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2026-04-25 13:02:31

Ranked: What Makes Europeans Most Proud of Their Country?

What people take pride in says a lot about how they see their country.

Across Europe, those sources range from culture and history to political systems and personal freedoms. But in some countries, a notable share of people say they feel little pride at all.

This visualization by The European Correspondent, based on Pew Research Center data, breaks down the top three sources of national pride in each country surveyed.

Top Sources of National Pride, by Country

Here’s a closer look at the top three sources of national pride cited by adults in each country:

Country	Top Source	Second Source	Third Source
Sweden	Politics (53%)	Landscape (32%)	People (26%)
Italy	Culture (38%)	Landscape (24%)	People (23%)
Greece	History (37%)	People (31%)	Negative feeling (19%)
Germany	Politics (36%)	Economy (18%)	Freedom (16%)
Spain	People (32%)	Negative feeling (25%)	Culture (16%)
UK	Negative feeling (29%)	People (25%)	Politics (22%)
France	Culture (26%)	People (24%)	Freedom (22%)
Netherlands	Freedom (24%)	Economy (21%)	Politics (21%)
Hungary	Negative feeling (23%)	History (21%)	People (20%)
Poland	Identity (21%)	History (20%)	People (18%)
Türkiye	People (20%)	History (12%)	Identity (10%)

Culture dominates in countries like Italy (38%) and France (26%), while history plays a major role in Greece (37%). Meanwhile, Sweden stands out with 53% citing politics—by far the highest single-category share.

The Core Drivers of Pride Across Europe

In much of Europe, national pride is rooted in shared identity and heritage. Southern European countries like Italy and Greece emphasize culture and history, reflecting their deep historical legacies and global cultural influence.

Elsewhere, people themselves are a key source of pride. Spain (32%) and France (24%) rank highly in this category, suggesting a strong sense of national community and social cohesion.

Where National Pride Is Weakest

Not all sentiment is positive. In the UK, 29% of respondents cite “negative feeling” when describing their country, which is higher than any single positive category. Hungary (23%) and Spain (25%) also show notable shares of dissatisfaction.

This aligns with broader research. According to Pew, individuals who express less pride are often those who do not identify with the governing political parties. In the UK specifically, findings from British Social Attitudes surveys suggest national identity has become more fragmented in recent years, often tied to political divisions.

These dynamics help explain why politics can be both a source of pride—as in Sweden—and frustration, as seen elsewhere.

Politics as a Source of Pride—and Division

Sweden stands out sharply, with 53% of respondents citing politics as a source of pride, which is the highest share of any single category in the dataset.

Germany (36%) follows at a distance. Meanwhile, in other countries, political dissatisfaction helps explain rising negative sentiment, particularly among those who feel disconnected from leadership.

2026-04-24 23:26:52

U.S. Birth Rates Still Haven’t Recovered From 2007

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The U.S. birth rate hit another record low in 2025.

This chart tracks births per 1,000 women ages 15–44 from 2000 to 2025, based on CDC data with additional reporting from CNN.

It highlights a clear turning point after 2007, when birth rates spiked, and shows how economic shocks like the Great Recession and COVID-19 accelerated a trend that has yet to reverse.

The Peak Before a Long Decline

By 2007, U.S. birth rates reached 69.3 births per 1,000 women, the highest level in the dataset. This marked a clear inflection point. Birth rates then began a sustained decline that continues through 2025.

The Lasting Impact of the Great Recession

The 2008 financial crisis triggered the steepest sustained drop in modern U.S. birth rates. Between 2007 and 2013, the rate fell by nearly 10%, as economic uncertainty led many households to delay or forgo having children. Unlike previous downturns, this decline proved persistent, even after the economy recovered.

Part of this sustained decline was driven by falling birth rates among immigrant women, a group that had previously supported higher overall fertility levels.

Pandemic Dip and Record Lows

The continued decline has significant long-term implications. Fewer births today mean slower population growth and a smaller future workforce, trends that could reshape economic growth, entitlement systems, and demographic balance in the decades ahead.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out U.S. Childcare Cost Higher Than In Other Developed Countries on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2026-04-24 21:38:40

Ranked: The Smartest AI Models of 2026

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The race to build smarter AI models is getting tighter at the top.

This visualization, part of Visual Capitalist’s AI Week, sponsored by Terzo, ranks leading systems using data from TrackingAI, which benchmarks models on the Mensa Norway IQ test as of April 2026.

The results show both who leads today and how little now separates the top contenders, with multiple frontier models clustered near the top of the leaderboard.

A Tie at the Top

The ranking offers a snapshot of how today’s leading AI models perform on abstract pattern-recognition tasks, and just how close the race has become.

As the table below shows, only a small gap now separates the top models:

The biggest takeaway is how compressed the top of the leaderboard has become. Grok-4.20 Expert Mode and OpenAI GPT 5.4 Pro (Vision) are tied for first at 145, while Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview follows closely at 141.

That narrow spread suggests frontier AI models are increasingly converging at the top, where a difference of just a few points can shift the rankings.

The gains from 2025 are also notable. Last year’s top score was 135, compared with 145 in this year’s results, highlighting the speed at which leading models are improving on this benchmark.

Not all models are keeping pace. Among major AI developers, Mistral’s top model ranks lowest in this dataset, scoring 97—well below the leading group.

How TrackingAI Runs the Test

TrackingAI uses the public Mensa Norway test, a set of 35 visual-pattern puzzles. For non-vision models, the questions are verbalized, while vision models receive the original images directly.

As a result, these results are best understood as a benchmark comparison—not a definitive measure of overall intelligence. Because the test is fundamentally visual, model scores can vary depending on how the questions are presented.

Why This Benchmark Matters

TrackingAI’s leaderboard is useful because it offers a simple, familiar way to compare reasoning performance over time. The site also notes that if a model refuses to answer, it is asked the same question up to 10 times, and the most recent answer is used for scoring.

Still, an IQ-style benchmark captures only one slice of capability. It does not measure everything that matters in real-world AI use, such as coding ability, factual reliability, tool use, or performance in professional domains.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Global AI Adoption on Voronoi.

2026-04-24 19:11:08

Mapped: Gas Prices Worldwide, From $0.09 to $15.65

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Gas prices vary dramatically across the globe, with some drivers paying over 170x more per gallon than others.

This map shows gasoline prices in 170 countries as of April 2026, based on data from GlobalPetrolPrices. The global average sits at $5.58 per gallon, in the middle of a massive range from $0.09 in Libya to $15.65 in Hong Kong.

In oil-rich countries like Libya and Iran, fuel is heavily subsidized, making it cheaper than bottled water in some cases. Meanwhile, dense, import-dependent regions like Hong Kong face the highest prices in the world.

The Cheapest Gasoline Is in Oil-Rich Nations

Libya tops the list at just $0.09 per gallon, followed by Iran and Venezuela, all below $0.15.

In these countries, governments often subsidize fuel to maintain political stability and support domestic consumption. In Libya, gasoline is even cheaper than bottled water.

Rank	Country	Price (USD/gal)
1	Libya	$0.09
2	Iran	$0.11
3	Venezuela	$0.13
4	Angola	$1.24
5	Kuwait	$1.28
6	Algeria	$1.34
7	Turkmenistan	$1.62
8	Egypt	$1.66
9	Kazakhstan	$1.99
10	Qatar	$2.13
11	Saudi Arabia	$2.35
12	Oman	$2.35
13	Iraq	$2.46
14	Bahrain	$2.54
15	Azerbaijan	$2.56
16	Sudan	$2.65
17	Indonesia	$2.75
18	Ecuador	$2.89
19	Tunisia	$3.25
20	Russia	$3.26
21	Niger	$3.32
22	Nigeria	$3.36
23	UAE	$3.38
24	Ethiopia	$3.41
25	Belarus	$3.44
26	Bhutan	$3.47
27	Kyrgyzstan	$3.51
28	Guyana	$3.52
29	Afghanistan	$3.61
30	Syria	$3.62
31	Malaysia	$3.63
32	Bangladesh	$3.68
33	Bolivia	$3.82
34	Uzbekistan	$3.83
35	Maldives	$3.92
36	Vietnam	$3.94
37	Gabon	$3.97
38	DR Congo	$3.98
39	Taiwan	$4.02
40	India	$4.12
41	Colombia	$4.21
42	Japan	$4.22
43	Paraguay	$4.23
44	El Salvador	$4.30
45	Trinidad & Tobago	$4.32
46	Swaziland	$4.36
47	United States	$4.45
48	Madagascar	$4.45
49	Togo	$4.53
50	Lebanon	$4.57
51	Curacao	$4.58
52	Benin	$4.63
53	Puerto Rico	$4.66
54	Grenada	$4.68
55	Mauritius	$4.71
56	Panama	$4.75
57	Suriname	$4.89
58	Cuba	$4.90
59	Saint Lucia	$4.93
60	Ghana	$4.93
61	Namibia	$4.95
62	Mozambique	$4.95
63	Honduras	$4.95
64	Brazil	$4.97
65	Fiji	$4.98
66	Botswana	$5.01
67	Dominican Republic	$5.02
68	Armenia	$5.03
69	Georgia	$5.03
70	Nicaragua	$5.05
71	China	$5.08
72	Burundi	$5.10
73	Pakistan	$5.13
74	Nepal	$5.14
75	Jamaica	$5.15
76	Kenya	$5.16
77	South Africa	$5.16
78	Liberia	$5.16
79	Costa Rica	$5.17
80	Guinea	$5.18
81	Aruba	$5.21
82	Lesotho	$5.22
83	Seychelles	$5.30
84	Zambia	$5.30
85	Turkey	$5.31
86	Uganda	$5.33
87	Mongolia	$5.41
88	Guatemala	$5.44
89	South Korea	$5.45
90	Sri Lanka	$5.46
91	Ivory Coast	$5.46
92	Haiti	$5.53
93	Cape Verde	$5.54
94	Bahamas	$5.54
95	Tanzania	$5.56
96	Australia	$5.57
97	Cameroon	$5.60
98	Burkina Faso	$5.66
99	Canada	$5.67
100	Myanmar	$5.75
101	Argentina	$5.76
102	Cayman Islands	$5.79
103	Dominica	$5.80
104	Mali	$5.83
105	Malta	$5.88
106	North Macedonia	$5.95
107	Philippines	$5.96
108	Rwanda	$5.97
109	Mexico	$5.99
110	Senegal	$6.13
111	Peru	$6.16
112	Morocco	$6.22
113	Thailand	$6.24
114	Chile	$6.24
115	Cambodia	$6.28
116	Bosnia & Herzegovina	$6.35
117	Bulgaria	$6.39
118	Jordan	$6.41
119	Moldova	$6.48
120	Ukraine	$6.55
121	Cyprus	$6.64
122	Sierra Leone	$6.73
123	San Marino	$6.81
124	Hungary	$6.86
125	Spain	$6.88
126	Slovakia	$6.92
127	Andorra	$6.96
128	Montenegro	$6.98
129	Central African Republic	$7.00
130	Barbados	$7.01
131	Wallis & Futuna	$7.02
132	Iceland	$7.02
133	Serbia	$7.07
134	Slovenia	$7.10
135	Laos	$7.17
136	Belize	$7.27
137	Croatia	$7.38
138	Poland	$7.41
139	Czech Republic	$7.42
140	UK	$7.49
141	Estonia	$7.57
142	New Zealand	$7.61
143	Lithuania	$7.64
144	Uruguay	$7.67
145	Luxembourg	$7.72
146	Sweden	$7.79
147	Austria	$7.85
148	Italy	$7.85
149	Romania	$7.91
150	Latvia	$8.07
151	Belgium	$8.23
152	Norway	$8.26
153	Zimbabwe	$8.44
154	Portugal	$8.51
155	Ireland	$8.60
156	Mayotte	$8.65
157	France	$8.75
158	Switzerland	$8.89
159	Finland	$8.94
160	Albania	$9.10
161	Greece	$9.10
162	Singapore	$9.11
163	Liechtenstein	$9.40
164	Germany	$9.57
165	Monaco	$9.73
166	Israel	$10.00
167	Denmark	$10.20
168	Netherlands	$10.26
169	Malawi	$14.56
170	Hong Kong	$15.65
--	World Average	$5.58

In the United States, gasoline prices sit close to the global average at about $4.45 per gallon in 2026. This relatively moderate pricing reflects a balance between domestic oil production and comparatively low fuel taxes versus Europe. While the U.S. is one of the world’s largest oil producers, prices still fluctuate with global crude markets and refining capacity.

High Taxes Drive Prices in Wealthy Economies

In contrast, the most expensive gasoline is found in high-income, import-dependent regions. Hong Kong leads globally at $15.65 per gallon, followed by European countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as countries such as Malawi and Israel.

How Far Can $10 Take You?

One of the clearest ways to understand global price gaps is purchasing power at the pump—how far the same amount of money takes you.

In Libya, $10 can buy enough gasoline to travel roughly 3,885 miles. In Hong Kong, that same amount covers just 22 miles.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Gasoline Price Changes Since the Start of the Iran War on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2026-04-24 12:51:43

Charted: The Global Trade in European Antiques

The global trade in European antiques is dominated by a few key players on both sides of the market.

France leads exports by a wide margin, while the United States is the largest destination for these goods.

Based on UN Comtrade data and visualized by The European Correspondent, this flow chart shows how antiques, defined here as objects over 100 years old, move from European sellers to buyers around the world.

France Dominates Europe’s Antique Exports

Here are the top exporters of European antiquities by value:

Top Exporters	Trade Value (USD)	Market Share (%)
France	$139M	58%
Germany	$28M	12%
Netherlands	$15M	6%
Austria	$14M	6%
Belgium	$14M	6%
Others EU	$30M	12%

France is the clear leader in Europe’s antique export market, accounting for 58% of total exports at $139 million, more than all other countries combined.

This dominance reflects several structural advantages. Paris remains one of the world’s top auction hubs, with a dense network of galleries, dealers, and auction houses that facilitate global sales. France also holds a vast inventory of cultural assets, from fine art and furniture to rare collectibles built over centuries of artistic and political influence.

Other European countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria participate in the market, but at a much smaller scale. Their comparatively limited export values highlight how concentrated the supply side is, with France acting as the primary gateway for European heritage entering global markets.

Who’s Buying Europe’s Past?

Here are the top importers of European antiquities:

Top Importers	Trade Value (USD)	Market Share (%)
United States	$105M	44%
UK	$48M	20%
Intra-EU	$26M	11%
China / Hong Kong	$25M	10%
Switzerland	$15M	6%
Other	$21M	9%

The United States leads by a wide margin, importing $105 million worth of antiques, or 44% of the total. The UK ranks second, followed by intra-EU trade and Asian markets like China and Hong Kong.

This aligns with broader trends in the global art market. American collectors and institutions remain key drivers of demand for cultural assets.

Meanwhile, policy changes, such as evolving tariffs on antiques and auction items, could influence future flows. While many antiques have historically benefited from favorable trade treatment, shifts in regulation may affect both buyers and sellers in the coming years.

2026-04-24 00:48:35

Ranked: AI Models U.S. Businesses Pay For

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Anthropic is rapidly closing the gap with OpenAI in the race for paid AI adoption among U.S. businesses.

As of March 2026, 35% of companies pay for OpenAI’s models, compared to 30% for Anthropic—a sharp shift from early 2025, when the gap was nearly three times wider. The change highlights how quickly enterprise demand is consolidating around a small number of AI providers.

This chart, a part of Visual Capitalist’s AI Week sponsored by Terzo, uses anonymized spend data from over 50,000 U.S. businesses on the Ramp platform, capturing only paid subscriptions and excluding free-tier usage.

OpenAI Leads, But Anthropic Is Closing In Fast

OpenAI remains the most widely paid-for AI provider among U.S. businesses, reaching 35.2% of companies in March 2026. Anthropic sits just behind at 30.6%—a gap of only 4.5 percentage points.

The data table below shows the share of U.S. businesses paying for AI models from different providers from January 2023 to March of 2026:

That gap looked very different a year ago. In January 2025, OpenAI was used by 16.8% of U.S. businesses while Anthropic sat at 4.1%, a spread of nearly 13 points. Anthropic has since grown more than sevenfold in 14 months, while OpenAI roughly doubled over the same period.

The remaining providers remain distant in paid business adoption. Google’s AI products—spanning Gemini, Vertex AI, and Workspace add-ons—have hovered between 3% and 4.5% of U.S. businesses for most of the past three years, barely moving despite heavy investment.

xAI has climbed from effectively zero in early 2024 to 1.9% in March 2026, a meaningful but still small footprint.

Claude Code and Cowork Drove the Anthropic Surge

Anthropic’s rapid rise in business adoption tracks its push into enterprise developer and knowledge-work tools.

Claude Code, the company’s coding assistant, and Cowork, its workflow collaboration platform, were both scaled aggressively across late 2025 and 2026—the period that coincides with the steepest part of Anthropic’s curve.

The pattern suggests that enterprise-native tooling, rather than general chatbot access, is now the key driver of paid seat growth. OpenAI has responded with its own developer coding tool, Codex, but Anthropic’s focus on developer workflows has clearly found traction in corporate procurement.

While Codex launched months after Claude Code, it has rapidly gained adoption among developers and knowledge workers, reaching four million active users as of April 21, 2026.