.74), are part of OPEC+, a looser coalition that works with OPEC members to manage production when interests align.

In recent years, tensions have occasionally emerged between OPEC’s core producers, led by Saudi Arabia, and OPEC+ partners such as Russia over how much oil to pump while trying to support prices.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The U.S. and China Consume 35% of the World’s Oil on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2026-03-17 02:19:21

Published

2 days ago

on

March 16, 2026

By

Julia Wendling

Graphics & Design

• Zack Aboulazm

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The following content is sponsored by Terzo

Breaking Down the $417 Billion Sports Industry

   

Key Takeaways

• The global sports industry is worth $417 billion, spanning media, fan engagement, and betting.
       
• Sports betting is the largest segment, accounting for $133 billion, or nearly one-third of the total market.
       
• The market value of the industry is heading toward $602 billion by 2030.
       

The global sports industry has evolved into a massive ecosystem spanning broadcasting, betting, fan experiences, and digital entertainment. At an estimated $417 billion in total value today, the market continues to expand rapidly and is projected to reach $602 billion by 2030. With major events like the NCAA’s March Madness tournament just around the corner, the business of sports remains firmly in the global spotlight.

Created in partnership with Terzo, this graphic breaks down the sports economy by subsector to show where the industry’s biggest revenue streams come from, revealing where growth opportunities are emerging. It’s part of our Markets in a Minute series, which delivers quick economic insights for executives.

Betting Dominates the Sports Economy

Betting is now the largest segment of the global sports market, generating $133 billion in revenue, nearly one-third of the industry’s total value.

Sector	Market Value ($ billions)
Media Rights	61
Sponsorship & In-venue Ads	52
Matchday	34
Merchandising	7
Pay-TV Subscriptions	49
Streaming/App Subscriptions	24
Broadcasting & Streaming Advertising	12
Pay-per-View	1
Betting	133
Fantasy Sports	27
Sports Video Games	17
Grand Total	417

The rapid expansion of legalized betting markets, combined with mobile wagering platforms and live in-game betting, has helped transform betting into one of the fastest-growing areas. As regulations evolve and digital platforms expand, the segment is expected to continue gaining share within the industry.

Alongside betting, fantasy sports ($27 billion) and video games ($17 billion) represent additional forms of fan engagement that blend entertainment with interactive competition.

Media Rights and Broadcast Revenues

Media remains another major pillar of the industry. Rights alone account for $61 billion, reflecting the enormous value of live content for broadcasters and digital platforms.

Several related revenue streams also contribute to the media ecosystem:

• Pay-TV subscriptions: $49 billion
• Streaming and app subscriptions: $24 billion
• Broadcasting and streaming advertising: $12 billion
• Pay-per-view: $1 billion

Together, these segments highlight the growing shift toward digital distribution as streaming platforms compete with traditional broadcasters for sports audiences.

Sponsorship and the Live Fan Experience

Brand partnerships and live events continue to play a major role in the industry. Sponsorship and in-venue advertising generate $52 billion globally, as brands seek to connect with highly engaged sports audiences.

Meanwhile, matchday revenues total $34 billion, reflecting ticket sales, hospitality packages, and in-stadium experiences.

Consumer products also contribute to the ecosystem, with sports merchandising generating $7 billion in global sales.

The Future of Sports Is Powered by Data

Great insights start with great data. As the sports industry grows increasingly complex, organizations are turning to AI-powered systems to transform contract data into actionable intelligence.

See NirvanAI in action and learn how it helps you make decisions with confidence.

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2026-03-17 01:26:05

Where Venture Capital Money Is Going: AI vs. Everything Else

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.

Venture capital activity has slowed since its pandemic-era peak, but artificial intelligence remains a major exception.

Investment flowing into AI and machine learning (ML) has surged over the past two years, helping sustain overall venture funding even as deal activity in other sectors weakened.

This graphic visualizes data compiled by BestBrokers, using information from PitchBook, CB Insights, and LIQUiDITY, showing how venture capital has increasingly concentrated around AI.

AI Takes a Larger Slice of the Pie

The quarterly data from 2022 to 2025 shows how the balance between AI and non-AI venture investment has shifted.

Venture capital boomed in 2021, but sentiment shifted in 2022 amid geopolitical uncertainty, rising interest rates, and a slowing exit market. Deal value dropped 47% between the first and fourth quarters of 2022, and AI represented only a small share of overall funding at the time.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched in November 2022, sparking a wave of interest in generative AI. Funding for AI and ML rose in early 2023 even as other venture deals stagnated.

The real step-change arrived in 2024. AI dealmaking accelerated throughout the year and surged in the fourth quarter, when the sector attracted $66.7 billion in funding—surpassing the $61.7 billion invested across all other sectors combined.

This growth reflects both rising investor optimism and the capital-intensive nature of AI infrastructure, including chips, data centers, and large-scale model development.

By Q4 2025, venture deals totaled $138.6 billion globally, with AI and ML accounting for 52% of the total—the first time the sector made up more than half of deal value in the dataset.

Fears of a Bubble

The surge in AI investment has split investors across public and private markets, with some warning the industry may be in a bubble while others remain highly optimistic about its long-term potential.

Concerns have also been raised about opaque private funding and circular dealmaking among major AI players. Strong earnings from companies such as Nvidia, however, have helped sustain investor enthusiasm.

How disruptive AI ultimately proves to be remains uncertain, and venture capital flows will likely continue shifting as investors respond to technological breakthroughs and broader global events.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about how the AI industry is creating a large cap boom, check out this graphic.