2026-01-31 03:04:36
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.
How do people around the world feel about the two most powerful countries on the global stage?
Drawing from a recent Global Attitudes Survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, this visualization by Iswardi Ishak compares public opinion in 24 countries towards the United States and China.
The poll, which was conducted with 28,000 adults between January 8 and April 26, 2025, shows a highly diverse set of sentiments, with some nations expressing strong preference for one power over the other, while others show ambivalence or neutrality toward both.
The scatterplot above breaks down each country’s percentage of favorable opinion of the U.S. (vertical axis) against that of China (horizontal axis). The quadrant structure quickly reveal how widely opinions vary, and which countries lean more towards one global power over the other.
| Favorable toward U.S. (%) | Favorable toward China (%) | Difference (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Israel |
83 | 33 | 50 |
 South Korea |
61 | 19 | 42 |
 Japan |
55 | 13 | 42 |
 India |
54 | 21 | 33 |
 Poland |
55 | 35 | 20 |
 UK |
50 | 39 | 11 |
 Hungary |
60 | 51 | 9 |
 Australia |
29 | 23 | 6 |
 Brazil |
56 | 51 | 5 |
 Argentina |
52 | 47 | 5 |
 Germany |
33 | 29 | 4 |
 Italy |
47 | 45 | 2 |
 Sweden |
19 | 18 | 1 |
 France |
36 | 36 | 0 |
 Canada |
34 | 34 | 0 |
 Netherlands |
29 | 30 | -1 |
 Nigeria |
78 | 81 | -3 |
 Spain |
31 | 37 | -6 |
 South Africa |
50 | 57 | -7 |
 Türkiye |
25 | 35 | -10 |
 Greece |
45 | 56 | -11 |
 Kenya |
62 | 74 | -12 |
 Indonesia |
48 | 65 | -17 |
 Mexico |
29 | 56 | -27 |
Among the clearest takeaways: Israel stands out with an overwhelmingly favorable view of the U.S. (90%), the highest in the survey by a significant margin. This reflects long-standing U.S.-Israel strategic ties, including military aid, diplomatic backing, and broad bipartisan support within American politics. On the other end of the spectrum, Sweden reports the lowest favorability toward the U.S. at just 18%.
On the China side, Nigeria (83%) and Kenya (73%) show the strongest support, making Africa one of the few regions where both powers enjoy relatively high favorability.
According to Pew’s research (and YouGov’s as well), favorable views of the United States have dropped significantly in Europe, especially in long-time allies like the Netherlands, Spain, and France. The decline is largely tied to ongoing dissatisfaction with U.S. foreign policy, climate change inaction, and internal political dysfunction. Even in countries traditionally friendly toward the U.S.—like Canada, the UK, and Australia—favorable views hover below 50%.
Meanwhile, some nations, such as South Korea and Japan, still report strong U.S. support. But across the board, Pew’s latest survey signals a downward shift from previous years.
Though China’s global image remains mixed, many countries (particularly in the Global South) have reported rising favorability in 2025. Indonesia (69%), South Africa (56%), and Mexico (58%) all lean more positive toward China than the United States.
This reflects growing Chinese diplomatic and economic engagement in the Global South, especially through infrastructure initiatives and trade partnerships. That said, in most Western nations, views on China remain decidedly negative, often in parallel with unfavorable views of the U.S.
Some countries, like Nigeria and Kenya, are outliers for their high favorability toward both powers. Meanwhile, many European nations express skepticism of both China and the U.S., which hints at a broader disillusionment with superpower politics.
For example, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands all fall in the bottom-left quadrant, expressing below-average favorability for both countries.
If you’re interested in how global sentiment toward Israel compares, check out our companion post: Survey: What the World Thinks About Israel.
Looking for more context? Check out how Americans’ own views on China have shifted over time: US public opinion on China has changed a lot since 2017.
2026-01-30 22:46:37
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.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently released data showing the countries with the highest levels of household debt, defined as loans and debt securities incurred by households, expressed as a percentage of GDP. The metric is often used as a barometer for financial risk and vulnerability at the household level.
Household debt typically includes mortgages, car loans, credit card debt, and personal loans. While some level of debt can stimulate economic growth through consumption and investment, excessive debt levels can lead to long-term financial instability, especially when interest rates rise or during economic downturns.
Today’s visualization breaks down the top 35 countries with the highest household debt levels, and was made by Iswardi Ishak using IMF data.
Below is data for the 71 countries in the dataset:
| Rank | Country/Territory | Household debt (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Switzerland |
125.4 |
| 2 |
Australia |
112.2 |
| 3 |
Canada |
100.1 |
| 4 |
Netherlands |
93.6 |
| 5 |
 New Zealand |
90.3 |
| 6 |
South Korea |
90.1 |
| 7 |
 Norway |
88.6 |
| 8 |
 Hong Kong |
88.0 |
| 9 |
 Denmark |
85.2 |
| 10 |
Sweden |
82.7 |
| 11 |
United Kingdom |
76.2 |
| 12 |
 Malaysia |
69.5 |
| 13 |
 United States |
69.4 |
| 14 |
Japan |
65.1 |
| 15 |
 Finland |
63.3 |
| 16 |
 Luxembourg |
61.9 |
| 17 |
 China |
61.4 |
| 18 |
France |
60.5 |
| 19 |
 Cyprus |
59.6 |
| 20 |
 Belgium |
57.4 |
| 21 |
 Portugal |
53.3 |
| 22 |
Germany |
49.9 |
| 23 |
 Malta |
48.7 |
| 24 |
 Chile |
44.8 |
| 25 |
 Singapore |
44.3 |
| 26 |
 Austria |
44.0 |
| 27 |
Spain |
43.7 |
| 28 |
 Slovakia |
43.4 |
| 29 |
Israel |
42.3 |
| 30 |
India |
40.8 |
| 31 |
 Honduras |
39.7 |
| 32 |
Greece |
38.8 |
| 33 |
 Estonia |
38.4 |
| 34 |
Brazil |
36.4 |
| 35 |
Italy |
36.1 |
| 36 |
 Saudi Arabia |
35.3 |
| 37 |
South Africa |
33.7 |
| 38 |
 Nepal |
32.5 |
| 39 |
 Czech Republic |
30.8 |
| 40 |
 Vanuatu |
30.6 |
| 41 |
 Croatia |
30.3 |
| 42 |
 Ireland |
29.6 |
| 43 |
 El Salvador |
28.0 |
| 44 |
 North Macedonia |
27.1 |
| 45 |
 Costa Rica |
26.8 |
| 46 |
 Bulgaria |
25.9 |
| 47 |
 Colombia |
25.7 |
| 48 |
 Morocco |
25.6 |
| 49 |
 United Arab Emirates |
24.8 |
| 50 |
 Slovenia |
24.3 |
| 51 |
Poland |
22.9 |
| 52 |
 Russia |
22.2 |
| 53 |
 Lithuania |
22.0 |
| 54 |
 Samoa |
20.0 |
| 55 |
 Latvia |
19.4 |
| 56 |
 Lesotho |
17.2 |
| 57 |
 Kazakhstan |
17.1 |
| 58 |
Hungary |
17.0 |
| 59 |
Mexico |
16.7 |
| 60 |
 Nicaragua |
16.5 |
| 61 |
Indonesia |
16.2 |
| 62 |
 Albania |
12.8 |
| 63 |
 Romania |
10.8 |
| 64 |
Türkiye |
9.6 |
| 65 |
 Solomon Islands |
8.6 |
| 66 |
 Paraguay |
6.6 |
| 67 |
 Bangladesh |
6.2 |
| 68 |
 Suriname |
5.1 |
| 69 |
Argentina |
4.7 |
| 70 |
 Pakistan |
2.1 |
| 71 |
 Sierra Leone |
0.0 |
At the top of the chart is Switzerland, where household debt amounts to 125% of GDP. It’s followed by Australia (112%) and Canada (100%), two countries known for overheated housing markets.
On the other end of the list, countries like Brazil and Italy show far lower household debt burdens relative to their GDP, both below 37%.
While credit access enables household consumption and property ownership, it also creates exposure to economic shocks. High household debt can constrain economic growth when families divert income to servicing debt rather than spending or saving. It also increases sensitivity to interest rate hikes, which raise repayment costs.
In fact, research from the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research highlights how household debt, when misaligned with wage growth or asset prices, can trigger financial instability.
As the study notes: “In the event of economic shocks, high household debt levels result in non‑performing loans that weaken bank balance sheets and spread to other financial institutions through the contagion effect. This could result in an unstable financial sector that restricts lending to profitable investments and deserving households. Ultimately, household consumption and investment decrease, thereby lowering economic growth.”
In short, elevated household debt goes beyond being a macroeconomic statistic, and has the potential to amplify downturns and reduce resilience at both the household and national level.
The distribution of household debt also ties into broader macroeconomic trends. Anglophone nations like the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the UK exhibit higher debt levels due to hot property markets, and cultural factors favoring homeownership and financial liberalization.
Meanwhile, in the United States, household finances vary drastically by state.
High household debt doesn’t always indicate looming trouble, but it does warrant careful monitoring, especially in environments of rising rates or slowing economic growth.
Explore more data visuals like this on the Voronoi app. For example, see The World’s $111 Trillion in Government Debt.
2026-01-30 20:47:04
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.
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).
Note 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 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.
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.
If you found this infographic interesting, explore more global economic insights on Voronoi, including BRICS vs. G7 Real GDP Growth in 2026.
2026-01-30 08:08:14
See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on U.S. job cuts by industry in 2025.
2026-01-30 03:02:48
See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Click to learn more
Emerging markets such as India, Türkiye, and Poland also feature prominently.
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.
2026-01-30 01:46:29
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gold’s breakout in 2025 is compelling when viewed across global currencies. Which ones are rising the fastest?
As U.S. trade policy shifts under President Trump, global exporters are facing a more uneven landscape. Which ones are winning versus losing?
Will Fed easing in 2026 pressure the USD, or will global rate shifts rewrite the usual pattern?
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?
