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2026-05-01 12:41:21

Mapped: Europe’s Birth Rate Collapse

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.

Europe’s population is no longer replacing itself.

Across the continent, fertility rates have fallen below the 2.1 births per woman needed to maintain stable population levels, with no country meeting that threshold as of 2024.

This map shows the number of live births per woman across Europe using the most recent data from Eurostat, FRED, and the UK’s Office for National Statistics.

From Ukraine (0.99) to Spain (1.1), some of Europe’s largest countries now rank among those with the lowest birth rates, highlighting how widespread the decline has become.

Fertility Crisis in South and Eastern Europe

Europe’s lowest birth rates are concentrated in the east and south, where economic strain and geopolitical instability have accelerated long-term declines.

Ukraine has seen the sharpest drop. Its fertility rate, which last exceeded the replacement level in 1986, fell to 0.9 in 2022 before recovering slightly to 0.99 in 2024.

Among countries at peace, Malta has one of the lowest fertility rates at 1.01, followed by Spain (1.1) and Poland (1.14).

This data table lists European countries alongside their fertility rates as of 2024.

Rank	Country	Fertility Rate (2024)
1	Montenegro	1.75
2	Bulgaria	1.72
3	Albania	1.64
4	Serbia	1.64
5	France	1.61
6	Iceland	1.56
7	Slovenia	1.52
8	Denmark	1.47
9	Ireland	1.47
10	Croatia	1.46
11	Slovakia	1.46
12	Norway	1.45
13	Belgium	1.44
14	North Macedonia	1.44
15	Netherlands	1.43
16	Sweden	1.43
17	Hungary	1.41
18	Portugal	1.41
19	UK	1.41
20	Romania	1.39
21	Cyprus	1.38
22	Czechia	1.36
23	Germany	1.36
24	Austria	1.31
25	Switzerland	1.29
26	Luxembourg	1.25
27	Finland	1.25
28	Greece	1.24
29	Latvia	1.24
30	Estonia	1.18
31	Italy	1.18
32	Poland	1.14
33	Lithuania	1.11
34	Spain	1.10
35	Malta	1.01
36	Ukraine	0.99
--	Replacement Rate	2.1

Lower fertility in countries like Spain and Poland reflects a mix of economic pressures, including lower wages and the rising cost of raising children, alongside broader trends seen across developed economies.

Aging populations are already reshaping national priorities. As Poland seeks to build a larger military, its shrinking population presents a strategic vulnerability.

Europe’s Fertility Woes

This trend extends across the continent. Europe’s largest economies, including Germany (1.36), the UK (1.41), France (1.61), and Italy (1.18), all remain well below replacement levels.

Even countries with relatively higher fertility rates, such as Bulgaria (1.72) and Montenegro (1.75), are not producing enough births to stabilize their populations.

One response has been increased immigration. In Germany, migration policy in the mid-2010s was shaped partly by the need to support the country’s labor system. However, this approach has also fueled political backlash and the rise of anti-immigration parties.

Family Incentives As A Solution?

Some countries are attempting to boost birth rates through financial incentives. France, Hungary, and Poland have introduced tax credits, subsidies, and other programs aimed at encouraging larger families.

Hungary, for example, has spent over a decade expanding benefits for young couples, with the goal of reaching the 2.1 replacement rate by 2030.

So far, the results have been limited. Hungary’s fertility rate of 1.41 is similar to countries like the UK and Portugal, suggesting that financial incentives alone may not reverse the broader trend.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out the Which European Nations Have the Best Fertility Treatment Policies? on Voronoi.

2026-04-30 22:36:17

Ranked: Homeownership Rates Across Major U.S. Occupations

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.

Does earning more money actually make it easier to own a home?

Across U.S. occupations, the answer isn’t as straightforward as it seems. While high-income roles like management and STEM lead in pay, their homeownership rates are often matched by mid-income professions such as education and social services.

Using data from the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Census Bureau, this graphic ranks homeownership rates by occupation in 2024, revealing how factors beyond salary—like job stability and geographic distribution—shape who owns a home.

A clear pattern emerges: once incomes pass a moderate threshold, homeownership rates begin to level out across very different occupations.

Which Jobs Have High Homeownership Rates?

Management and business roles stand at 72%, reflecting both higher incomes and stability. But just below them, a surprising group of professions clusters tightly together.

STEM professionals and education workers have nearly identical homeownership rates (both 67%)—despite a massive gap in pay. In fact, STEM workers earn over $100K on average, while education workers make roughly $65K.

Here’s how homeownership varies across major occupations:

Why do lower-paid professions keep pace? Occupations like education, healthcare, and public services often offer more stable employment, predictable income, and access to benefits—factors that can make long-term financial planning, including homeownership, more achievable.

Healthcare and skilled trades (both 62%) show relatively strong ownership, reinforcing the role of stable, in-demand work. Sales and real estate workers (63%) also sit in this middle band, reinforcing how a wide range of incomes converge at similar ownership levels.

At the lower end, transportation and public safety workers (58%) and service occupations (46%) lag behind, highlighting barriers faced by lower-income and less stable roles in accessing housing.

The biggest takeaway: beyond a certain income level, what you earn matters less than how stable and predictable that income is. That helps explain why professions with very different salaries end up with nearly identical homeownership rates.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

For more, explore this graphic on the average salaries by state in 2025.

2026-04-30 19:52:34

Mapped: The Top Export in Every U.S. State (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.

America’s $2.1 trillion export economy isn’t powered by a single industry—it’s a patchwork of 50 specialized engines.

This map shows the top international goods export for every U.S. state, based on data from the U.S. International Trade Administration. From aircraft in Washington to oil and gas in Texas, each state specializes in a different piece of the global economy.

Notably, over half of U.S. states are tied to strategic sectors like aerospace, semiconductors, and energy—industries increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions and supply chain shifts.

The Industries Driving U.S. Exports by State

Aircraft is the most widespread top export, leading in 13 states across the country.

Aerospace and defense is the only U.S. manufacturing sector with a net trade surplus, fueling almost $1 trillion in economic activity annually. In states like Washington and Florida, it ranks as the largest export category overall.

Below is a state-by-state breakdown of the top export category in 2025, based on NAICS-4 classifications:

Semiconductors and Tech Anchor the West

Semiconductors dominate exports across parts of the West, including New Mexico and Oregon—highlighting the growing importance of domestic chip manufacturing. Semiconductors made up 46% of New Mexico’s exports, totaling $7 billion in 2025. In Oregon, they were valued at more than $9 billion.

In California and Arizona, IT hardware and computer equipment are leading exports, reinforcing the region’s central role in global tech supply chains.

These states are increasingly critical to U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on foreign chip production, especially amid rising competition with China.

Biotech and Pharmaceuticals Power the Northeast and Midwest

Pharmaceuticals are the top export in six states, driven by dense R&D ecosystems in the Northeast and Midwest.

Massachusetts alone hosts more than 1,000 life sciences companies, making it a global hub for drug development and production. Indiana, meanwhile, is home to Eli Lilly’s global headquarters, with over 13,000 employees in Indianapolis alone.

This concentration of talent, capital, and research institutions continues to fuel high-value medical exports across the region.

America’s Energy Export Powerhouse in the South

The U.S. energy export boom is concentrated in the South, where a tightly integrated network of production, processing, and shipping powers global supply.

Texas anchors the system with $137 billion in oil and gas exports, while Louisiana’s ports and natural gas output connect U.S. energy to global markets. Neighboring Mississippi plays a key role in refining, turning raw inputs into export-ready fuels.

As global energy markets tighten, this regional dominance is becoming more important. In April, U.S. crude and petroleum exports surged to a record 12.9 million barrels per day, driven by conflict in the Middle East.

Why This Matters

From aerospace hubs to semiconductor corridors and energy strongholds, America’s export economy is deeply regional—and increasingly strategic.

As global trade becomes more fragmented and geopolitics reshape supply chains, the industries dominating each state today could play an outsized role in shaping the country’s economic resilience looking ahead.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the share of U.S. exports by state in 2025.

2026-04-30 12:49:10

Mapped: Where Young Adults Use Social Media Most in Europe

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.

Social media use among young adults (aged 16–29) in Europe is nearing saturation, with many countries approaching universal adoption.

But two of Europe’s largest economies stand apart.

Data from Eurostat and Ofcom shows a clear gap. While countries in Northern Europe and the Balkans lead, major economies like Germany (84.2%) and Italy (80.3%) lag behind their peers.

Nearly Universal Adoption With Two Exceptions

In countries like Denmark or Czechia, social media use is close to universal among young adults.

Germany and Italy break from this pattern, highlighting how cultural and structural factors continue to shape digital behavior.

Below is the full ranking of 34 European countries by social media use among young adults:

Rank	Country	Use of Social Networks in 2025 among young adults
1	Cyprus	98.3
2	North Macedonia	97.7
3	Czechia	97.2
4	Serbia	97.2
5	UK	97.0
6	Denmark	96.9
7	Finland	96.6
8	Austria	96.1
9	Montenegro	96.1
10	Switzerland	95.8
11	Norway	95.7
12	Ireland	94.4
13	Netherlands	94.2
14	France	93.9
15	Latvia	93.8
16	Turkey	93.4
17	Romania	92.1
18	Malta	91.9
19	Spain	91.6
20	Portugal	91.6
21	Estonia	91.4
22	Hungary	91.1
23	Slovenia	91.0
24	Croatia	90.7
25	Greece	90.6
26	Poland	90.5
27	Lithuania	89.8
28	Bulgaria	89.4
29	Slovakia	88.7
30	Sweden	88.4
31	Belgium	88.3
32	Luxembourg	84.8
33	Germany	84.2
34	Italy	80.3
--	Average	92.4

Cyprus and North Macedonia have the highest rates of young-adult social media use in Europe, followed closely by Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Serbia, and the United Kingdom.

In these countries, social media functions as essential infrastructure, used for everything from coordinating study groups to maintaining social circles. Being offline can make young people effectively invisible in networks that increasingly operate online.

Germany and Italy: The Exceptions

While social media use exceeds 90% across much of Europe, Germany and Italy stand apart.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has 84.2% of young adults on social media, well below many of its neighbors. Italy is lower still at 80.3%, meaning one in five young adults are not on any social platform, the highest share on the continent.

In Germany, stricter privacy norms shaped by GDPR have contributed to a more cautious approach to online presence. Policymakers are even considering restrictions on youth access, with leaders citing the dangers of online socialization.

In Italy, lower usage may reflect a stronger role for offline social life. Everyday interactions, from evening strolls to time spent in cafes, continue to provide alternatives to digital connection.

Migration’s Relationship With Social Media

High social media use in the Balkans is partly linked to emigration.

Roughly a quarter of Western Balkan citizens, for example, move abroad in search of higher wages and better job opportunities. For families split across different countries or even different continents, social media plays a key role in maintaining communication.

Diaspora has helped social media usage overcome the digital skepticism seen in countries like Germany or Italy.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out the We’re Spending More Time Watching Videos on Social Media on Voronoi.

2026-04-30 01:47:57

America Now Spends More on Interest Than Defense

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.

For the first time since the late 1920s, the U.S. is spending more on interest payments than on national defense.

That shift marks a turning point in federal priorities. As debt levels climb and borrowing costs rise, interest payments are taking up a growing share of the budget—projected to hit $2.1 trillion by 2036, far outpacing defense spending.

This chart compares annual U.S. net interest payments and defense outlays from 1996 to 2036, based on data from the White House and projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) as of February 2026.

U.S. Interest vs. Defense Spending (1996–2036P)

In 2024, U.S. interest payments reached $879.9 billion, surpassing defense spending of $850.7 billion.

Projections through 2036 show interest payments continuing to pull ahead, even as defense spending rises.

The table below shows how annual U.S. net interest payments and defense spending changed from 1996 to 2025, along with projections from 2026 to 2036:

How Interest Overtook Defense Spending

Between 1996 and 2001, U.S. defense spending averaged about 30% higher than net interest costs, as falling interest rates and budget surpluses kept debt servicing relatively low.

That gap widened sharply after 9/11. Military spending doubled over the following decade, reaching $699 billion in 2011, while interest costs rose more slowly to $230 billion.

During the low-interest-rate era of the 2010s, borrowing costs stayed low even as federal debt nearly doubled—from $9.0 trillion in 2010 to $16.8 trillion in 2019—masking the long-term cost of that debt.

After COVID-19, that dynamic reversed. A surge in borrowing combined with higher interest rates pushed debt servicing costs sharply higher, with net interest outlays nearly tripling to $970 billion by 2025.

At a projected $1.0 trillion in 2026, America’s net interest bill is set to become the fastest-growing major budget item.

By 2036, net interest outlays will more than double to $2.1 trillion, while defense spending is projected to reach $1.1 trillion.

If current projections hold, the U.S. will spend far more on servicing its debt than on national defense within a decade, raising questions about how future budgets will balance economic stability, security, and growth.

Why This Shift Matters

This crossover isn’t just symbolic. It marks a fundamental shift in how the U.S. allocates its resources—toward servicing past borrowing rather than funding current priorities.

As interest costs rise, a growing share of federal spending is effectively locked in, reducing flexibility for areas like defense, infrastructure, and research. Over time, this can crowd out new investments and make it harder for policymakers to respond to economic downturns or emerging challenges.

In other words, higher interest payments don’t just reflect rising debt—they actively shape what the government can afford to do next.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about which NATO countries dominate defense spending, check out this graphic, which visualizes NATO countries by their estimated defense spending.

2026-04-29 23:33:00

Published

2 days ago

on

April 29, 2026

By

Cody Good

Graphics & Design

• Athul Alexander

• Abha Patil

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The following content is sponsored by BullionVault

3 Costs Impacting Gold Returns

Key Takeaways

• Price premiums, including spreads and trading fees, directly impact how much value investors retain when buying and selling gold.
• Where gold investments are stored plays a critical role in shaping the cost, security, and overall value.
• Ongoing management fees, particularly in financial products, can reduce returns over time, giving physical gold a potential cost advantage as investments grow.

Commodity price spikes historically capture mass attention, but few have drawn as many eyes as gold. The metal has been on a record-setting bull run, making it a persistent topic of interest since at least 2023.

The historic, multi-year price rally raises an important consideration: how investors choose to access gold can significantly impact their returns. There are several different paths to gold investment, each with its own costs and benefits that shape overall performance.

This graphic, in partnership with BullionVault, shows the key cost factors that impact gold returns.

How to Invest in Gold

Every gold investment starts as a 400-troy-ounce wholesale bar. From this foundation, investors have three options, each with a distinct cost structure that can affect returns over time. They are:

1. Retail products, like coins and small bars
2. Financial products, such as ETFs
3. Wholesale bullion, often stored in professional vaults

Retail and wholesale investments allow for physical ownership of gold with the decision-making power over where and how the gold is held. In contrast, ETFs offer investors shares in a trust to gain easy access and exposure to the price of gold.

Across all methods, three key factors shape returns: price premiums, storage and insurance costs, and ongoing management fees.

The Hidden Premiums of Gold Investment

Every gold investment includes a premium, regardless of the path taken. This premium comes from two factors: the price spread and trading costs.

The price spread indicates the percentage gap between gold’s buy and sell price. It captures real-world costs like minting, shipping and delivery, and dealer markups.

Trading costs are the commissions and trading platform access fees, as a percentage of trade value. Together, these premiums determine how much value investors retain when entering or exiting a position.

Here is a table that shows how spreads and trading fees compare across different gold investment methods, using a baseline $10K investment.

Form	Cost
Coins	$800
Bars	$500
BullionVault	$115
ETF	$50
Investment Value	$10,000

Source: Daily Gold Price; ETF.com; BullionVault.

Minimizing these combined costs can help investors retain more capital when seeking gold exposure.

Gold Storage and Ownership Trade-offs

Where gold is kept directly affects the cost, security, and value of the investment. Storage options include homes with or without a safe, bank deposit boxes, and professional vaults.

This table shows what first-year storage costs can look like across methods using a $10K baseline:

Storage Option	Cost
Basic home safe	$1,985
Safety deposit box	$1,125
BullionVault	$48
ETF	$32
Investment Value	$10,000

Source: London Gold Exchange & BullionVault.

While home storage offers full control, it often requires additional spending on a safe and insurance. Bank deposit boxes may limit access and exclude insurance coverage.

Meanwhile, ETFs remove storage concerns but also eliminate ownership benefits, while charging expense ratios to cover the operating and management fees of the fund. In contrast, professional vaults can offer lower costs and stronger security through institutional-scale infrastructure.

Platforms like BullionVault, provide access to these vaults, passing on lower costs and economies of scale to individual investors.

Long-Term Cost Efficiency for Gold Investment

Across most metrics, ETFs often appear cheaper at the start, but their cost advantage can change as investments frow. Ongoing fees, though small, can compound and reduce returns over time.

The table below compares the weighted average monthly cost of ETF ownership with BullionVault’s monthly costs.

Investment Value	BV Storage Fee /Month	US Weighted Avg ETF (0.32%)
1000	4.00	0.27
5000	4.00	1.33
10000	4.00	2.67
15000	4.00	4.00
20000	4.00	5.33
25000	4.00	6.67
30000	4.00	8.00
35000	4.00	9.33
40000	4.00	10.67
45000	4.50	12.00
50000	5.00	13.33
55000	5.50	14.67
60000	6.00	16.00
65000	6.50	17.33
70000	7.00	18.67
75000	7.50	20.00
80000	8.00	21.33
85000	8.50	22.67
90000	9.00	24.00
95000	9.50	25.33
100000	10.00	26.67
Fee as a % of investment value	0.01% ($4 minimum)	0.32%

Source: BullionVault. *Average weighting based on each ETF’s gold holdings.

Based on this structure, once an investment exceeds $15K worth of gold, BullionVault can become more cost-efficient than the average U.S. ETF.

Ultimately, investors that reduce trading, storage, and management fees can retain more of gold’s value. BullionVault offers an easier way to buy, store and sell physical gold at wholesale prices, with access to five professional-market vaults worldwide.

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