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Mapped: 85% of Babies in 2026 Will Be Born in Asia and Africa

2026-02-24 21:01:47

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This visualization maps the probability of being born in each region of the world

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Mapped: 85% of Babies in 2026 Will Be Born in Asia and Africa

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

  • 85% of babies born in 2026 will be in Asia or Africa.
  • Asia alone will account for nearly half of global births.
  • Europe, North America, and Oceania combined will represent about 8% of global births.

In 2026, 85% of babies worldwide will be born in just two continents: Asia and Africa.

Where someone is born can shape everything from access to education and healthcare to long-term economic opportunity.

This map shows how global births are distributed across continents, based on population projections from the United Nations.

Asia Accounts for Nearly Half of Global Births

Asia is expected to see about 64.9 million births in 2026, accounting for roughly 49% of all births worldwide. Despite declining fertility rates in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, Asia’s sheer population size keeps it at the center of global demographics.

Continent Births (millions) Share of Global Births
Asia 64.9 M 49.0%
Africa 47.6 M 35.9%
Europe 6.1 M 4.6%
Latin America & the Caribbean 9.3 M 7.0%
North America 4.0 M 3.0%
Oceania 0.7 M 0.5%
Antarctica 0.0 M 0.0%
World 132.5 M 100%

South and Southeast Asia, in particular, continue to contribute large numbers of births each year. As a result, nearly one in every two people born in 2026 will be born somewhere in Asia.

Africa Makes Up More Than One-Third of Global Births

Africa is projected to record 47.6 million births in 2026, representing 35.9% of the global total. This reflects the continent’s high fertility rates and young population structure.

Many African countries are still early in their demographic transitions, with limited declines in birth rates so far. As population growth accelerates, Africa’s share of global births has been rising steadily and is projected to increase further later this century.

Smaller Shares in the Rest of the World

All other continents account for a relatively small share of global births.

Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to see 9.3 million births, or 7% of the total, while Europe accounts for just 4.6%. North America’s share stands at 3%, reflecting lower fertility rates despite population growth driven by migration. Oceania contributes 0.5% of births, and Antarctica, with no permanent population, records no births at all.

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.

Mapped: Minimum Age Laws for Social Media Around the World

2026-02-24 06:43:49

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World map of social media bans and restrictions for children being considered by countries and states.

Minimum Age Laws for Social Media Around the World

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

  • A growing number of governments are setting minimum age thresholds for social media, most commonly under 15 or under 16.
  • Australia became the first country to enforce a nationwide under-16 restriction in 2025.
  • European countries account for the majority of new proposals, while several U.S. states have adopted their own rules.

Governments around the world are moving to set minimum ages for social media use, citing concerns about online safety and youth mental health.

While approaches differ, most policies focus on preventing children below a certain age—typically 15 or 16—from holding accounts, or requiring parental consent and age verification before access is granted.

This map highlights 15 countries and two U.S. states that have enacted or are formally considering legal age thresholds for social media platforms, leveraging data from BBC, Reuters, Euro Weekly.

The Countries Restricting Social Media for Children

Australia made history when its social media ban, a world first, came into force in December 2025. Other countries have since followed suit.

The data table below shows the countries and U.S. states that have passed or are discussing social media restrictions, along with the age group that would be affected:

Country Regulation Status Age Threshold
🇦🇺 Australia Passed Under 16
🇬🇷 Greece In discussion Under 15
🇫🇷 France Passed Under 15
🇪🇸 Spain In discussion Under 16
🇵🇹 Portugal Passed Under 16
🇳🇴 Norway In discussion Under 15
🇲🇾 Malaysia Passed Under 16
🇬🇧 United Kingdom In discussion Under 16
🇩🇰 Denmark In discussion Under 15
🇨🇿 Czechia In discussion Under 15
🇸🇮 Slovenia In discussion Under 15
🇩🇪 Germany In discussion Under 16
🇮🇹 Italy In discussion Under 15
🇮🇩 Indonesia In discussion Under 16
🇳🇿 New Zealand In discussion Under 16
🇺🇸 Nebraska Passed Under 18
🇺🇸 Virginia Passed Under 16

Australia’s legislation prevents under-16s from accessing social media, including the largest platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube; those who already had accounts were signed out and banned when the law came into force. Social media companies face a fine of up to A$34.9 million if they fail to take “reasonable steps” for age verification.

France’s Assembly, its lower house, voted in favor of creating a statutory minimum age of 15 for social media. The proposed law now needs to be passed in the French Senate, or the upper house. Portugal mandated “express and verified parental consent” for anyone under 16 to use social media in a newly-approved bill, while having an outright ban for children under 13.

Across Europe, additional proposals are under discussion in countries including Greece, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Czechia.

Outside Europe, Malaysia has passed age-based restrictions, while Indonesia and New Zealand are considering similar measures. The United Kingdom is also reviewing potential age-limit policies.

U.S. States Take Different Approaches

In the United States, states have adopted a range of policies.

Virginia introduced a law limiting social media use for minors under 16 to one hour per day by default, unless parental consent is provided.

Nebraska passed legislation aimed at restricting certain platform features for minors, including design elements such as infinite scrolling and autoplay that are intended to increase engagement.

Utah, legislating in 2023, was actually the first to require age verification for under-18s, however the legislation was repealed and replaced with less stringent requirements.

Social Media’s Impact on Young People

Many of the recent proposals are concentrated in Europe, where regulators have historically taken a more active role in technology and privacy policy. However, the approaches vary widely and do not always amount to outright bans.

It comes amid increasing concern around social media’s impacts on young people, who spend 7.5 hours online per day, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Independent evidence suggests that excessive social media use can be harmful, while internal research by Facebook, now Meta, found Instagram made some teenage girls feel worse about their bodies. At the same time, independent researchers have called for more nuanced studies that account for socioeconomic factors, age differences, and specific platform use.

Originally developed as a way to connect with friends, social media platforms have also faced criticism over engagement-driven business models built around advertising. The recent wave of age-based laws reflects a broader shift toward increased regulatory oversight of the sector.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about the social media ecosystem, check out this graphic which breaks down ad spending on social media platforms.

Ranked: The Biggest Price Shocks Businesses Are Facing

2026-02-24 02:36:36

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The following content is sponsored by Terzo

Inflation Shock: The Biggest Price Hikes Businesses Are Facing

Key Takeaways

  • Wholesale turkey had the largest price increase in 2025, with prices surging by 70%.
  • Metals make up eight of the 15 commodities with the highest inflation.

Before households feel inflation at the checkout line, it often starts much earlier in the supply chain. When businesses face rising input costs, those pressures can ripple outward, shaping everything from grocery bills to construction budgets. 

Created in partnership with Terzo, this graphic shows where business price hikes have been the most intense. It’s part of our Markets in a Minute series, which delivers quick economic insights for executives.

Commodities With the Most Sticker Shock

We’ve used data from the Producer Price Index, which tracks the prices businesses pay for inputs like raw materials, energy, and intermediate goods. The table below shows which commodities had the biggest price hikes in 2025.

Commodity Category Dec. 2024 to Dec. 2025 Price Increase
Wholesale Turkey Food & Agriculture 70%
Primary Metals* Metals 62%
Metal Ores* Metals 47%
Recycled Metals* Metals 31%
Aluminum Products Metals 31%
Aluminum Scrap Metals 25%
Wholesale Beef Food & Agriculture 21%
Copper Scrap Metals 20%
Industrial Gases Chemical & Industrial 18%
Nitrogen Fertilizers Chemical & Industrial 18%
Steel Products Metals 17%
Portfolio Management Services 17%
Fluid Power Equipment** Chemical & Industrial 16%
Wire and Cable* Metals 15%
Inedible Fats & Oils Food & Agriculture 14%

*Excluding iron and steel. **Uses pressurized liquid or gas. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data as of December 2025.

One standout: turkeys. Businesses saw wholesale prices rise by 70% in the last year, driven by bird flu outbreaks that reduced supply. Businesses using turkey as a core input, such as deli meat producers, frozen meal manufacturers, and pet food companies will be hit particularly hard.

Turkey inflation has also impacted grocers, but companies typically have not passed these prices on to consumers around Thanksgiving. Many retailers treat turkeys as a loss leader, absorbing higher costs to draw shoppers into their stores.

Metals: Crowding the Leaderboard of High Inflation

Notably, eight of the top 15 biggest price hikes are related to metals. Aluminum prices have been pushed higher by energy-intensive smelting costs, tariffs that have reduced supply, and high demand for the metal in everything from vehicles to AI data centers.

Copper has also seen high inflation, driven by tight supply just as demand accelerates from electrification, power grids, and renewable energy infrastructure.

Analysts are mixed on what they see coming for copper prices. While Goldman Sachs predicts that copper prices will decline in 2026, J.P. Morgan Global Research expects the rally to continue.

To navigate this complexity, leading businesses are turning to smarter tools. Terzo’s all-in-one AI platform, NirvanAI, helps leaders transform company contracts into clear, actionable insights.

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See NirvanAI in action and learn how it helps you make decisions with confidence.

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Visualized: Where Attacks Happen in Cyber Intrusions

2026-02-24 02:31:08

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The following content is sponsored by Palo Alto

Where Attacks Happen in Cyber Intrusions

Key Takeaways

  • Most cyber intrusions span multiple surfaces, so detection must connect signals across layers.
  • Identity leads the attack surface list, but endpoints and networks still enable fast pivots.
  • The human layer remains decisive, making awareness and phishing resistance operational priorities.

Cyber intrusions rarely follow a single path once attackers get a foothold. Instead, they pivot across systems to widen impact and deepen damage.

This graphic, in partnership with Unit 42 by Palo Alto Networks, shows where attacks occur in cyber intrusions, based on data from the Unit 42 Global Incident Response Report.

Identity Is the Practical Perimeter

Here is a table that breaks intrusions into nine primary attack surfaces observed across investigations.

Attack Front Incidents Percentage
Identity 89%
Endpoints 61%
Network 50%
Human 45%
Email 27%
Application 26%
Cloud 20%
SecOps 10%
Database 1%

In Unit 42’s sample, 87% of incidents touched at least two surfaces, and 67% hit three or more. Because the categories overlap, a single case can span multiple layers at once.

Identity Dominates, but the “Human Layer” Still Drives Risk

Identity appears in 89% of cases, making it the most common surface in the dataset. Meanwhile, endpoints (61%) and networks (50%) remain common launch points for lateral movement.

Email (27%) and applications (26%) sit mid-pack, while cloud services appear in 20% of incidents. Still, even “lower” categories matter when attackers chain small wins into bigger access.

Humans show up in 45% of incidents, often through user-driven activity that enables the next pivot.

Integrated Defenses Beat Siloed Tools

Multi-surface activity means point solutions can miss context when attackers hop layers. Teams need shared signals across identity, endpoint, network, app, and cloud to spot chained actions early.

SecOps appears in 10% of cases, so attackers sometimes probe security operations tooling and workflows. As a result, integrated detection and response helps contain movement before it reaches databases, which appear in 1% of incidents.

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Charted: Trust in the U.S. Government Fell From 77% to 17%

2026-02-23 23:25:43

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This infographic tracks how public trust in the U.S. government has changed over the last decades.

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Trust in the U.S. Government Fell From 77% to 17%

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

  • Public trust in the U.S. federal government fell from 77% in 1964 to 17% in 2025, according to Pew Research.
  • Trust has rarely topped 30% since the early 2000s, with brief spikes during national crises like 9/11.

Over the past seven decades, Americans’ trust in the federal government has dropped from postwar highs to historic lows. In 1964, 77% said they trusted Washington to do what is right most of the time. As of September 2025, that figure stands at just 17%.

The chart above tracks this long-term shift, using data from Pew Research Center. While trust has occasionally surged during moments of national crisis, the broader trajectory shows a steady erosion across generations.

From Postwar Highs to Vietnam-Era Decline

Trust peaked in 1964, when 77% of Americans said they trusted the federal government most of the time. Even in 1958, nearly three-quarters of the public expressed confidence in the federal government.

That began to change in the late 1960s and early 1970s. By 1970, trust had fallen to 54%, and it slipped further to 36% by 1974 in the aftermath of Watergate. The Vietnam War, political scandals, and economic turbulence reshaped public opinion for decades to come.

Date Trust the government (%)
9/28/2025 17
2/9/2025 19
5/19/2024 18
6/11/2023 19
05/01/2022 20
4/11/2021 21
8/2/2020 24
4/12/2020 21
3/25/2019 17
12/04/2017 18
4/11/2017 19
10/04/2015 18
7/20/2014 19
2/26/2014 18
11/15/2013 20
10/13/2013 19
5/31/2013 20
02/06/2013 22
1/13/2013 23
10/31/2012 19
10/19/2011 17
10/04/2011 15
9/23/2011 18
8/21/2011 21
2/28/2011 23
10/21/2010 23
10/01/2010 21
09/06/2010 23
09/01/2010 23
04/05/2010 23
04/05/2010 22
3/21/2010 24
2/12/2010 22
02/05/2010 21
1/10/2010 20
12/20/2009 21
8/31/2009 22
6/12/2009 23
12/21/2008 25
10/15/2008 24
10/13/2008 24
07/09/2007 24
01/09/2007 28
10/08/2006 29
9/15/2006 30
02/05/2006 31
1/20/2006 33
01/06/2006 32
12/02/2005 32
9/11/2005 31
09/09/2005 30
6/19/2005 35
10/15/2004 39
7/15/2004 41
3/21/2004 38
10/26/2003 36
7/27/2003 43
10/15/2002 46
09/04/2002 46
09/02/2002 40
7/13/2002 40
6/17/2002 43
1/24/2002 46
12/07/2001 49
10/25/2001 54
10/06/2001 49
1/17/2001 44
10/31/2000 38
10/15/2000 42
07/09/2000 39
04/02/2000 38
2/14/2000 34
10/03/1999 36
9/14/1999 33
5/16/1999 33
2/21/1999 31
2/12/1999 32
02/04/1999 34
1/10/1999 34
01/03/1999 37
12/01/1998 33
11/15/1998 30
11/01/1998 26
10/26/1998 28
8/10/1998 31
2/22/1998 35
02/01/1998 33
1/25/1998 32
1/19/1998 32
10/31/1997 31
8/27/1997 31
06/01/1997 26
1/14/1997 27
11/02/1996 27
10/15/1996 28
5/12/1996 31
05/06/1996 29
11/19/1995 27
08/07/1995 22
08/05/1995 21
3/19/1995 20
2/22/1995 21
12/01/1994 21
10/29/1994 22
10/23/1994 20
06/06/1994 19
1/30/1994 20
1/20/1994 22
3/24/1993 25
1/17/1993 25
1/14/1993 25
10/23/1992 25
10/15/1992 25
06/08/1992 29
10/20/1991 35
03/06/1991 42
03/01/1991 46
1/27/1991 40
12/01/1990 33
10/28/1990 32
09/06/1990 35
1/16/1990 38
6/29/1989 39
1/15/1989 41
11/10/1988 43
10/15/1988 41
1/23/1988 40
10/18/1987 43
06/01/1987 43
03/01/1987 44
1/21/1987 43
1/19/1987 42
12/01/1986 44
11/30/1986 43
09/09/1986 44
1/19/1986 44
11/06/1985 43
7/29/1985 42
3/21/1985 40
2/27/1985 42
2/22/1985 45
11/14/1984 44
10/15/1984 41
12/01/1982 39
11/07/1980 32
10/15/1980 30
3/12/1980 27
11/03/1979 28
12/01/1978 31
10/23/1977 32
4/25/1977 34
10/15/1976 36
09/05/1976 35
6/15/1976 35
03/01/1976 34
02/08/1976 35
12/01/1974 36
10/15/1972 53
12/01/1970 54
10/15/1968 62
12/01/1966 65
10/15/1964 77
12/01/1958 73

Temporary Surges During National Crises

Although the long-term trend is downward, trust has occasionally rebounded during moments of national unity. After the 9/11 attacks, trust jumped from 44% to 54% in a matter of months. It was one of the last times a majority expressed confidence in Washington.

Similar, though smaller, increases occurred during other crises. In early 2020, trust briefly rose to 24% amid the COVID-19 outbreak. However, these bumps have proven short-lived, with trust quickly returning to lower levels.

A New Era of Persistent Low Trust

Since the mid-2000s, trust in government has rarely crossed the 30% mark. In the 2010s and early 2020s, it often dipped below 20%.

As of September 2025, just 17% of Americans say they trust the federal government most of the time — near the lowest level recorded in Pew’s time series.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out America’s Growing Mountain of Debt on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Mapped: The U.S. States With the Most Tech Jobs in 2025

2026-02-23 21:06:55

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Map showing the numbers of tech jobs by state in 2025.

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Mapped: The U.S. States With the Most Tech Jobs in 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.

Key Takeaways

  • The top three states (CA, NY, TX) alone account for over 1 million tech jobs, highlighting how concentrated the industry remains.
  • Washington (171,000) and Florida (161,000) round out the top five, forming a clear upper tier well ahead of the rest of the country.
  • Utah (+6.3%), Illinois (+5.7%), and South Carolina (+4.8%) posted the fastest annual growth rates, signaling momentum beyond the largest tech hubs.

California alone employs more than half a million tech workers, nearly twice as many as the next closest state.

This map shows where America’s tech jobs are located in 2025, highlighting how heavily the industry is concentrated in just a handful of states.

Figures are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data via Arizona State University.

Ranked: Tech Jobs by State in 2025

Nationwide, tech employment totals roughly 3.2 million workers in 2025.

In the below table, we break down the number of tech jobs in each state, along with its growth rate over the last year.

Rank State Number of Jobs 2025
Annual Job Growth
1 California 524K -2.8%
2 New York 286K 0.0%
3 Texas 226K -2.0%
4 Washington 171K 3.0%
5 Florida 161K 0.5%
6 Georgia 112K -6.7%
7 Illinois 98K 5.7%
8 Massachusetts 92K 0.3%
9 Pennsylvania 88K -2.0%
10 North Carolina 85K -0.9%
11 Colorado 77K 4.6%
12 New Jersey 70K -4.5%
13 Virginia 69K -4.2%
14 Ohio 67K 1.4%
15 Michigan 57K -0.4%
16 Tennessee 55K -0.7%
17 Wisconsin 48K -1.6%
18 Arizona 48K -0.6%
19 Missouri 45K -2.8%
20 Utah 44K 6.3%
21 Minnesota 41K -4.2%
22 Oregon 36K -0.8%
23 Maryland 34K -1.2%
24 South Carolina 31K 4.8%
25 Connecticut 30K -0.7%
26 Indiana 26K -1.1%
27 Alabama 23K 0.4%
28 Kentucky 21K -1.0%
29 Nevada 20K -0.5%
30 Oklahoma 18K 2.3%
31 Louisiana 18K -4.7%
32 Iowa 18K 0.0%
33 Kansas 18K 2.3%
34 Nebraska 17K -2.3%
35 Arkansas 12K -4.1%
36 New Hampshire 11K -0.9%
37 Mississippi 10K -1.0%
38 Idaho 9K 0.0%
39 New Mexico 9K -11.0%
40 Hawaii 8K -2.4%
41 West Virginia 8K -1.3%
42 Maine 8K -4.8%
43 North Dakota 5K 1.9%
44 Montana 5K -5.3%
45 South Dakota 5K 0.0%
46 Rhode Island 5K -7.1%
47 Vermont 4K -6.5%
48 Alaska 4K -4.7%
49 Delaware 4K 0.0%
50 Wyoming 3K -3.3%

With 524,000 tech workers, California employs 18% of the nation’s tech workforce across over 61,000 firms.

Still, the state shed thousands of tech jobs last year, given economic uncertainty and the spillover effects of AI. Overall, tech jobs contracted 2.8% in 2025.

New York follows, with 286,000 tech workers, equal to one in 10 jobs nationwide. In 2025, tech job growth was effectively flat.

Ranking in third is Texas, with tech employment standing at 226,000. As a growing tech hub, the state has added over 26,000 roles in the sector since 2020. Last year, however, the number of roles contracted by 2%.

In contrast to these heavyweight states, several smaller tech hubs posted strong job growth. Utah’s tech workforce totals just 44,000, yet employment climbed 6.3% in 2025. Illinois, South Carolina, and Colorado—each with fewer than 100,000 tech jobs—saw gains of 5.8%, 4.8%, and 4.6%, respectively.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s top 50 science and technology clusters.