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2025-12-21 03:52:46

Charted: The Christmas Tree Market in the U.S.

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Each December, millions of Americans venture out to find the perfect Christmas tree, and for a large portion of them, nothing beats a real evergreen. Despite rising demand for artificial trees, the real Christmas tree market in the U.S. remains vibrant, with 21.6 million trees sold in 2023 alone, according to data compiled by USDA’s Ag Census and industry groups.

This visualization by Made Visual Daily breaks down the U.S. market by tree breed and regional production, using datasourced from the USDA and the National Christmas Tree Association.

The Fraser Fir leads all other varieties, accounting for 35% of the market thanks to its excellent needle retention and sturdy branches—ideal for holding ornaments. The Douglas Fir and Noble Fir follow with 27% and 17% market share respectively.

On the production side, Oregon supplies nearly a third of all U.S. trees, followed by North Carolina, Michigan, and Washington.

Real vs. Artificial: A Shifting Holiday Tradition

While over 21 million real trees were sold in 2023, that’s down significantly from past decades. In the 1990s, Americans were buying upwards of 35 million real trees annually. Today, many households are opting for reusable artificial trees due to convenience, cost, or concerns over sustainability.

Despite the slow decline, there are an estimated 350 million Christmas trees currently growing on U.S. farms.

Imports and Supply Chain Realities

Even with robust domestic production, the U.S. often turns to Canada to make up for supply gaps—especially in years when droughts or wildfires affect yields in Oregon or North Carolina. Canadian tree farms, particularly in Quebec and Nova Scotia, are key players in the North American market.

While prices have risen slightly due to inflation and logistical challenges, supply has remained stable. Tree shortages feared during the pandemic have largely abated, though growers continue to manage tighter inventories to avoid oversupply.

Where Your Decorations Come From

Christmas trees are just one part of a complex global supply chain behind the holidays. From lights to ornaments, much of what decorates American homes is produced overseas. For more on this, see our article: Where Do Your Christmas Decorations Come From?

2025-12-21 02:18:32

The Top 20 Countries with the Most Internet Users

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In 2025, 74% of the world’s population, or about 6 billion people, is online, up from 71% (5.8 billion) a year earlier.

While internet use continues to grow, more than a quarter of the global population remains offline. Access also varies sharply by income level, with 94% of people in high-income countries using the internet compared with just 23% in low-income countries.

This visualization ranks the top 20 countries by total number of internet users, highlighting how sheer population scale often outweighs connectivity rates. The data for this visualization comes from Datareportal.

China and India Dominate by Scale

China ranks first with roughly 1.30 billion internet users, representing more than 90% of its population. India follows with just over 1.03 billion users, despite a much lower internet penetration rate of 70%.

Together, these two countries account for more internet users than the rest of the top 20 combined.

Rank	Country	Internet users
1	China	1,296,394,000
2	India	1,026,954,000
3	U.S.	323,888,000
4	Indonesia	230,448,000
5	Brazil	184,997,000
6	Russian federation	135,676,000
7	Pakistan	116,839,000
8	Mexico	110,345,000
9	Nigeria	108,700,000
10	Japan	106,933,000
11	Egypt	98,211,000
12	Philippines	98,025,000
13	Vietnam	85,621,000
14	Bangladesh	82,806,000
15	Germany	78,454,000
16	Turkey	77,466,000
17	Iran	73,751,000
18	United kingdom	68,090,000
19	Thailand	67,826,000
20	France	63,449,000

Emerging Markets

Beyond the top two, the rankings show how large emerging markets, including Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Nigeria, now rival or surpass many advanced economies in total internet users, underscoring a continued shift in the center of global online activity toward the Global South.

Despite rapid global growth, Africa remains underrepresented among the world’s largest online populations. Nigeria is the only African country in the top 10, and just two African nations appear in the top 20, reflecting lower internet penetration rates and persistent gaps in infrastructure, affordability, and access across much of the continent.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Data Centers on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2025-12-20 23:22:03

Mapped: The World’s Longest Animal Migrations

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The world’s great migrations are among nature’s most astonishing phenomena. Every year, millions of animals embark on journeys that span oceans, continents, and even hemispheres.

This visualization maps some of the longest known migration routes on Earth. From the Arctic Tern’s pole-to-pole flight to the epic oceanic travels of whales and turtles, these journeys connect ecosystems across the globe and shape entire food webs.

The data for this visualization comes from multiple sources, including Current Biology, NOAA, and National Geographic.

1. The Arctic Tern: The Ultimate Global Traveler

The Arctic Tern is the undisputed migration champion. Traveling between 31,000 and 59,000 miles (50,000–96,000 km) each year, the Arctic Tern experiences two summers. Scientists have tracked these terns following continuous daylight, timing their flights to chase the sun’s warmth and maximize feeding opportunities. Over its lifetime (up to 34 years), an Arctic Tern can fly the equivalent of three round trips to the Moon.

Animal	Return Trip (km)	Distance (miles)	Example of Route
Arctic tern	50,000	31,070	Arctic breeding grounds → Antarctic pack-ice zone and back
Bar-tailed godwit	30,000	18,640	Pacific circuit: Alaska → New Zealand → China → Alaska
Northern wheatear	30,000	18,640	Alaska → East Africa
Gray whale	20,000	12,430	Sakhalin (Russia) → Mexico
Humpback whale	20,000	12,430	Samoa → Antarctic waters
Leatherback turtle	20,000	12,430	Pacific or Atlantic transoceanic routes (e.g., W. Pacific → California Current)
Bluefin tuna	20,000	12,430	Mediterranean spawning areas → North American feeding grounds
Globe skimmer dragonfly	15,000	9,320	India East Africa across the Indian Ocean (Multigenerational)
Monarch butterfly	9,000	5,590	Eastern North America → Mexico and back (Multigenerational)
Caribou	1,000	620	Annual forest tundra migration
Zebra	500	310	Botswana river valley → Namibia grazing areas

2. Ocean Voyagers: Whales

Marine mammals such as Gray and Humpback Whales migrate thousands of miles between icy feeding grounds and tropical breeding lagoons.

Gray Whales travel up to 12,000 miles (20,000 km) annually between the Bering Sea and Baja California, while some Humpback populations cover comparable round-trip distances between tropical breeding grounds and Antarctic feeding areas. Their migrations are finely tuned to ocean productivity and temperature, making them key indicators of marine ecosystem health.

3. Feathered and Winged Flyers: Birds and Insects in Motion

Beyond the terns, species like the Bar-tailed Godwit and Northern Wheatear make record-breaking non-stop flights, crossing entire oceans without stopping to feed.

Many bird species achieve extraordinary nonstop ocean crossings by accumulating substantial fat reserves for fuel and employing energy-efficient flight techniques like dynamic soaring.

In addition, other physiological adaptations—such as the ability to temporarily reduce the size of internal organs to lighten their load—help enable these long-distance journeys. Some bird species have also been observed entering brief periods of reduced brain activity while in flight, though the role this plays in nonstop migration is still being studied.

Even smaller creatures like the Globe Skimmer Dragonfly traverse up to 11,000 miles between India and Africa.

4. Land Migrations

On land, animals like Caribou and Wildebeest follow ancient migration paths dictated by seasonal changes.

Some caribou herds can migrate over 1,000–2,500 miles (1,600–4,000 km) annually, among the longest terrestrial migrations on Earth, while the Serengeti’s Wildebeest migration—a circular movement of almost a thousand miles—is among the most visually dramatic wildlife events on Earth.

Similarly, Zebras migrate roughly 310 miles each year, traveling from Botswana’s river valleys to grazing areas across the border in Namibia.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Countries With the Largest Forests in 2025 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2025-12-20 21:03:54

Ranked: The Best Countries at Math

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.

Math skills are a foundational input into modern economies. They support innovation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness. As technology and data-driven work become more central, countries with stronger math outcomes often gain an edge.

This infographic ranks countries by their average math scores among 15–16 year-olds. The data for this visualization comes from the OECD’s PISA 2022 assessment. PISA measures how well students can apply math knowledge to practical problems, offering a global comparison of education systems.

Scores typically range from below 400 to above 600. Top performers in this dataset score well above the OECD average of 472.

East Asia Sets the Global Benchmark

Singapore ranks first with an average math score of 575.

Macau (SAR), Taiwan, Hong Kong (SAR), Japan, and South Korea also appear near the top of the ranking. These economies have consistently prioritized math education through rigorous programs and high academic expectations.

Rank	Country	Average PISA Score
1	Singapore	575
2	Macau	552
3	Taiwan	547
4	Hong Kong	540
5	Japan	536
6	South Korea	527
7	Estonia	510
8	Switzerland	508
9	Canada	497
10	Netherlands	493
11	Ireland	492
12	Belgium	489
13	Denmark	489
14	United Kingdom	489
15	Poland	489
16	Australia	487
17	Austria	487
18	Czech Republic	487
19	Slovenia	485
20	Finland	484
21	Latvia	483
22	Sweden	482
23	New Zealand	479
24	Germany	475
25	Lithuania	475
26	France	474
27	Spain	473
28	Hungary	473
29	Portugal	472
	OECD average	472
30	Italy	471
31	Norway	468
32	Malta	466
33	U.S.	465
34	Slovakia	464
35	Croatia	463

Europe’s Strong, Steady Performers

Several European countries cluster just above or around the 500 mark. Estonia leads the region, followed closely by Switzerland and the Netherlands. Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, and Poland also post solid results.

How North America Compares

Canada ranks ninth overall with a score of 497, standing out as one of the strongest performers outside East Asia and Europe. The United States ranks lower at 465, below the OECD average.

Countries from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are absent from the list, reflecting long-standing gaps in educational performance across regions.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Productivity of the World’s Largest 30 Economies (2005-2025) on Voronoi, the app from Visual Capitalist.

2025-12-20 00:57:04

Mapped: South America’s Most Populated Cities

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South America is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing and most densely populated urban areas.

This map highlights South America’s most populated cities, showing where people are concentrated and how urban growth varies by country.

The data for this visualization comes from World Population Review (2025).

Brazil’s Urban Dominance

Brazil stands out as the continent’s urban heavyweight. São Paulo alone approaches 23 million residents, making it not only South America’s largest city but one of the largest in the world. In fact, São Paulo’s population exceeds that of well-known megacities like Mexico City, Moscow, Beijing, and New York.

Rio de Janeiro follows closely, reinforcing Brazil’s central role in the region’s urban landscape.

Rank	City	Country	Population
1	São Paulo	Brazil	22,990,000
2	Buenos Aires	Argentina	15,752,300
3	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	13,923,200
4	Bogota	Colombia	11,795,800
5	Lima	Peru	11,517,300
6	Santiago	Chile	6,999,460
7	Belo Horizonte	Brazil	6,351,680
8	Brasilia	Brazil	4,990,930
9	Recife	Brazil	4,344,050
10	Fortaleza	Brazil	4,284,450
11	Porto Alegre	Brazil	4,268,960
12	Medellin	Colombia	4,172,810
13	Salvador	Brazil	4,029,910
14	Curitiba	Brazil	3,889,140
15	Asuncion	Paraguay	3,627,220
16	Campinas	Brazil	3,491,580
17	Guayaquil	Ecuador	3,244,750
18	Caracas	Venezuela	3,015,110
19	Goiania	Brazil	2,927,080
20	Cali	Colombia	2,916,790
21	Belem	Brazil	2,453,800
22	Manaus	Brazil	2,434,640
23	Maracaibo	Venezuela	2,432,440
24	Barranquilla	Colombia	2,396,400
25	Valencia	Venezuela	2,030,790
26	Quito	Ecuador	2,017,260
27	La Paz	Bolivia	1,997,370
28	Santa Cruz de la Sierra	Bolivia	1,955,356
29	Montevideo	Uruguay	1,788,170
30	Cordoba	Argentina	1,640,600
31	Rosario	Argentina	1,631,090
32	Natal	Brazil	1,575,050
33	Cochabamba	Bolivia	1,460,280
34	Joao Pessoa	Brazil	1,447,780
35	Bucaramanga	Colombia	1,411,010
36	Maceio	Brazil	1,387,920
37	Joinville	Brazil	1,374,630
38	Florianopolis	Brazil	1,323,850
39	Barquisimeto	Venezuela	1,281,730
40	Maracay	Venezuela	1,270,320
41	Mendoza	Argentina	1,257,180
42	Guarulhos	Brazil	1,169,577
43	Cartagena	Colombia	1,105,540
44	Aracaju	Brazil	1,081,930
45	Teresina	Brazil	1,068,550
46	San Miguel de Tucuman	Argentina	1,051,040
47	Valparaiso	Chile	1,024,430
48	Nova Iguacu	Brazil	1,002,118
49	Ciudad Guayana	Venezuela	991,388
50	Arequipa	Peru	983,715

Beyond these megacities, Brazil places numerous cities throughout the top 50, including Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Recife, and Fortaleza. Population is not concentrated in a single part of the country, with major cities spread from the south near Uruguay to the north near Venezuela.

Major Hubs Across the Southern Cone

Argentina, Colombia, and Peru also feature prominently. Buenos Aires ranks second overall, with more than 15 million people, reflecting its status as a political, cultural, and financial hub. Colombia places multiple cities on the list, including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Barranquilla.

These cities serve as national anchors for commerce and transportation. Their growth mirrors broader demographic shifts from rural areas into metropolitan regions across the continent.

Rising Cities Beyond the Megacities

While the top five cities dominate by size, many mid-tier cities are rapidly expanding. Places like Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Campinas, and Arequipa illustrate how secondary cities are absorbing population growth as megacities become more saturated.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Safest (and Least Safe) Countries on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2025-12-19 22:21:21

Ranked: Top 20 Cities with the Most Billionaires

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The global distribution of billionaire wealth is becoming increasingly concentrated in major urban centers. This infographic ranks the world’s top 20 cities by the number of resident billionaires, offering a snapshot of where extreme wealth is clustered in 2025.

The data for this visualization comes from Forbes, based on Forbes’ annual global rich list.

New York’s Unmatched Lead

New York City ranks first by a wide margin, with 109 billionaires calling the city home. Its dominance reflects decades of financial leadership, global capital flows, and a deep concentration of investment firms, real estate wealth, and corporate headquarters.

No other city comes close to this level of billionaire density. Even second-place Hong Kong trails New York by more than 30 individuals, highlighting just how unique the city’s wealth ecosystem is.

Rank	City	Country	Number of Billionaires
1	New York	United States	109
2	Hong Kong	China (Hong Kong SAR)	74
3	Moscow	Russia	73
4	Mumbai	India	69
5	Beijing	China	63
6	London	United Kingdom	62
7	Shanghai	China	54
8	Singapore	Singapore	52
9	San Francisco	United States	50
10	Delhi	India	43
11	Shenzhen	China	37
12	Los Angeles	United States	35
13	Taipei	Taiwan	34
14	Hangzhou	China	31
14	Seoul	South Korea	31
16	Paris	France	28
17	Tokyo	Japan	27
18	Bangkok	Thailand	26
18	Milan	Italy	26
20	Dallas	United States	24

Asia’s Growing Concentration of Wealth

Asian cities account for a significant share of the ranking. Hong Kong, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, and Shenzhen all place within the top 10. China alone features multiple cities on the list, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou.

India also stands out with Mumbai and Delhi representing the country’s expanding billionaire class. These cities benefit from rapid economic growth, large domestic markets, and strong technology and manufacturing sectors.

Europe and North America Still Matter

Despite Asia’s rise, traditional wealth centers in Europe and North America remain highly competitive. London, Paris, and Milan continue to host large concentrations of ultra-wealthy residents.

Expanding beyond the top 20, U.S. cities such as Dallas, Chicago, and Palm Beach illustrate how billionaire wealth is distributed across America’s finance, technology, energy, and real estate hubs. Smaller but influential cities like Palo Alto highlight the outsized role of tech-driven wealth creation.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Quality of Life Has Changed in 30 Countries, According to Citizens on Voronoi, the app from Visual Capitalist.