2026-05-02 01:33:46
The space economy is expanding beyond rockets and satellites. By 2035, it could power industries far beyond orbit, from logistics to agriculture and national defense.
In partnership with Global X Canada, this graphic is the first of three in the Investing in Space series. It shows the fastest-growing space sectors by 2035 using data from McKinsey.
The global space economy could nearly triple from C$871 billion in 2023 to C$2.5 trillion by 2035.
Here is a table that shows which sectors are adding the most value by 2035.
| Industry | 2023 ($CAD Billions) | 2035 ($CAD Billions) |
|---|---|---|
| Supply chain and transportation | 121 | 566 |
| Food and beverage supply chain logistics | 137 | 459 |
| State sponsored defence | 129 | 345 |
| Retail, consumer goods and lifestyle | 77 | 234 |
| Media, entertainment and sports | 197 | 216 |
| State sponsored civil | 85 | 201 |
| Digital communications | 26 | 96 |
| Space | 30 | 92 |
| Other | 69 | 252 |
Source: McKinsey.
Growth is not evenly distributed across sectors. Instead, industries like supply chain, which rely on satellite data and connectivity, are expanding the most.
Supply chain and transportation lead all sectors, adding C$445 billion in growth by 2035. This surge reflects the increasing importance of real-time tracking via Earth observation and satellite navigation as essential tools for logistics networks.
Meanwhile the food and beverage sector follows closely, driven by advances in precision agriculture and monitoring.
State-sponsored defense ranks third, highlighting rising demand for surveillance, communications, and security. As a result, defense spending continues to accelerate globally.
By 2035, a C$2.5 trillion space economy could evolve into a broad, multi-industry ecosystem where opportunities are emerging across logistics, agriculture, defense, and communications.
Investors looking to capture this growth may consider exposure to companies enabling these trends. In particular, solutions focused on satellites, data infrastructure, and space-enabled services are becoming increasingly critical.
To learn more, explore the Global X Space Tech Index ETF (ORBX), which targets companies at the forefront of the space economy.
Get invested with ORBX, a new frontier for diversification.
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See how homeownership rates vary by job in the U.S.—and why income alone doesn’t determine who owns homes.
From chips in the West to oil in Texas, this map shows what every U.S. state exports—and why it matters for jobs and global trade.
When did U.S. net interest costs overtake defense spending? This chart shows the surge in U.S. net interest payments compared to defense spending.
The United States is known as the world’s largest import market. But even far smaller markets carry their own weight as importers.
Nearly $1 trillion in foreign direct investment has flowed into the U.S. since 2020. See which states are attracting the most investment.
Which countries use the most coal? See the global rankings, led by China at nearly 56% of demand, plus where coal use is still rising.
2026-05-02 00:33:00
Mining is one of the most complex and demanding industries in the world. Operations often take place deep underground or in remote regions, where extreme conditions and heavy machinery create a constantly shifting environment.
Though mining provides the raw materials for much of modern life and supports the global energy transition, it also carries significant safety risks. As a result, operators are turning to mining safety tech to better manage these challenges and protect workers on site.
This graphic, in partnership with Hexagon, shows five ways technology is making mining safer through connected systems.
In the past, mine safety relied on reacting to incidents after they occurred. Systems operated in silos, with limited visibility across equipment, people, and site conditions.
However, that approach no longer works for today’s fast-moving operations. Many industries are shifting toward connected ecosystems that combine data across multiple inputs.
In mining this evolution enables a more proactive safety model. Operators can detect risks earlier, respond faster, and make better data-informed decisions.
As a result, this shift lays the foundation for a new generation of mining safety tech designed to work together rather than alone.
Each layer of modern mining safety plays a specific role, from monitoring worker proximity to analyzing site-wide data in real time.
Here is a table that shows the core technologies improving safety across today’s mining operations:
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal Alert Devices | Wearable proximity alerts create a digital buffer around workers on foot in high-risk zones. |
| Collision Avoidance System | Real-time detection of vehicles and fixed objects around heavy equipment and light vehicles. |
| Operator Alertness System | Monitors fatigue and distraction in vehicles, generating in-cab alerts, seat vibrations, and supervisor insights. |
| Vehicle Intervention System | Automatically slows or stops trucks if operators fail to act when imminent collisions are detected. |
| Smart Centre | Analysis of field data for actionable insights to improve site safety. |
Source: Hexagon.
Together, these systems create a continuous loop of awareness, alerting, and intervention. Data flows between devices, vehicles, and control centres to provide a clearer picture of on-site conditions.
One of the most critical safety layers is collision avoidance. These systems use real-time positioning and detection to identify nearby vehicles, equipment, and fixed objects.
As a result, operators receive immediate alerts when hazards enter their vicinity. This added visibility helps reduce blind spots and gives workers more time to react in high-risk environments.
The full impact of mining safety tech emerges when these systems connect through a centralized safety centre.
By aggregating data from vehicles, wearable devices, and site infrastructure, the safety centre provides a holistic view of operations. This visibility allows teams to identify patterns, anticipate risks, and coordinate responses more effectively.
In mining, real-time operational data and centralized insights are becoming essential. Solutions like those from Hexagon are designed to connect these layers, helping operations become safer, smarter, and more productive.
See how Hexagon can help protect your people today.
Global copper reserves approach 980 million tonnes, led by Chile.
Central banks gold buying in 2026 shows rising demand from emerging markets amid geopolitical uncertainty.
This chart shows U.S. import reliance on critical minerals in 2025, with China dominating key supplies.
This chart breaks down the critical minerals used in AI data centers, and how reliant the U.S. is on imports for each.
The U.S. discards massive quantities of critical minerals each year through mining waste.
China, Poland, and Türkiye led global gold buying among central banks.
2026-05-01 21:37:04
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Coal remains the world’s largest source of electricity, producing roughly one-third of global power in 2025. Despite rapid growth in solar and wind, fossil fuels continue to anchor the global energy system.
This visualization breaks down how 31,779 terawatt-hours of electricity were generated worldwide, highlighting the balance between legacy energy systems and fast-growing clean technologies. Data comes from Ember.
Fossil fuels remain the backbone of global electricity, generating 57% of total output in 2025. Coal alone accounts for nearly one-third of all power produced worldwide, making it the single largest source by a wide margin—larger than any individual clean energy category.
Despite years of climate commitments, many economies still rely heavily on coal and gas to meet baseload demand. This reflects both infrastructure lock-in and the challenges of scaling alternative energy sources quickly enough.
| Rank | Electricity Source | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coal | 32.97 |
| 2 | Gas | 21.77 |
| 3 | Hydro | 14.00 |
| 4 | Nuclear | 8.85 |
| 5 | Solar | 8.70 |
| 6 | Wind | 8.50 |
| -- | Other Fossil | 2.65 |
| -- | Other Renewables | 2.50 |
Clean energy sources collectively generated 43% of global electricity, driven by strong growth in solar and wind. Solar accounted for 8.7% of generation, narrowly surpassing wind at 8.5%, marking a significant milestone for solar’s rapid rise.
Hydropower remained the largest renewable source at 14%, though its growth has slowed in many regions due to geographic and environmental constraints. Other renewables, including biomass and geothermal, contributed a smaller but steady share.
At current growth rates, solar and wind are on track to overtake coal in the coming decades—marking a potential tipping point in the global energy mix.
Nuclear energy continues to play a stabilizing role in the energy mix, supplying nearly 9% of global electricity. Unlike solar and wind, nuclear provides consistent baseload power, making it a key complement as grids integrate more intermittent renewable sources.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out For Every $1 Spent on Fossil Fuels, World Spends $1.83 on Clean Energy on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-05-01 19:41:32
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Most of the world is no longer having enough children to sustain its population.
This map shows fertility rates for every country using data from the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 Revision. It highlights a widening global divide: while birth rates have fallen across much of Asia, Europe, and the Americas, many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to see far higher fertility.
As a result, future population growth is becoming increasingly concentrated in a smaller number of regions, with major implications for economies and labor markets.
Today, roughly 71% of the global population lives in countries with fertility rates below replacement level. This marks a major demographic shift, as many of the world’s largest economies transition from population growth to long-term decline.
Major population centers like China (1.02), the United States (1.62), and Brazil (1.60) all fall into this category.
| Rank | Country | Population | Fertility Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Chad |
21.0M | 5.94 |
| 2 |
 Somalia |
19.6M | 5.91 |
| 3 |
 DR Congo |
112.8M | 5.90 |
| 4 |
 Central African Republic |
5.5M | 5.81 |
| 5 |
 Niger |
27.9M | 5.79 |
| 6 |
 Mali |
25.2M | 5.42 |
| 7 |
 Angola |
39.0M | 4.95 |
| 8 |
 Burundi |
14.4M | 4.68 |
| 9 |
 Afghanistan |
43.8M | 4.66 |
| 10 |
 Mozambique |
35.6M | 4.62 |
| 11 |
 Mauritania |
5.3M | 4.56 |
| 12 |
 Mayotte |
340K | 4.50 |
| 13 |
 Tanzania |
70.5M | 4.47 |
| 14 |
 Benin |
14.8M | 4.42 |
| 15 |
 Yemen |
41.8M | 4.41 |
| 16 |
 Nigeria |
237.5M | 4.30 |
| 17 |
 Sudan |
51.7M | 4.19 |
| 18 |
 Cameroon |
29.9M | 4.19 |
| 19 |
 Ivory Coast |
32.7M | 4.17 |
| 20 |
 Togo |
9.7M | 4.07 |
| 21 |
 Uganda |
51.4M | 4.06 |
| 22 |
 Congo |
6.5M | 4.05 |
| 23 |
 Guinea |
15.1M | 4.04 |
| 24 |
 Equatorial Guinea |
1.9M | 4.04 |
| 25 |
 Burkina Faso |
24.1M | 4.00 |
| 26 |
 Zambia |
21.9M | 3.97 |
| 27 |
 Madagascar |
32.7M | 3.84 |
| 28 |
 Ethiopia |
135.5M | 3.81 |
| 29 |
 Gambia |
2.8M | 3.80 |
| 30 |
 Liberia |
5.7M | 3.79 |
| 31 |
 Comoros |
880K | 3.76 |
| 32 |
 Samoa |
220K | 3.75 |
| 33 |
 Senegal |
18.9M | 3.71 |
| 34 |
 South Sudan |
12.2M | 3.71 |
| 35 |
 Guinea-Bissau |
2.2M | 3.68 |
| 36 |
 Zimbabwe |
16.9M | 3.62 |
| 37 |
 Eritrea |
3.6M | 3.61 |
| 38 |
 Sierra Leone |
8.8M | 3.61 |
| 39 |
 Rwanda |
14.6M | 3.59 |
| 40 |
 Gabon |
2.6M | 3.54 |
| 41 |
 Vanuatu |
340K | 3.53 |
| 42 |
 Malawi |
22.2M | 3.53 |
| 43 |
 Sao Tome and Principe |
240K | 3.53 |
| 44 |
 Pakistan |
255.2M | 3.50 |
| 45 |
 Solomon Islands |
840K | 3.47 |
| 46 |
 Uzbekistan |
37.0M | 3.45 |
| 47 |
 Ghana |
35.1M | 3.30 |
| 48 |
 French Guiana |
310K | 3.29 |
| 49 |
 Nauru |
10K | 3.25 |
| 50 |
 Palestine |
5.6M | 3.19 |
| 51 |
 Iraq |
47.0M | 3.17 |
| 52 |
 Namibia |
3.1M | 3.17 |
| 53 |
 Tuvalu |
10K | 3.14 |
| 54 |
 Kenya |
57.5M | 3.12 |
| 55 |
 Kiribati |
140K | 3.09 |
| 56 |
 Tonga |
100K | 3.07 |
| 57 |
 Papua New Guinea |
10.8M | 3.03 |
| 58 |
 Tajikistan |
10.8M | 2.99 |
| 59 |
 Kazakhstan |
20.8M | 2.95 |
| 60 |
 Marshall Islands |
40K | 2.82 |
| 61 |
 Israel |
9.5M | 2.75 |
| 62 |
 Kyrgyzstan |
7.3M | 2.75 |
| 63 |
 Guam |
170K | 2.71 |
| 64 |
 Egypt |
118.4M | 2.71 |
| 65 |
 Micronesia |
110K | 2.71 |
| 66 |
 Eswatini |
1.3M | 2.68 |
| 67 |
 Algeria |
47.4M | 2.67 |
| 68 |
 Botswana |
2.6M | 2.66 |
| 69 |
 Syria |
25.6M | 2.66 |
| 70 |
 Lesotho |
2.4M | 2.64 |
| 71 |
 Saint Martin (French part) |
20K | 2.63 |
| 72 |
 Turkmenistan |
7.6M | 2.63 |
| 73 |
 Haiti |
11.9M | 2.59 |
| 74 |
 Mongolia |
3.5M | 2.58 |
| 75 |
 Djibouti |
1.2M | 2.58 |
| 76 |
 Jordan |
11.5M | 2.57 |
| 77 |
 Tokelau |
0.0K | 2.57 |
| 78 |
 Timor-Leste |
1.4M | 2.56 |
| 79 |
 Cambodia |
17.9M | 2.51 |
| 80 |
 Bolivia |
12.6M | 2.50 |
| 81 |
 Oman |
5.5M | 2.48 |
| 82 |
 Niue |
0.0K | 2.46 |
| 83 |
 Honduras |
11.0M | 2.45 |
| 84 |
 Paraguay |
7.0M | 2.39 |
| 85 |
 Guyana |
840K | 2.37 |
| 86 |
 Laos |
7.9M | 2.36 |
| 87 |
 Saudi Arabia |
34.6M | 2.29 |
| 88 |
 Northern Mariana Islands |
40K | 2.28 |
| 89 |
 Guatemala |
18.7M | 2.26 |
| 90 |
 Libya |
7.5M | 2.25 |
| 91 |
 Fiji |
930K | 2.25 |
| 92 |
 American Samoa |
50K | 2.25 |
| 93 |
 Suriname |
640K | 2.21 |
| 94 |
 Lebanon |
5.8M | 2.21 |
| 95 |
 Faroe Islands |
60K | 2.20 |
| 96 |
 Dominican Republic |
11.5M | 2.19 |
| 97 |
 South Africa |
64.8M | 2.19 |
| 98 |
 Morocco |
38.4M | 2.18 |
| 99 |
 Nicaragua |
7.0M | 2.18 |
| 100 |
 Western Sahara |
600K | 2.15 |
| 101 |
 Réunion |
880K | 2.13 |
| 102 |
 Bangladesh |
175.7M | 2.11 |
| 103 |
 Indonesia |
285.7M | 2.10 |
| 104 |
 Monaco |
40K | 2.09 |
| 105 |
 Panama |
4.6M | 2.09 |
| 106 |
 Seychelles |
130K | 2.08 |
| 107 |
 Myanmar |
54.9M | 2.08 |
| 108 |
 United States Virgin Islands |
80K | 2.07 |
| 109 |
 Venezuela |
28.5M | 2.06 |
| 110 |
 Guadeloupe |
370K | 2.05 |
| 111 |
 Belize |
420K | 2.01 |
| 112 |
 Cook Islands |
10K | 2.00 |
| 113 |
 Martinique |
340K | 1.97 |
| 114 |
 New Caledonia |
300K | 1.95 |
| 115 |
 India |
1.46B | 1.94 |
| 116 |
 Peru |
34.6M | 1.94 |
| 117 |
 Sri Lanka |
23.2M | 1.94 |
| 118 |
 Nepal |
29.6M | 1.94 |
| 119 |
 Greenland |
60K | 1.91 |
| 120 |
 Gibraltar |
40K | 1.88 |
| 121 |
 Vietnam |
101.6M | 1.88 |
| 122 |
 Philippines |
116.8M | 1.88 |
| 123 |
 Mexico |
131.9M | 1.87 |
| 124 |
 Palau |
20K | 1.86 |
| 125 |
 Tunisia |
12.3M | 1.80 |
| 126 |
 Montenegro |
630K | 1.80 |
| 127 |
 Ecuador |
18.3M | 1.79 |
| 128 |
 Georgia |
3.8M | 1.79 |
| 129 |
 Bahrain |
1.6M | 1.78 |
| 130 |
 Dem. People's Republic of Korea |
26.6M | 1.77 |
| 131 |
 El Salvador |
6.4M | 1.75 |
| 132 |
 St. Vincent & Grenadines |
100K | 1.75 |
| 133 |
 Bulgaria |
6.7M | 1.74 |
| 134 |
 Moldova |
3.0M | 1.72 |
| 135 |
 Armenia |
3.0M | 1.71 |
| 136 |
 Brunei |
470K | 1.71 |
| 137 |
 Romania |
18.9M | 1.71 |
| 138 |
 Barbados |
280K | 1.70 |
| 139 |
 Qatar |
3.1M | 1.70 |
| 140 |
 Falkland Islands |
0.0K | 1.69 |
| 141 |
 Iran |
92.4M | 1.67 |
| 142 |
 Azerbaijan |
10.4M | 1.66 |
| 143 |
 New Zealand |
5.2M | 1.65 |
| 144 |
 St. Helena |
10K | 1.64 |
| 145 |
 Australia |
27.0M | 1.64 |
| 146 |
 France |
66.7M | 1.64 |
| 147 |
 United States |
347.3M | 1.62 |
| 148 |
 Turkey |
87.7M | 1.62 |
| 149 |
 Colombia |
53.4M | 1.62 |
| 150 |
 Aruba |
110K | 1.61 |
| 151 |
 Brazil |
212.8M | 1.60 |
| 152 |
 Ireland |
5.3M | 1.60 |
| 153 |
 Slovenia |
2.1M | 1.58 |
| 154 |
 Antigua and Barbuda |
90K | 1.58 |
| 155 |
 Slovakia |
5.5M | 1.57 |
| 156 |
 Maldives |
530K | 1.55 |
| 157 |
 Liechtenstein |
40K | 1.54 |
| 158 |
 United Kingdom |
69.5M | 1.54 |
| 159 |
 Isle of Man |
80K | 1.53 |
| 160 |
 Malaysia |
36.0M | 1.53 |
| 161 |
 Kosovo |
1.7M | 1.53 |
| 162 |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
1.5M | 1.52 |
| 163 |
 Denmark |
6.0M | 1.52 |
| 164 |
 Portugal |
10.4M | 1.52 |
| 165 |
 Cayman Islands |
80K | 1.51 |
| 166 |
 St. Kitts & Nevis |
50K | 1.51 |
| 167 |
 Argentina |
45.9M | 1.50 |
| 168 |
 Serbia |
6.7M | 1.50 |
| 169 |
 Iceland |
400K | 1.50 |
| 170 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
3.1M | 1.50 |
| 171 |
 Kuwait |
5.0M | 1.50 |
| 172 |
 Cape Verde |
530K | 1.50 |
| 173 |
 Hungary |
9.6M | 1.50 |
| 174 |
 French Polynesia |
280K | 1.48 |
| 175 |
 Croatia |
3.9M | 1.47 |
| 176 |
 Dominica |
70K | 1.47 |
| 177 |
 North Macedonia |
1.8M | 1.47 |
| 178 |
 Czechia |
10.6M | 1.47 |
| 179 |
 Russia |
144.0M | 1.46 |
| 180 |
 Grenada |
120K | 1.46 |
| 181 |
 Germany |
84.1M | 1.46 |
| 182 |
 Cuba |
10.9M | 1.45 |
| 183 |
 Bonaire |
30K | 1.45 |
| 184 |
 Montserrat |
0.0K | 1.45 |
| 185 |
 Switzerland |
9.0M | 1.44 |
| 186 |
 Turks and Caicos Islands |
50K | 1.44 |
| 187 |
 Netherlands |
18.4M | 1.44 |
| 188 |
 Sweden |
10.7M | 1.44 |
| 189 |
 Bhutan |
800K | 1.44 |
| 190 |
 Sint Maarten |
40K | 1.43 |
| 191 |
 Norway |
5.6M | 1.42 |
| 192 |
 Bermuda |
60K | 1.41 |
| 193 |
 Luxembourg |
680K | 1.40 |
| 194 |
 Wallis & Futuna |
10K | 1.40 |
| 195 |
 Belgium |
11.8M | 1.39 |
| 196 |
 Uruguay |
3.4M | 1.39 |
| 197 |
 Jersey |
100K | 1.38 |
| 198 |
 St. Lucia |
180K | 1.38 |
| 199 |
 Estonia |
1.3M | 1.37 |
| 200 |
 Guernsey |
60K | 1.37 |
| 201 |
 Cyprus |
1.4M | 1.37 |
| 202 |
 Bahamas |
400K | 1.36 |
| 203 |
 Anguilla |
10K | 1.35 |
| 204 |
 Latvia |
1.9M | 1.35 |
| 205 |
 Greece |
9.9M | 1.34 |
| 206 |
 Jamaica |
2.8M | 1.34 |
| 207 |
 Canada |
40.1M | 1.33 |
| 208 |
 Albania |
2.8M | 1.33 |
| 209 |
 Austria |
9.1M | 1.33 |
| 210 |
 Costa Rica |
5.2M | 1.31 |
| 211 |
 Poland |
38.1M | 1.31 |
| 212 |
 Finland |
5.6M | 1.30 |
| 213 |
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon |
10K | 1.28 |
| 214 |
 Spain |
47.9M | 1.23 |
| 215 |
 Japan |
123.1M | 1.23 |
| 216 |
 Belarus |
9.0M | 1.22 |
| 217 |
 Lithuania |
2.8M | 1.22 |
| 218 |
 Italy |
59.1M | 1.21 |
| 219 |
 Mauritius |
1.3M | 1.21 |
| 220 |
 United Arab Emirates |
11.3M | 1.21 |
| 221 |
 Thailand |
71.6M | 1.19 |
| 222 |
 San Marino |
30K | 1.16 |
| 223 |
 Chile |
19.9M | 1.13 |
| 224 |
 Malta |
550K | 1.11 |
| 225 |
 Andorra |
80K | 1.10 |
| 226 |
 Curacao |
190K | 1.07 |
| 227 |
 British Virgin Islands |
40K | 1.06 |
| 228 |
 China |
1.42B | 1.02 |
| 229 |
 Ukraine |
39.0M | 1.00 |
| 230 |
 Singapore |
5.9M | 0.96 |
| 231 |
 Puerto Rico |
3.2M | 0.94 |
| 232 |
 Taiwan |
23.1M | 0.86 |
| 233 |
 St. Barthélemy |
10K | 0.83 |
| 234 |
 South Korea |
51.7M | 0.75 |
| 235 |
 Hong Kong |
7.4M | 0.74 |
| 236 |
 Macao |
720K | 0.69 |
With a fertility rate of just 1.02, China is now among the lowest in the world.
This sharp decline is largely a legacy of the country’s one-child policy, which was in place from 1980 to 2015. Despite policy reversals and financial incentives, fertility has remained depressed. Notably, no country that has fallen to such low levels has successfully returned to replacement rates.
While most countries are experiencing declining birth rates, much of Sub-Saharan Africa remains on a very different trajectory.
Fertility rates above 4.0 are still common, supporting rapid population growth across the region.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out When Will the Global Population Reach Its Peak? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-05-01 12:41:21
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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.
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:
| Occupation | Homeownership Rate 2024 | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Management & Business | 72.2% | $91,398 |
| Education & Social Services | 67.3% | $65,147 |
| STEM / Technical | 67.2% | $102,450 |
| Sales & Real Estate | 63.3% | $50,967 |
| Healthcare | 62.2% | $82,134 |
| Skilled Trades & Construction | 62.0% | $54,777 |
| Transportation & Public Safety | 58.1% | $46,975 |
| Service Occupations | 45.5% | $38,936 |
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.
For more, explore this graphic on the average salaries by state in 2025.
