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Who’s Powering Global Economic Growth in 2026?

2026-01-30 20:47:04

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This visualization ranks countries by their share of global real GDP growth in 2026, showing the nations driving global economic growth.

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Who’s Powering Global Economic Growth in 2026?

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.

Key Takeaways

  • Global real GDP growth is forecast to reach 3.1% in 2026.
  • China and India together account for 43.6% of global real GDP growth in 2026.
  • Asia-Pacific contributes nearly 60% of total global GDP growth.

Global economic growth is expected to remain resilient in 2026, with real GDP projected to grow by 3.1%, even as advanced economies slow and emerging markets play a larger role.

This visualization breaks down each country and region’s share of global real GDP growth in 2026, based on forecast data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

ℹNote on methodology: The IMF calculates contributions to global real GDP growth using purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP, which adjusts for local price differences, allowing faster-growing emerging economies to have a more representative impact on global growth.

China and India Drive Global GDP Growth in 2026

China is forecast to contribute 26.6% of global real GDP growth in 2026, by far the largest share of any country.

Despite slower headline growth rates compared to previous decades, China’s sheer economic size still makes it the single biggest driver of global expansion.

Here’s a look at each country’s contribution to global real GDP growth in 2026:

Rank Country 2025 Real GDP (PPP, billions) 2026 Real GDP Growth Share of 2026 Global Real GDP Growth
1 🇨🇳 China $41,015.8 4.2% 26.6%
2 🇮🇳 India $17,714.2 6.2% 17.0%
3 🇺🇸 United States $30,615.7 2.1% 9.9%
4 🇮🇩 Indonesia $5,015.8 4.9% 3.8%
5 🇹🇷 Türkiye $3,766.8 3.7% 2.2%
6 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia $2,688.5 4.0% 1.7%
7 🇪🇬 Egypt $2,381.5 4.5% 1.7%
8 🇻🇳 Vietnam $1,807.1 5.6% 1.6%
9 🇧🇷 Brazil $4,973.4 1.9% 1.5%
10 🇳🇬 Nigeria $2,254.2 4.2% 1.5%
11 🇧🇩 Bangladesh $1,782.1 4.9% 1.3%
12 🇵🇭 Philippines $1,477.7 5.7% 1.3%
13 🇷🇺 Russian Federation $7,143.1 1.0% 1.1%
14 🇵🇱 Poland $2,019.8 3.1% 1.0%
15 🇩🇪 Germany $6,153.7 0.9% 0.9%
16 🇬🇧 United Kingdom $4,454.7 1.3% 0.9%
17 🇵🇰 Pakistan $1,671.4 3.6% 0.9%
18 🇲🇾 Malaysia $1,478.1 4.0% 0.9%
19 🇦🇷 Argentina $1,490.2 4.0% 0.9%
20 🇪🇸 Spain $2,828.5 2.0% 0.9%
21 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea $3,363.4 1.8% 0.9%
22 🇲🇽 Mexico $3,436.9 1.5% 0.8%
23 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan $912.6 4.8% 0.7%
24 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates $935.5 5.0% 0.7%
25 🇯🇵 Japan $6,758.2 0.6% 0.6%
26 🇫🇷 France $4,533.6 0.9% 0.6%
27 🇨🇦 Canada $2,722.8 1.5% 0.6%
28 🇹🇼 Taiwan $1,990.3 2.1% 0.6%
29 🇦🇺 Australia $1,981.7 2.1% 0.6%
30 🇮🇹 Italy $3,720.3 0.8% 0.5%
31 🇹🇭 Thailand $1,853.8 1.6% 0.5%
32 🇺🇦 Ukraine $686.9 4.5% 0.5%
33 🇪🇹 Ethiopia $486.8 7.1% 0.5%
34 🇩🇿 Algeria $874.6 2.9% 0.4%
35 🇮🇶 Iraq $700.6 3.6% 0.4%
36 🇶🇦 Qatar $380.2 6.1% 0.4%
37 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan $473.5 6.0% 0.4%
38 🇨🇴 Colombia $1,189.5 2.3% 0.4%
39 🇮🇷 Iran $1,878.9 1.1% 0.3%
40 🇳🇱 Netherlands $1,516.7 1.2% 0.3%
41 🇸🇬 Singapore $953.9 1.8% 0.3%
42 🇮🇱 Israel $567.6 3.9% 0.3%
43 🇲🇦 Morocco $431.3 4.2% 0.3%
44 🇰🇪 Kenya $403.2 4.9% 0.3%
45 🇹🇿 Tanzania $293.6 6.3% 0.3%
46 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire $266.9 6.4% 0.3%
47 🇬🇾 Guyana $75.2 23.0% 0.3%
48 🇵🇪 Peru $653.1 2.7% 0.3%
- 🌍 Other Europe $10,816.9 - 2.9%
- 🌍 Other Africa $4,219.5 - 2.5%
- 🌏 Other Asia $2,702.6 - 1.3%
- 🌎 Other Americas $3,097.3 - 1.1%
- 🌍 Other Middle East $816.3 - 0.4%

India follows as the second-largest contributor, accounting for 17% of global growth. Together, China and India are expected to generate more than 43% of global real GDP growth in 2026.

Among advanced economies, the U.S. is projected to contribute 9.9% of global growth, making it the largest contributor across all developed nations.

Europe’s contribution stands at 9.5% of global growth, spread across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and other economies. Slower population growth, aging demographics, and tighter financial conditions continue to weigh on the region’s economic expansion.

When combined, the U.S. and the EU together account for just 16% of total global growth, with the center of economic momentum shifting toward emerging markets.

A Shifting Global Growth Landscape

From a regional perspective, the Asia-Pacific region dominates global growth with a 59.4% share, with Indonesia, Vietnam, and other economies playing a significant role alongside China and India.

North America contributes 11.4%, followed by Europe. Africa, which hosts most of the world’s fastest-growing economies, accounts for 7.7% of global growth, led by Nigeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

Overall, global growth in 2026 is forecast to be largely driven by countries in earlier stages of economic development, supported by population growth, workforce expansion, and rising consumption and government spending.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you found this infographic interesting, explore more global economic insights on Voronoi, including BRICS vs. G7 Real GDP Growth in 2026.

Charted: Amazon Is Hiring Robots While Cutting Human Jobs

2026-01-30 08:08:14

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Line chart comparing the growth of Amazon robots vs employee from 2013-2025.

Visualizing Amazon Robots vs. Employees (2013-2025)

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.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon has one million robots working in its facilities, a number that is fast-approaching its global employee headcount of almost 1.6 million.
  • Recently, Amazon laid off 16,000 corporate employees, following 14,000 job cuts seen in October.

Amazon, America’s second-biggest private employer, is deploying robots at rapid speed.

Over the past five years, the number of robot workers has increased from 265,000 to one million, far outpacing hiring growth. Overall, the company reports that three-quarters of global deliveries are aided by robotics, from lifting and loading to sorting packages.

This graphic compares the size of Amazon’s robot fleet with its human workforce, based on data from Ark Invest via Jason Calacanis and Yahoo Finance.

Amazon Robots Hit One Million

Below, we show the global number of robots deployed at Amazon since 2013:

Year Number of Robots Number of Employees
2025 1,000,000 1,556,000
2024 750,000 1,525,000
2023 750,000 1,541,000
2022 520,000 1,608,000
2021 350,000 1,298,000
2020 265,000 798,000
2019 200,000 648,000
2018 140,000 566,000
2017 100,000 341,000
2016 45,000 231,000
2015 30,000 154,000
2014 15,000 117,000
2013 1,000 88,000

Between 2024 and 2025, the number of robots in Amazon facilities grew by 250,000 alone, with many picking up items from shelves or ferrying goods for packaging.

Some robots have electronic arms, utilizing computer vision to complete tasks. Using a new generative AI model called DeepFleet, robot travel time has dropped by 10%, further boosting efficiency.

Amazon is also reportedly test-running humanoid robots in San Francisco for doorstep delivery.

Last year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated that the company will need less employees given automation and advancements in AI. While some employees have transitioned into higher-paying roles to manage robotic systems, many others could face a more uncertain future.

Amazon Announces Sweeping Corporate Layoffs

In January 2026, Amazon shed 16,000 corporate employees, tacking on to the 14,000 laid off in October last year.

Together, these represent the company’s biggest wave of corporate layoffs. During the pandemic, employee headcount swelled as deliveries boomed. Now, Amazon says it’s cutting back to reduce bureaucracy and streamline operations.

While the company did not cite AI as a reason behind these cuts, it is spending billions on AI infrastructure, from data centers to custom chips, investment that often comes with pressure to cut costs elsewhere.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on U.S. job cuts by industry in 2025.

Ranked: Central Banks by the Value of Their Gold at $5,500 an Ounce

2026-01-30 03:02:48

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This visualization highlights how much the world’s largest gold holders now control in dollar terms.

Ranked: Central Banks by the Value of Their Gold at $5,500 an Ounce

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.

Key Takeaways

  • At a gold price of $5,500 per ounce, the U.S. holds gold worth more than $1.4 trillion, far ahead of any other country.
  • Rising gold prices have dramatically increased the balance sheet value of central bank reserves worldwide.

After more than doubling since the start of 2025, gold prices surged another 27% in the first month of 2026 alone.

With gold now trading above $5,500 per ounce, central bank gold reserves are worth far more than at any point in the past several decades.

This visualization highlights how much the world’s largest gold holders now control in dollar terms. The data for this visualization comes from the World Gold Council.

The United States Dominates in Absolute Value

The rally has been driven by strong safe-haven demand, as currency volatility and a wobbling U.S. dollar push investors and policymakers toward hard assets. For central banks, higher prices strengthen reserve positions without adding a single extra tonne of gold.

The United States remains the world’s largest official holder of gold, with 8,133.5 tonnes in reserves. At $5,500 per ounce, that stockpile is worth roughly $1.44 trillion. This puts the U.S. far ahead of Germany in second place, whose gold reserves are valued at just under $600 billion.

Rank Country Value of gold holdings Gold holdings (tonnes)
1 🇺🇸 United States $1.44T 8,133.5
2 🇩🇪 Germany $592B 3,350.3
3 🇮🇹 Italy $434B 2,451.9
4 🇫🇷 France $431B 2,437.0
5 🇷🇺 Russia $411B 2,326.5
6 🇨🇳 China $408B 2,305.4
7 🇨🇭 Switzerland $184B 1,039.9
8 🇮🇳 India $156B 880
9 🇯🇵 Japan $150B 846
10 🇹🇷 Türkiye $114B 644
11 🇳🇱 Netherlands $108B 613
12 🇵🇱 Poland $96B 543
13 🇹🇼 Taiwan $75B 424
14 🇵🇹 Portugal $68B 383
15 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan $67B 380
16 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan $59B 333
17 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia $57B 323
18 🇬🇧 United Kingdom $55B 310
19 🇱🇧 Lebanon $51B 287
20 🇪🇸 Spain $50B 282

America’s large gold position reflects decades of accumulation and its historical role at the center of the global monetary system.

Europe’s Big Four

Germany, Italy, and France all hold more than 2,400 tonnes of gold each. At current prices, each country’s reserves are valued between $430 billion and $590 billion.

Switzerland, while smaller, also stands out. Its gold reserves are worth around $184 billion, reinforcing its reputation for financial stability and conservative reserve management.

Rising Powers and Recent Buyers

Russia and China both hold over 2,300 tonnes of gold, with reserve values exceeding $400 billion each. In recent years, both countries have steadily increased gold purchases as a way to diversify away from U.S. dollar assets.


Central bank gold reserves thumbnail

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Emerging markets such as India, Türkiye, and Poland also feature prominently.

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If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Rise of Major Currencies Against the USD in 2025 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Ranked: The 10 Most Traded Currencies with the U.S. Dollar

2026-01-30 01:46:29

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The following content is sponsored by OANDA

Ranked: The 10 Most Traded Currencies with the U.S. Dollar

Each day, billions of dollars are traded on the global foreign exchange (FX) market. The U.S. dollar (USD) is involved in 88% of all trades and accounting for 58% of global currency reserves. But which currencies are most frequently paired with the dollar in these transactions?

In collaboration with OANDA, this graphic offers a clear visual breakdown of the top currencies traded alongside the USD. The data is based on daily transaction data from the New York Fed’s April 2024 FX Volume Survey.

FX Trading: What Are the Top 3 Most Traded Currencies Against the USD?

At an average volume of $135.3 billion per day, the euro was the most-traded currency against the USD in April 2024 by a wide margin.

Currency Daily Transaction Volume ($ billions)
Euro 135.3
Japanese yen 92.7
Canadian dollar 52.9
British pound 43.9
Australian dollar 36.3
Mexican peso 27.4
Swiss franc 18.4
Hong Kong dollar 15.4
Singapore dollar 14.4
Chinese yuan 11.0

The Japanese yen ranked second with $92.7 billion in daily transactions, followed by the Canadian dollar at $52.9 billion. Together, these three currencies accounted for the majority of non-USD FX trading activity with the dollar.

Other Takeaways

European and Asia-Pacific currencies continue to play crucial roles in FX trading with the USD. In addition to the euro and yen, the pound sterling (#4) and the Australian dollar (#5) saw significant trading volumes, reflecting their importance in global trade and finance.

Several North American and Asia-Pacific currencies (such as the Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Mexican peso, and Singapore dollar) benefit from strong trade ties with the U.S., including free trade agreements that support higher cross-border capital flows.

Meanwhile, smaller but highly liquid currencies like the Swiss franc and New Zealand dollar are still important in FX markets due to their stability and use in risk management strategies.

FX Trading Doesn’t Have to Be Complex

Trading on the FX market can be intimidating, but understanding who the key players are can help bring clarity to investors. Learning how to manage risk, having a trading plan, and understanding price movements are also essential components of successful trading.

Note: Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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Ranked: The Biggest Risks Facing the World in 2026

2026-01-29 23:26:13

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Voronoi showing the top global risks in 2026 based on survey data from the World Economic Forum.

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Ranked: The Biggest Risks Facing the World in 2026

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.

Key Takeaways

  • Geoeconomic confrontation is the top global risk in 2026, according to the World Economic Forum’s annual report.
  • Fraying transatlantic alliances and a Great-Power competition between the U.S. and China is increasingly undermining global stability.

From rapid advances in AI to shifts in the postwar economic order, multiple forces are reshaping the global system.

As these shifts accelerate, they introduce growing risks. Not only do they raise questions for national competitiveness and security, they stand to disproportionately hit labor markets.

This graphic shows the world’s leading risks in 2026, based on data from the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026.

A Closer Look at the Top Global Risks

For the analysis, the World Economic Forum surveyed more than 1,300 experts on the most pressing global risks in 2026.

Here, respondents were asked to answer the following question, “Please select one risk that you believe is most likely to present a material crisis on a global scale in 2026.” Surveys were conducted between August 12 and September 22, 2025:

Risk Percentage Selecting as Top Risk
Geoeconomic confrontation 18%
State-based armed conflict 14%
Extreme weather events 8%
Societal polarization 7%
Misinformation and disinformation 7%
Economic downturn 5%
Erosion of human rights and/or of civic freedoms 4%
Adverse outcomes of AI technologies 4%
Cyber insecurity 3%
Inequality 3%
Lack of economic opportunity or unemployment 2%
Concentration of strategic resources and technologies 2%
Critical change to Earth systems 2%
Natural resource shortages 2%
Disruptions to critical infrastructure 2%
Asset bubble burst 2%
Debt 2%
Disruptions to a systemically important supply chain 1%
Decline in health and well-being 1%
Involuntary migration or displacement 1%
Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse 1%
Biological, chemical or nuclear weapons or hazards 1%
Inflation 1%
Pollution 1%
Insufficient public infrastructure and social protections 1%
Infectious diseases 1%
Non-weather related natural disasters 1%
Censorship and surveillance 1%
Crime and illicit economic activity 1%

Geoeconomic confrontation ranks as the top global risk in 2026, selected by 18% of respondents.

Since last year, it has jumped up two spots in the rankings given persisting tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine. More recently, U.S. pressure over Greenland, along with the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, have added further strain.

At the same time, President Trump’s perceived indifference toward defending Taiwan could create a perfect storm, according to experts, for China’s push for “reunification.”

State-based armed conflict ranks second in the WEF report, selected by 14% of respondents. Notably, there are 59 active state-based conflicts worldwide, the highest number since World War II.

Rounding out the top three risks are extreme weather events, selected by 8% respondents overall. From wildfires to droughts, severe weather events are meaningfully contributing to food inflation, displacement, and higher insurance costs. As global temperatures continue to rise, these impacts could intensify in both frequency and severity.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top 10 global risks from 2020 to 2025.

Ranked: Which Countries Hold the Most U.S. Debt?

2026-01-29 21:05:12

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Voronoi showing the biggest foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries.

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Ranked: Which Countries Hold the Most U.S. Debt?

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.

Key Takeaways

  • Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries hit an all-time high of $9.4 trillion in November, despite notable selloffs from China and India.
  • Japan’s holdings of U.S. debt increased 11% annually to reach $1.2 trillion, while Canada’s purchases climbed 27% over the period, with the total now at $472 billion.

Each year, the U.S. needs to sell more Treasuries to finance its growing budget deficit.

Both domestic and overseas investors buy this debt, with foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries owning a record $9.4 trillion of the total. Overall, European countries collectively hold close to 40% of foreign-owned U.S. debt.

This graphic shows which countries hold U.S. debt, based on U.S. Treasury data.

The Top 20 Foreign Holders of U.S. Treasuries in 2025

Below, we show the largest foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries as of November 2025:

Rank Country Value
Nov 2025 (B)
Annual Change
1 🇯🇵 Japan $1,202.6 11%
2 🇬🇧 United Kingdom $888.5 16%
3 🇨🇳 China $682.6 -11%
4 🇧🇪 Belgium $481.0 33%
5 🇨🇦 Canada $472.2 27%
6 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands $427.4 5%
7 🇱🇺 Luxembourg $425.6 2%
8 🇫🇷 France $376.1 13%
9 🇮🇪 Ireland $340.3 -1%
10 🇹🇼 Taiwan $312.5 9%
11 🇨🇭 Switzerland $300.3 1%
12 🇸🇬 Singapore $272.2 8%
13 🇭🇰 Hong Kong $256.0 -4%
14 🇳🇴 Norway $218.9 35%
15 🇮🇳 India $186.5 -20%
16 🇧🇷 Brazil $168.1 -27%
17 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia $148.8 10%
18 🇰🇷 South Korea $145.1 14%
19 🇩🇪 Germany $109.8 10%
20 🇮🇱 Israel $107.7 23%
-- 🏳 Other countries $1,833.2 N/A
-- 🌍 Global Total $9,355.4 7%

With $1.2 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt.

In 2019, Japan overtook China, marking a major shift from a decade earlier, when China held nearly $1.3 trillion. Since then, China’s Treasury holdings have been nearly cut in half, while Japan’s have risen more modestly, up $61 billion over the same period.

The UK ranks next, with $888.5 billion in U.S. federal debt. In the past 12 months, these debt holdings increased by the double-digits, a pattern echoed across several European nations, including Belgium, France, and Norway.

By contrast, BRICS countries saw significant selloffs. Brazil’s holdings fell 27%, outpacing India’s 20% decline and China’s 11% reduction. At the same time, gold’s share of global central bank reserves surpassed U.S. Treasuries in late 2025 for the first time since 1996.

While U.S. Treasury demand is shaped by many complex factors, 2025 underscored a clear divergence. Traditional U.S. allies continued to build their positions, while others increasingly diversified away, likely reflecting growing geopolitical considerations.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s $111 trillion in government debt.