2026-01-10 08:12:44
The 2026 Global Forecast Report is now available exclusively on VC+.
The report is part of our annual Global Forecast Series, presented by Inigo, and it brings together more than 2,000 predictions from leading economists, strategists, and technologists to distill the most important forces shaping the year ahead.
Rather than focusing on short-term forecasts, Visual Capitalist’s editorial team synthesizes areas of consensus, disagreement, and emerging risk across global economic growth, financial markets, geopolitics, technology, climate risk, and social trends—offering a clear, high-level perspective on potential risks and opportunities for 2026.
Get the full report as part of the 2026 Global Forecast Series, presented by Inigo—now available to VC+ members.
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2026-01-10 02:12:47
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.
A healthy diet is often discussed as a top public health issue, but affordability remains one of its biggest barriers.
Over the past decade, food prices have climbed due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and climate-related shocks. At the same time, incomes and food access have improved in many regions.
This graphic highlights how these competing forces have shaped the global cost of eating well—and who is still being left behind. The data for this visualization comes from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. It tracks the average daily cost of a healthy diet worldwide.
A healthy diet is defined as providing 2,330 kilocalories per day, with nutritionally adequate proportions across six food groups. These include starchy staples, vegetables, fruits, animal-source foods, legumes, nuts and seeds, and oils and fats.
In 2017, the average global cost of a healthy diet was $3.14 per person per day. By 2024, that figure had climbed to $4.46. The sharpest increases occurred after 2020, coinciding with pandemic-related disruptions and global food price inflation.
| Year | Average global cost | % that can't afford it | # that can't afford it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $3.14 | 38.4% | 2.93B |
| 2018 | $3.19 | 36.5% | 2.82B |
| 2019 | $3.30 | 35.4% | 2.76B |
| 2020 | $3.43 | 36.9% | 2.91B |
| 2021 | $3.60 | 34.5% | 2.75B |
| 2022 | $4.01 | 33.5% | 2.68B |
| 2023 | $4.30 | 32.8% | 2.65B |
| 2024 | $4.46 | 31.9% | 2.60B |
While costs have risen, affordability has steadily improved. In 2017, 38.4% of the global population—about 2.93 billion people—could not afford a healthy diet. By 2024, that share had fallen to 31.9%, representing roughly 2.6 billion people.
Despite global progress, affordability challenges remain concentrated in low-income and conflict-affected regions. Even small increases in food prices can have outsized effects where households already spend a large share of income on food.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Much Meat do We Eat? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-01-10 00:50:00
When the Federal Reserve begins cutting interest rates, the U.S. dollar has historically struggled to maintain its strength. This visualization, created in partnership with OANDA, examines how the dollar behaved during the last three major easing cycles.
While the USD may stay stable, or even prove resilient, early on, it has tended to weaken as the cycle progresses. Will greenback performance in 2026 follow suit if the Fed cuts rates further?
Across these cycles, a clear negative relationship emerges between the start of Fed easing and U.S. dollar performance. On average, the dollar has fallen about 6% six months into a rate-cut cycle, dropped nearly 9% after one year, and remained lower even two years after cuts begin.
| USD Performance (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Cut Cycle | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year | 2 years |
| January 2001-June 2003 | 5.0% | -3.3% | -4.7% | -6.0% |
| September 2007-December 2008 | 1.9% | -8.4% | -13.7% | -6.4% |
| August 2019-March 2020 | 0.2% | -6.0% | -7.3% | -1.2% |
| Average | 2.3% | -5.9% | -8.6% | -4.5% |
The steepest declines occurred during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, but the pattern holds across all three cycles—showing declines at the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year marks each time.
Importantly, the dollar’s path does not depend on Federal Reserve policy alone. Major easing cycles are often driven by widespread economic stress, prompting other central banks to adjust policy in tandem.
During both the early 2000s slowdown and the 2007–08 financial crisis, the Bank of Canada, Bank of England, and European Central Bank all cut rates alongside the Fed. At the same time, the Bank of Japan kept rates near zero in the early 2000s and later moved into negative territory from 2016 to 2024, highlighting how coordinated global policy shifts can shape currency outcomes.
As 2026 starts, the key question is whether a new easing cycle will once again pressure the U.S. dollar or whether global rate dynamics will alter the historical playbook.
Learn how to trade smarter in 2026 with OANDA’s free outlook.
Note: Past performance is not indicative of future results.
For each of the world’s seven major regions, what is the most-traded currency and how did it perform versus the U.S. dollar in 2024?
Building a well-balanced, diversified portfolio involves including assets with varying correlations. The USD, with its weak or negative correlations to other assets, can be a valuable…
The U.S. dollar is used in 88% of FX trading transactions. Which currencies are most commonly on the other side of the exchange?
Which major currencies have performed best on the foreign exchange market over the last decade?
2026-01-09 22:38:49
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Silver prices surged more than 5% in recent trading, breaking above $80 per ounce once again.
The rally has been driven by China’s restrictions on silver exports, rising demand from green technologies like solar power, and renewed interest in safe-haven assets.
This visualization highlights the world’s largest silver-producing countries and shows where global supply is most concentrated.
The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. It presents estimated silver mine production by country for 2024.
Total world silver production reached roughly 25,000 metric tons in 2024.
Mexico remained the world’s top silver producer in 2024, with an estimated 6,300 metric tons of output. The country has held this position for decades, supported by extensive mining infrastructure and high-grade deposits. Notably, Mexico produces far more silver than its reserve share might suggest, holding only about 6% of the world’s known reserves.
China ranked second globally, producing around 3,300 metric tons of silver in 2024. Much of this output comes as a byproduct of large-scale base metal mining, particularly lead and zinc.
Peru followed closely with approximately 3,100 metric tons, reinforcing South America’s importance in global silver markets.
Together, these three countries accounted for more than half of global silver production.
| Rank | Country | 2024 Production (Metric Tons) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Mexico |
6,300 |
| 2 |
 China |
3,300 |
| 3 |
 Peru |
3,100 |
| 4 |
 Bolivia |
1,300 |
| 5 |
 Poland |
1,300 |
| 6 |
 Chile |
1,200 |
| 7 |
 Russia |
1,200 |
| 8 |
 United States |
1,100 |
| 9 |
 Australia |
1,000 |
| 10 |
 Kazakhstan |
1,000 |
| 11 |
 Argentina |
800 |
| 12 |
 India |
800 |
| 13 |
 Sweden |
400 |
| 14 |
 Canada |
300 |
| -- |
 Other countries |
2,100 |
| -- |
 World total (rounded) |
25,000 |
Beyond the top producers, countries such as Bolivia, Poland, Chile, Russia, and the United States each produced between 1,100 and 1,300 metric tons. Australia, Kazakhstan, Argentina, and India also contributed meaningful volumes.
Despite this diversity, the silver market remains tight. Strong demand from solar panels, electronics, and electrification is expected to keep the market in a deficit, putting upwards pressure on silver prices.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out All of the World’s Oil Reserves by Country, in One Visualization on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-01-09 20:46:06
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Alcohol consumption patterns in the U.S. vary sharply depending on where people live.
Cultural norms, climate, income levels, and access to services all shape how much residents spend on alcoholic beverages. This visualization maps alcohol spending per adult across all 50 states.
The data comes from SmartAsset.
Alaska ranks first, with adults spending nearly $1,250 on alcohol in 2024.
The state’s top position is often linked to isolation, harsh weather conditions, and limited access to healthcare and addiction services. Higher prices due to transportation costs also push up total spending.
| Rank | State | Alcohol spending (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $1,249.76 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $1,237.84 |
| 3 | Colorado | $1,202.45 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $1,185.54 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $1,155.82 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $1,119.73 |
| 7 | Oregon | $1,104.87 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $1,095.34 |
| 9 | Washington | $1,070.99 |
| 10 | Montana | $1,051.01 |
| 11 | Vermont | $1,039.04 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $1,037.31 |
| 13 | Virginia | $1,019.08 |
| 14 | California | $1,001.37 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $994.06 |
| 16 | Maine | $985.08 |
| 17 | Texas | $972.04 |
| 18 | Florida | $959.37 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $954.14 |
| 20 | Nevada | $949.91 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $943.46 |
| 22 | Georgia | $943.08 |
| 23 | Arizona | $881.96 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $875.41 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $838.57 |
| 26 | Missouri | $835.55 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $834.54 |
| 28 | Maryland | $825.88 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $822.97 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $805.73 |
| 31 | Michigan | $805.06 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $804.83 |
| 33 | New York | $804.53 |
| 34 | Iowa | $801.79 |
| 35 | Delaware | $800.65 |
| 36 | Kansas | $800.42 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $795.17 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $793.37 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $780.53 |
| 40 | Illinois | $774.28 |
| 41 | Alabama | $754.48 |
| 42 | Indiana | $750.66 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $736.76 |
| 44 | Idaho | $731.29 |
| 45 | Ohio | $704.12 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $693.70 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $690.82 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $641.12 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $616.81 |
| 50 | Utah | $606.42 |
| -- | State Average | $897.57 |
Wyoming and Colorado follow Alaska closely, both exceeding $1,200 per adult.
Many of the highest-spending states cluster in the West and Northeast. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire rank in the top 10, alongside Oregon and Washington.
At the other end of the spectrum, Utah reports the lowest alcohol spending per adult at just over $600. A large religious population and stricter alcohol regulations help keep consumption and spending well below the national average.
Several Southern and Midwestern states, including West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, also fall near the bottom of the rankings. Cultural attitudes, stricter alcohol regulations, and lower average incomes all help explain these patterns.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapping Incarceration Rates Across the U.S. on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-01-09 04:31:41
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Oceania is the world’s smallest continent by land area, and the second-least populated after Antarctica.
The continent’s urban population is largely concentrated in the largest economic hubs, primarily in Australia and New Zealand.
This infographic ranks Oceania’s 30 most populated cities in 2025 using data from the UN World Population Prospects 2025.
Urban populations can be measured in different ways. In this methodology, the UN looks at satellite-mapped urban footprints for consistency. For this reason some city populations may not line up exactly as you may expect.Here’s how the region’s largest cities stack up by population:
| Rank | Country | City | 2025 Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Australia |
Sydney | 4,151,000 |
| 2 |
Australia |
Melbourne | 3,640,000 |
| 3 |
 New Zealand |
Auckland | 1,123,000 |
| 4 |
Australia |
Perth | 1,079,000 |
| 5 |
Australia |
Brisbane | 1,072,000 |
| 6 |
Australia |
Adelaide | 879,000 |
| 7 |
Australia |
Canberra | 485,000 |
| 8 |
 Papua New Guinea |
Port Moresby | 413,000 |
| 9 |
Australia |
Point Cook | 405,000 |
| 10 |
Australia |
Gold Coast | 299,000 |
| 11 |
New Zealand |
Glenfield | 275,000 |
| 12 |
New Zealand |
Christchurch | 261,000 |
| 13 |
 Fiji |
Suva | 226,000 |
| 14 |
Australia |
Newcastle | 183,000 |
| 15 |
New Zealand |
Hamilton | 166,000 |
| 16 |
New Zealand |
Papakura | 154,000 |
| 17 |
New Zealand |
Wellington | 149,000 |
| 18 |
Papua New Guinea |
Mendi | 133,000 |
| 19 |
 Solomon Islands |
Honiara | 131,000 |
| 20 |
 New Caledonia |
Nouméa | 124,000 |
| 21 |
Australia |
Dallas | 122,000 |
| 22 |
Papua New Guinea |
Lae | 122,000 |
| 23 |
Papua New Guinea |
Mount Hagen | 107,000 |
| 24 |
Australia |
Wollongong | 106,000 |
| 25 |
Australia |
North Lakes | 102,000 |
| 26 |
Australia |
Hackham West | 100,000 |
| 27 |
Australia |
Campbelltown | 98,000 |
| 28 |
Papua New Guinea |
Goroka | 95,000 |
| 29 |
Papua New Guinea |
Madang | 93,000 |
| 30 |
 French Polynesia |
Papeete | 92,000 |
Sydney’s population of 4.15 million makes it the largest metropolitan area in the region, and it has long held this title since 1975. Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital, follows closely behind at 3.64 million.
Around 80% of Australia’s population is in the southeast due to favorable climate conditions and historically well-established ports. Perth is the only major city on the West Coast by population.
Outside Australia, Auckland stands out as the largest city in New Zealand, home to just over 1.1 million people. Other major New Zealand cities, including Christchurch, Hamilton, and Wellington, also make the top 30, but with significantly smaller populations.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea places six cities in the top 30, led by its capital city Port Moresby with a population of 413,000.
Most Pacific Island nations in Oceania consist of small populations spread across remote islands. On the contrary, Australia’s large landmass, infrastructure, and economic strength support multiple million-plus cities, skewing the region’s population distribution.
However, major cities in Australia are growing at a much slower rate relative to emerging cities like Mendi and Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea, where the population is growing by more than 2% annually.
If you enjoyed today’s post, explore more global urbanization and population insights on Voronoi, including Every City With Over 1 Million People.
