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Ranked: The Best Countries at Creative Thinking

2026-02-16 02:12:21

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Ranked: The Best Countries at Creative Thinking

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Key Takeaways

Singapore ranks first globally in creative thinking, the only country to score over 40 on the OECD’s most recently released assessment of students.
Countries with strong education systems tend to cluster around the OECD mean score of 33.

Creativity is increasingly seen as a core skill for the modern economy. As automation and AI reshape jobs, the ability to generate original ideas and solve unfamiliar problems is becoming just as important as technical knowledge.

This infographic ranks countries by how well students perform in creative thinking.

The data for this visualization comes from the OECD’s PISA 2022 Creative Thinking assessment. This evaluation measures how effectively students aged 15 and 16 generate original ideas, evaluate them, and refine solutions to real-world problems, with top performers scoring above 40 points.

Singapore Leads by a Clear Margin

Singapore ranks first overall with a mean creative thinking score of 41, making it the only country to cross the 40-point threshold. This result mirrors its strong performance in other PISA domains such as math and science.

The country’s curriculum emphasizes problem-based learning and interdisciplinary thinking, which may help explain its lead, despite perceptions that Singaporeans lack creativity.

Rank	Country	Score
1	Singapore	41
2	South Korea	38
3	Canada	38
4	Australia	37
5	New Zealand	36
6	Estonia	36
7	Finland	36
8	Denmark	35
9	Latvia	35
10	Belgium	35
11	Poland	34
12	Portugal	34
13	Taiwan	33
14	Lithuania	33
15	Spain	33
16	Czechia	33
17	Germany	33
	OECD average	33
18	Macao	32
19	Hong Kong	32
20	France	32
21	Netherlands	32
22	Israel	32
23	Italy	31
24	Malta	31
25	Hungary	31
26	Chile	31
27	Croatia	30
28	Iceland	30
29	Slovenia	30
30	Greece	27

Strong Performance Across Smaller Advanced Economies

A group of advanced economies cluster just below the top spot. Korea and Canada share second place with scores of 38, followed closely by Australia and New Zealand.

Several European countries, including Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Latvia, also perform above the OECD average.

Most Countries Sit Near the OECD Average

The OECD average score for creative thinking is 33, and many countries fall close to this level. Germany, Spain, Taiwan, and Czechia all score exactly at the average. Toward the bottom, Greece records the lowest score at 27, suggesting larger gaps in creative skill development.

Notably, the United States did not participate in the PISA 2022 creative thinking assessment.

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If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: The Best Countries at Math on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Ranked: Nuclear Weapon Stockpiles by Country

2026-02-15 23:45:17

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Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons Ready for Use?

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Key Takeaways

The global nuclear warhead stockpile stands at 9,614, representing the share of nuclear weapon inventory that is assigned to operational forces.
Since 2020, China has increased its stockpiles from 350 to 600 in 2025, and by 2030 the country is projected to have 1,000 nuclear weapons.

In February, the expiration of the U.S.–Russia nuclear treaty removed limits on nuclear arsenals for the first time in over 50 years.

While Russia said that it agrees to uphold the limits of the last New START pact if Washington abides, the U.S. says that a new treaty should include China. Beijing, meanwhile, has rejected calls to enter new talks.

This graphic shows nuclear warhead stockpiles by country, based on data from the Federation of American Scientists.

Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons in 2026?

Below, we show the nuclear warhead stockpiles of countries, which are a subset of total inventories that are assigned to military forces.

Country	Nuclear Warhead Stockpile	Nuclear Warhead Inventory	Change in Stockpile 2020-2025
Russia	4,309	5,459	0.0%
U.S.	3,700	5,117	-1.3%
China	600	600	71.4%
France	290	290	0.0%
UK	225	225	0.0%
India	180	180	20.0%
Pakistan	170	170	6.3%
Israel	90	90	0.0%
North Korea	50	50	233.3%

Together, the U.S. and Russia hold 83% of stockpiled nuclear warheads and roughly 86% of total global inventory.

Over the past five years, America’s stockpile has declined by 1.3%, while Russia’s has remained effectively flat. However, Russia could possibly be expanding its arsenal, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

China ranks third globally, seeing among the fastest-rise in nuclear stockpiles globally. Since 2020, these warheads have increased from 350 to 600, with the country displaying nuclear missiles during a 2024 parade. By some estimates, China is expected to have 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030.

India, meanwhile, ranks sixth globally with 180 warheads. The country’s stockpile has expanded by 20% over the past five years. Pakistan has also grown its stockpile, although to a smaller extent.

Most notably, the current expansion of nuclear arsenals is reversing a 40-year trend of reduction. This shift marks a departure from the relatively stable U.S.-Russia duopoly of the Cold War, potentially ushering in a more intricate and multipolar nuclear era.

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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the science of nuclear weapons.

Mapped: The Best and Worst U.S. States for Air Quality

2026-02-15 21:06:48

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Mapped: The Best and Worst U.S. States for Air Quality

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Key Takeaways

Wyoming has the cleanest air in the U.S., with average particle pollution of just 4 µg/m³.
California ranks worst, at 11.7 µg/m³, partly due to frequent wildfires.
Nearly half of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels.

Wyoming’s air contains less than half the particle pollution found in California.

Across the country, fine particle pollution levels range from just over 4 µg/m³ to nearly 12 µg/m³, a gap shaped by wildfire exposure, population density, and industrial activity.

This map ranks all 50 states by average particle pollution, based on EPA data from the America’s Health Rankings 2025 report.

A Breakdown of States Ranked by Air Quality

For the analysis, states were analyzed using 2022 to 2024 average fine particle pollution (µg/m³).

The U.S. average stood at 8.8 µg/m³, exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guideline of 5 µg/m³. That means the average American is breathing air that falls short of global health standards.

Below, we rank states from best to worst by air pollution levels. Where does your state rank?

Rank	State	Fine particle pollution (µg/m³)
1	Wyoming	4.1
2	Hawaii	4.7
3	New Hampshire	5.0
4	South Dakota	5.7
5	Alaska	5.9
6	Maine	5.9
7	New Mexico	5.9
8	Colorado	6.0
9	Vermont	6.0
10	Montana	6.5
11	Nebraska	6.6
12	Rhode Island	6.7
13	Virginia	7.2
14	Maryland	7.4
15	Utah	7.5
16	Florida	7.6
17	Idaho	7.6
18	Missouri	7.6
19	Alabama	7.7
20	Massachusetts	7.7
21	Washington	7.7
22	West Virginia	7.7
23	New York	7.8
24	Tennessee	7.8
25	North Carolina	7.9
26	New Jersey	7.9
27	Connecticut	8.1
28	Kentucky	8.1
29	Oregon	8.2
30	Mississippi	8.3
31	North Dakota	8.3
32	Iowa	8.4
33	Louisiana	8.4
34	Minnesota	8.4
35	Nevada	8.4
36	South Carolina	8.4
37	Arkansas	8.5
38	Oklahoma	8.5
39	Wisconsin	8.6
40	Arizona	8.7
41	Kansas	8.7
42	Georgia	9.2
43	Texas	9.4
44	Indiana	9.5
45	Delaware	9.7
46	Ohio	9.8
47	Illinois	10.3
48	Michigan	10.4
49	Pennsylvania	11.0
50	California	11.7
--	U.S. Average	8.8

Wyoming has the best air quality in the U.S., known for its vast stretches of land and the nation’s smallest population.

Adding to this, Wyoming’s city of Casper has the lowest year-round particle pollution across U.S. metros. Cheyenne, meanwhile, ranked eighth overall.

Hawaii ranks second by particle pollution, at 4.7 µg/m³. The state’s low population density, along with strong winds and rainfall, plays a key role in its air quality. While rain helps to clear away pollutants, trade winds bring in fresh air and mitigate the accumulation of air pollutants.

Overall, just three states—Wyoming, Hawaii, and New Hampshire—have air quality that falls within WHO’s guidelines.

In contrast, California has average particle pollution of 11.7 µg/m³, the worst nationwide. Moreover, 88% of Californians live in areas with unhealthy air quality. Several factors drive up pollution in the state including tailpipe emissions, high population density, and its hot climate.

States at the bottom of the rankings tend to combine large populations, dense transportation networks, and significant industrial activity. Trailing California at the bottom of the rankings are Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s most air-polluted cities.

Mapped: Lightning Strike Hotspots Around the World

2026-02-15 04:37:51

Mapped: Lightning Strike Hotspots Around the World

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela records the highest lightning flash rate density on Earth.
About 70% of lightning occurs on land in the Tropics, where the majority of thunderstorms occur.
NASA’s data excludes much of Europe and higher latitudes due to satellite coverage limits.

Lightning is a global phenomenon, but it does not strike evenly across the planet. Some regions experience lightning activity at rates that are dozens of times higher than the global average, driven by geography, climate, and atmospheric conditions.

The visualization above, created by Julie Peasley, maps the top lightning hotspots on each continent using data from NASA’s Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS). It highlights where lightning strikes most frequently based on flash rate density, measured as the number of flashes per square kilometer per year.

Here is the data showing the leading lightning hotspots by region, based on NASA LIS measurements:

Continent	Location	Flash Rate Density
North America	Patulul, Guatemala	117
	Catarina, Guatemala	103
	San Luis, Cuba	101
South America	Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela	233
	Cáceres, Colombia	172
	El Tarra, Colombia	139
Africa	Kabare, DRC	205
	Kampene, DRC	177
	Sake, DRC	143
Asia	Daggar, Pakistan	143
	Rajauri, India	121
	Doaba, Pakistan	119
Oceania	Derby, Australia	92
	Kununurra, Australia	87
	Derby, Australia	65

Across continents, the pattern is clear. Northern South America and central Africa dominate the rankings, with flash rates that far exceed those seen elsewhere. Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela stands out as the most lightning-prone location on Earth, earning its reputation as the planet’s lightning capital.

Why Do These Lightning Hotspots Exist?

Lightning hotspots tend to form where warm, moist air rises consistently and collides with cooler air aloft. In places like Lake Maracaibo, surrounding mountains help trap heat and moisture, creating ideal conditions for frequent and intense thunderstorms.

Similar dynamics occur in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and northern India, where strong solar heating and seasonal weather patterns fuel powerful convective storms. These regions see lightning activity on a near-daily basis during peak seasons.

How NASA Measures Lightning From Space

The Lightning Imaging Sensor detects lightning flashes by capturing brief bursts of light from storms as viewed from orbit. According to NASA, LIS data has helped scientists identify global lightning patterns and confirm new lightning capitals in recent years, including findings from instruments aboard the International Space Station.

However, the data comes with geographic limits. LIS primarily tracks lightning between 38° north and south latitude, meaning much of Europe and other higher-latitude regions are not included. As a result, the map reflects where lightning is most intense within the satellite’s coverage zone, not globally without restriction.

Mapped: Every Continent Ranked by Number of Countries

2026-02-15 01:11:23

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Every Continent Ranked by Number of Countries

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

Africa has the most countries of any continent, with 54 recognized nations.
South America has the fewest, with just 12.
In total, 195 countries (including two UN observer states) are distributed across seven continents.

The world’s 195 recognized countries are divided across seven continents, but the distribution is far from equal.

Africa leads with 54 countries, more than any other continent. South America has the fewest, at just 12. Meanwhile, Europe and Asia are counted separately despite sharing the same landmass, a division rooted in history and geopolitics rather than geography alone.

This map ranks every continent by number of countries, using data from World Population Review.

Note: Russia is categorized within Asia, as most of its land area lies there.

Breaking Down Countries by Continent

Below, we show how the 193 UN member states plus the UN observer states of Vatican City and Palestine are distributed across the world’s seven continents.

Rank	Continent	Number of Countries
1	Africa	54
2	Asia	49
3	Europe	43
4	North America	23
5	Oceania	14
6	South America	12
7	Antarctica	0
	Total	195

Africa accounts for 54 countries, the highest total of any continent. It spans roughly one-fifth of the world’s land area, with Algeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo among the largest by size. At the other end of the spectrum are island nations like Seychelles and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Asia ranks second with 49 countries. It is the most populous continent by far, home to roughly 60% of the global population. In terms of land area, Russia, China, and India are the largest, while nations like the Maldives and Singapore cover less than 300 square miles.

Europe is home to 43 countries, including 27 European Union members. Ukraine is the largest by land area, followed by France.

North America includes the Caribbean, Central America, and the Arctic region. Its 23 countries include Greenland, which sits on the North American tectonic plate.

At the bottom of the ranking are Oceania and South America, with 14 and 12 countries respectively.

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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s most powerful rivers.

How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market?

2026-02-14 23:51:00

Published

1 day ago

February 14, 2026

Julia Wendling

Graphics & Design

Athul Alexander

Line and bar chart showing interest rates versus real estate investment trust (REIT) performance over the last decade.

How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market?

Key Takeaways

Real estate performance has historically strengthened during periods of falling interest rates.
Lower rates reduce financing costs and improve real estate valuations, supporting returns.
With rate cuts expected into mid 2026, real estate could benefit from a renewed tailwind.

Interest rates play a central role in real estate returns. When borrowing costs fall, real estate investment trusts (REITs) often see improved performance as financing becomes cheaper and income-producing assets become more attractive relative to fixed income.

This visualization, created in partnership with Inigo, provides visual context to the relationship between REIT performance and interest rates.

The Historical Trend

Since 2016, periods of easing or stable rates have generally coincided with rising REIT values. When rates declined sharply in 2020, REIT performance rebounded quickly following the initial shock, and gains accelerated again during the low-rate environment of 2021.

Year	Average Federal Funds Effective Rate (%)	All REITs (index)
2016-01-01	0.34	100.00
2017-01-01	0.65	112.78
2018-01-01	1.41	118.75
2019-01-01	2.40	131.01
2020-01-01	1.55	152.97
2021-01-01	0.09	143.22
2022-01-01	0.08	186.45
2023-01-01	4.33	167.30
2024-01-01	5.33	161.03
2025-01-01	4.33	179.40
2025-07-01	4.33	178.81

Even as the economy navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, REIT performance rose by 21 percent between the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2022, when the Fed began raising rates after pandemic-era cuts.

Why the Next Rate Cuts Matter

After a rapid tightening cycle between 2022 and 2023, elevated rates weighed on real estate valuations. However, recent data shows REIT performance improving as expectations shift toward easing monetary policy.

With the Federal Reserve expected to continue cutting rates into mid 2026, reaching a median outlook of 3.25 to 3.50 percent by year end, borrowing conditions could become more supportive. For investors, this environment has historically provided a meaningful boost to real estate returns, reinforcing the close relationship between interest rates and REIT performance.