Visual CapitalistModify

2026-03-31 20:02:29

Mapped: Each State’s Share of Total U.S. Exports

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.

America’s $2.1 trillion export economy is not only massive, it is highly concentrated geographically.

A small group of states dominates America’s trade footprint, powered by energy, advanced manufacturing, and technology. From Texas’s oil and gas shipments to California’s tech-driven supply chains, regional industries play an outsized role in shaping the country’s global trade position.

This map breaks down each state’s share of total U.S. exports in 2025, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

A Highly Concentrated Export Economy

In 2025, just six states drove more exports than the rest of the country combined.

Texas stands firmly at the top, with $450.3 billion in exports. Its dominance has been fueled by a surge in oil and gas shipments, which more than doubled between 2020 and 2025 amid strong European demand and expanding LNG infrastructure.

California ranks second, contributing 9.1% of total exports ($188.4 billion). Its export mix is led by high-value technology goods, with computer equipment alone reaching $25.5 billion in 2025.

With $153.1 billion in exports, New York follows in third place with a 7.4% share, seeing the fastest-rising annual export growth nationally.

In 2025, exports increased 63%, driven by precious metals refining. As a global hub for refining gold, silver, and copper, exports soared amid strong foreign demand.

Louisiana, ranked fourth, exported $93.4 billion worth of goods. As the largest LNG exporter in the U.S., it accounted for roughly 60% of the country’s LNG shipments in 2025.

Meanwhile, aerospace exports continue to anchor several states’ trade performance. Florida (3.8%), Washington (3.2%), and Georgia (2.9%) all rank among the leading exporters, each posting at least 9% annual growth.

The Fastest-Growing Export States

Beyond the top exporters, several states are seeing rapid growth driven by key industries.

Arizona (+37%) and New Mexico (+27%) benefited from booming semiconductor demand, tied to global supply chain shifts and rising investment in AI infrastructure. Notably, New Mexico’s semiconductor exports have grown more than fourfold since 2022, reaching $7 billion.

Precious metals also played a major role in export growth. Alongside New York, states like Utah (+23%) and Nevada (+22%) saw strong gains due to refining activity.

Overall, as global demand shifts and new industries emerge, these geographic patterns will continue to evolve, reshaping where—and how—the U.S. competes on the world stage.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on China’s top trading partners in 2025.

2026-03-31 05:32:00

Ranked: The Countries With the Most Data Centers

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.

The U.S. is home to 43% of the world’s data centers, by far the largest share globally.

As artificial intelligence scales, countries are racing to build the infrastructure needed to support it both now and in the future.

Because AI applications require low latency, data centers are increasingly being built closer to end users—fueling a global expansion in capacity.

This treemap graph visualizes which countries have the most data centers, using data from Data Center Map as of March 2026.

Which Country Has the Most Data Centers?

Most of the world’s data centers are in the U.S., at 4,088, which is more than eight times higher than the next country. AI penetration is greater in developed countries, so it also makes sense that data center locations skew this way.

Rank	Country	Number of Data Centers
1	United States	4,088
2	Germany	507
3	United Kingdom	506
4	China	369
5	France	346
6	Canada	286
7	India	278
8	Australia	270
9	Japan	255
10	Italy	216
11	Brazil	204
12	Spain	195
13	Netherlands	187
14	Indonesia	185
15	Russia	181
16	Ireland	127
17	Switzerland	114
18	Sweden	110
19	Finland	105
20	Poland	99
21	Norway	92
22	Denmark	82
23	Türkiye	76
24	Mexico	64
25	Romania	63
26	Austria	53
27	Belgium	48
28	Portugal	45
29	Ukraine	37
30	Bulgaria	31
31	Czechia	26
31	Greece	26
33	Latvia	24
34	Lithuania	20
34	Slovenia	20
36	Cyprus	18
37	Hungary	17
38	Luxembourg	16
38	Croatia	16
40	Slovakia	13
40	Serbia	13
42	Estonia	12
42	Iceland	12
42	Malta	12
45	North Macedonia	7
46	Moldova	6
47	Georgia	4
47	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4
49	Monaco	3
49	Azerbaijan	3
51	Belarus	2

Germany, which has the largest population in the European Union, is the second most data center-dense country at 507. The UK is close behind at 506.

Many data centers are clustered around the traditional FLAP-D corridor of Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin, which are close to metropolitan hubs and financial markets that need fast cloud and, increasingly, AI connections.

It makes sense, then, that France trails closely at 346, though China sits between it and the UK at 369 data centers.

Canada, India, and Australia—large countries with ample land to develop—are next in line, home to 270 data centers or more.

At the bottom of the dataset is Belarus, with two data centers, along with Monaco and Azerbaijan, which both have three.

The Future of Data Centers

As the world aggressively builds out its data center capacity, key questions remain around where infrastructure will go, given the finite nature of land and resources.

Some developers are investing in co-benefits for local communities to aid buy-in. In Ireland, for instance, which had a moratorium on data centers until late last year, an AWS data center feeds its excess heat into a district heating network for social housing and public buildings.

Others are exploring more radical ideas, like putting data centers into orbit.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about AI, check out this graphic, which shows which countries use Claude.ai the most.

2026-03-30 22:26:10

Ranked: Where Unemployment Is Highest in America

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.

The U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.4% in December 2025, but conditions varied sharply across states. Washington, D.C. stood out as a clear outlier, while several coastal labor markets continued to post elevated jobless rates.

This graphic ranks U.S. states by unemployment rate in December 2025 and shows the 12-month change from December 2024, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Three patterns stand out: D.C. at the top by a wide margin, Delaware recording the sharpest increase, and persistently higher unemployment across parts of the West Coast.

D.C. the Clear Outlier for Unemployment

Washington, D.C. had the highest unemployment rate in the country in December 2025 at 6.7%, up 1.4% from a year earlier and well above the national average.

The data below includes unemployment rates by state in December 2024 and December 2025.

D.C. had a challenging 2025, being impacted more than any anywhere else by the massive federal workforce reduction which saw over 300,000 government employees dismissed through either layoffs or voluntary resignation offers.

While not all of these workers were D.C.-based, the nation’s capital was at the center of reductions in force, as over 10% of the city’s population are employed by the federal government, compared to less than 3% nationally.

Highest and Lowest Unemployment in the U.S.

After D.C., the highest unemployment rates were in California (5.5%), New Jersey (5.4%), and Delaware and Oregon (both 5.2%).

When also considering Washington (4.7%), the West Coast average unemployment rate was over 5.1%, higher than any other region nationwide.

At the other end of the ranking, Hawaii and South Dakota (both 2.2%) had the lowest unemployment rates in the country, with Hawaii also seeing a 0.8% year-over-year drop.

Biggest Changes in Unemployment in 2025

Hawaii was not alone in seeing a notable decline in unemployment. Colorado and Kentucky each posted 0.8% drops over the course of 2025, while Indiana saw a slightly larger 0.9% reduction over the same period.

Delaware had the biggest increase in unemployment between December 2024 and December 2025 at 1.6%, followed by Maryland and Minnesota (both 1.1%).

These states saw the sharpest year-over-year changes in 2025, while California stood out for having one of the country’s highest unemployment rates with no change from a year earlier.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Unemployment Rates in OECD Countries on Voronoi.

2026-03-30 20:04:14

GDP Per Capita Growth in Major Economies (2000–2026)

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.

Over the last 25 years, economic output per person has grown at very different speeds across the world’s largest economies.

This chart ranks GDP per capita growth across 15 major economies from 2000 to 2026, based on data from the International Monetary Fund, highlighting where living standards have improved the most.

The data shows a clear divide: emerging markets like China and India recorded rapid gains in output per person, while advanced economies saw slower, more uneven growth, with Japan standing out as the only country where GDP per capita declined.

A Quarter Century of Uneven Growth

Among major economies, China leads by far, with GDP per capita rising from roughly $1.0K in 2000 to $14.7K in 2026, a 1,430% increase.

This means China added more output per person, in percentage terms, than any other major economy, fundamentally reshaping its position in the global middle class. India also recorded significant gains, with GDP per capita climbing from $0.4K to $3.1K, among the sharpest rises globally.

Country	GDP Per Capita 2000	GDP Per Capita 2026	Change 2000-2026
China	$1.0K	$14.7K	1,430%
Russia	$1.9K	$17.3K	811%
India	$0.4K	$3.1K	589%
South Korea	$12.7K	$37.5K	195%
Brazil	$3.8K	$10.7K	185%
Spain	$14.7K	$40.6K	176%
Germany	$24.2K	$63.6K	163%
U.S.	$36.3K	$92.9K	156%
Canada	$24.3K	$58.2K	140%
France	$22.5K	$51.7K	130%
Italy	$20.2K	$45.9K	127%
UK	$28.3K	$60.0K	112%
Mexico	$7.5K	$15.1K	102%
Australia	$20.9K	$41.0K	96%
Japan	$39.2K	$36.4K	-7%

Russia saw GDP per capita jump 811%, marking a robust economic turnaround following the country’s financial collapse in 1998.

Around 2000, Russia began ramping up oil production after decades of decline, driving its economic recovery. While state control of energy assets stood at around 10% in 2000, it grew to nearly 50% in less than a decade.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s GDP per capita more than tripled to reach $37.5K, owing to its manufacturing prowess. Since 2000, it has transformed from an emerging to an advanced economy, with GDP per capita now exceeding Japan’s.

Similarly, GDP per capita in Brazil grew notably, fueled by a commodity boom in the 2000s, although growth slowed in the decade that followed.

Advanced Economies See Slower Growth

While rich nations saw comparatively lower growth than developing markets, a wide gap emerged within this group.

Overall, Spain experienced the fastest growth, with GDP per capita rising 176%. In 2025, it grew at nearly twice the rate of eurozone countries, supported by domestic consumption and tourism.

Germany, meanwhile, saw GDP per capita increase 163%, even outpacing the U.S.’s gain of 156%. Yet unlike Spain, Germany has recently faced dismal growth amid weaker exports.

Japan stands alone as the only major economy where GDP per capita is lower today than in 2000. Compared to 2000, GDP per capita has contracted 7%, due to a mix of low inflation, slow population growth, and years of economic stagnation.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on G7 vs. BRICS countries’ share of the global economy since 1980.

2026-03-30 18:06:48

Charted: The Global Stock Selloff as Oil Fears Rise

Global equities had a turbulent month as markets reacted to the economic fallout from the ongoing Iran war. According to FactSet data via the New York Times, investors grappled with rising uncertainty, supply disruptions, and the growing risk of a broader regional conflict.

Below, we break down how major stock indexes performed over the past month.

Index	Location	Monthly Low	Decline (Feb 27 to Mar 27, 2026)
S&P 500		–6%	–6%
FTSE 100		–9%	–8%
DAX		–11%	–10%
Shanghai Composite		–8%	–5%
Hang Seng		–8%	–5%
Nikkei 225		–12%	–7%

Across the board, markets declined, with Frankfurt and Tokyo among the hardest hit. While New York saw relatively milder losses, nearly every index ended the period firmly in negative territory.

Energy Markets at the Center of the Storm

At the heart of the selloff is energy. The Iran war has intensified concerns over oil supply, particularly as attacks on infrastructure and shipping routes threaten global flows.

The Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for roughly a fifth of global oil shipments—has emerged as a major flashpoint. Any disruption here has immediate ripple effects across energy prices and investor sentiment.

Rising oil prices have compounded inflation concerns, forcing central banks and investors alike to reassess growth expectations. As well, institutions like the IEA are warning of a “major threat” to global growth and economists already flagging downward GDP revisions in energy-importing regions.

Why Global Markets Are Reacting Differently

Not all markets have responded equally. European indexes like Frankfurt have seen sharper drops, reflecting the region’s heavier reliance on imported energy. Similarly, Asian markets, particularly Japan, have shown heightened sensitivity due to energy dependency and trade exposure.

Meanwhile, U.S. markets have been somewhat more resilient, supported by domestic energy production and relatively diversified economic drivers.

Still, volatility remains elevated across all regions, with investors increasingly pricing in geopolitical risk.

Investor Uncertainty and What Comes Next

Beyond energy, the broader concern is uncertainty. Markets tend to dislike unpredictability, and the evolving nature of the Iran conflict, combined with risks of escalation, has made forecasting particularly difficult. Notably, many analysts had entered 2026 expecting double-digit gains for the S&P 500, making the conflict a significant curveball to those early-year projections.

Investors are closely watching for signs of stabilization, whether through diplomatic developments or improved security around key infrastructure. Until then, markets are likely to remain sensitive to headlines, especially those tied to energy supply disruptions.

2026-03-30 12:49:07

Mapped: Europe’s Unemployment Rates in 2026

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 labor market tells two very different stories in 2026. While some countries continue to struggle with elevated unemployment, others are operating much closer to full employment.

This map shows unemployment rates across Europe as of January 2026, using data from Eurostat and the national statistical services of Russia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The contrast is stark: Finland (10.2%) and Spain (9.8%) sit at the top of the ranking, while Russia (2.2%), Bulgaria (3.1%), and Poland (3.1%) are at the low end.

The Highest and Lowest Rates Across Europe

The data table below provides unemployment rates for Europe as of January 2026.

Country	Unemployment Rate (%)
Finland	10.2
Spain	9.8
Sweden	8.7
France	7.7
Greece	7.7
Denmark	7.5
Latvia	6.9
Luxembourg	6.9
Belgium	6.4
Lithuania	6.4
Estonia	6.3
Romania	6.0
Austria	5.6
Portugal	5.6
Slovakia	5.6
Iceland	5.3
United Kingdom	5.2
Italy	5.1
Ireland	4.7
Croatia	4.5
Hungary	4.5
Norway	4.5
Cyprus	4.2
Germany	4.0
Netherlands	4.0
Slovenia	3.9
Malta	3.4
Czechia	3.2
Switzerland	3.2
Bulgaria	3.1
Poland	3.1
Russia	2.2

Countries With Elevated Unemployment

Beyond Finland and Spain, several major European economies still sit well above the continental average. France and Greece (both 7.7%) are among the highest, highlighting ongoing challenges in parts of the region.

In these economies, slower growth and structural labor market constraints have kept unemployment elevated compared to peers. France is a clear example, remaining firmly in Europe’s higher-unemployment group.

Even as conditions improve elsewhere, these countries continue to lag behind much of the continent.

The South’s Unemployment Problem

France is far from alone in facing high unemployment. Its two main southern neighbors have long been plagued by much of the same, though both have made strides since the eurozone crisis which wrecked their finances between 2008 and 2014.

At 9.8%, Spain today has Europe’s second-highest unemployment rate, behind only Finland (10.2%). The Iberian country has only recently fallen below the 10% benchmark for the first time since the 2008 crisis began. Spain’s economy has weathered Europe’s current growth crisis better than most, aided by high public investment and EU funds.

Meanwhile, Italy outperforms the European average with its 5.1% unemployment rate as of January 2026. The EU’s third-largest economy has also made strides in its labor market since the eurozone crisis. For example, while youth unemployment remains high at 20%, this figure also represents half of the roughly 40% seen in 2014 at the tail end of the crisis.

A Different Picture Outside the EU

Several non-EU economies fall on the lower end of Europe’s unemployment range. The UK (5.2%) sits close to the continental average, while Norway (4.5%) and Switzerland (3.2%) perform better than many EU peers.

Russia stands out most at 2.2%, the lowest rate among Europe’s major economies. Together, these figures reinforce the map’s central takeaway: Europe’s labor market is not moving uniformly, but diverging across countries.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Unemployment Rates in OECD Countries on Voronoi.