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2026-02-07 00:12:25

Ranked: The World’s Biggest Risks Today vs. in 10 Years

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From U.S.–China tensions to conflict in the Middle East, geopolitical instability is rising.

These pressures are reshaping global risk priorities across both the short and long term. Not only are they straining trade, investment, and supply chains, they are rewriting national security strategies.

This graphic shows the leading global risks both now and in 10 years, based on the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 which surveys more than 1,300 global experts and policymakers.

Ranked: The Top 10 Short-Term Risks

According to the report, here are most severe risks facing the global economy in the next two years.

Geoeconomic confrontation ranks as the top risk, jumping from ninth-spot last year.

Following next in line is misinformation and disinformation, which interconnects with risks including societal polarization and adverse outcomes of AI technologies. As AI agents become better at mimicking human behavior, they can increasingly be used to shape—or distort—public opinion.

Ranking in third is societal polarization, further threatening democratic stability. In the U.S., for instance, 11% of the population identified as far-right in 2025 while 9% were far-left. Additionally, several European countries showed even higher degrees of polarization.

The Biggest Global Risks in the Next Decade

As the table below shows, extreme weather events are the most severe risk over the next 10 years.

In 2025 alone, the U.S. saw 23 billion-dollar disasters, causing a combined $115 billion in damages. From droughts and wildfires to floods and heat waves, extreme weather displaced millions of people worldwide last year.

Overall, five of the top 10 long-term risks are environmental, including critical change to Earth systems and natural resource shortages.

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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’d biggest corporate polluters.

2026-02-06 02:31:07

Published

22 hours ago

on

February 5, 2026

By

Ryan Bellefontaine

Article & Editing

• Niccolo Conte

Graphics & Design

• Amy Kuo

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

The World’s Strongest Hospital Brands in 2026

Key Takeaways

• Johns Hopkins Medicine ranks first on Brand Strength for the second year in a row.
• Canada’s University Health Network leads the Care category among the top 25.
• Germany’s Charité posts the top Research category score in the top 25 hospitals.

Brand value is not just a corporate concern. Health systems compete globally for talent, research funding, referrals, and patient trust. But which hospital leads on this metric?

This graphic ranks academic medical centers using Brand Finance’s 2026 Global Top 250 Hospitals report. Hospitals are scored using a Brand Strength Index built from a survey of 2,500 healthcare professionals and 30+ metrics across 500+ AMCs.

Who Tops the 2026 List

Here is a table showing the top 25 placements for this years Brand Strength Index.

Rank	Hospital	Country	Brand Strength Index	Care Score	Research Score
1	Johns Hopkins Medicine	United States	83.3	77.7	81.0
2	Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	United Kingdom	82.0	72.1	82.8
3	Stanford University Medical Center	United States	81.5	73.9	77.8
4	Mass General Brigham	United States	80.8	74.5	76.3
5	Mayo Clinic Health System	United States	80.6	74.8	75.3
6	All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi	India	79.9	76.1	79.4
7	University Health Network	Canada	79.3	86.6	82.8
8	Cleveland Clinic	United States	79.2	72.7	74.3
9	Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	United Kingdom	78.5	70.6	83.0
10	Singapore General Hospital	Singapore	77.9	83.7	80.5
11	Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	United States	77.8	72.7	80.0
12	King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center	Saudi Arabia	77.7	76.5	79.0
13	Tata Memorial Centre	India	77.0	78.4	80.6
14	National University Health System	Singapore	76.9	78.9	80.9
15	University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center	United States	76.8	72.6	71.6
16	MD Anderson Cancer Center	United States	76.8	73.5	79.0
17	University Hospital of Zurich	Switzerland	76.7	79.1	79.3
18	The University of Tokyo Hospital	Japan	75.6	72.2	87.1
19	Charité	Germany	75.5	77.4	88.5
20	Duke University Hospital	United States	75.2	69.6	74.7
21	Mount Sinai Health System	United States	75.2	70.7	68.9
22	Kyoto University Hospital	Japan	75.2	73.1	83.5
23	Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	74.7	76.6	65.2
24	Yale New Haven Health System	United States	74.2	69.7	67.8
25	Groote Schuur Hospital	South Africa	74.1	78.9	86.6

The 2026 top spot goes to Johns Hopkins Medicine, followed by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Stanford University Medical Center. 

In Brand Finance’s framework, these organizations pair strong clinical reputations with the visibility that comes from education, research output, and high impact specialties.

In the Care category, University Health Network stands out, posting the highest Care score in the top 25 at 86.6.

Meanwhile, in the research category, Charité leads the category with a Research score of 88.5, followed closely by The University of Tokyo Hospital at 87.1.

A Global Top 25 With North America Still Dominant

North America supplies 12 of the top 25, including 11 from the United States plus one from Canada. That depth extends beyond the top tier.

Still, the list is far from monolithic. The United Kingdom places two hospitals in the top 10, while Asia is represented by Singapore General Hospital at number 10 and Japan’s University of Tokyo Hospital at number 18.

Furthermore, several of the biggest year over year climbers are also outside the U.S.

Cambridge University Hospitals rises nine positions to number nine, and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Saudi Arabia moves up to number 12.

Additionally, the Gulf’s presence is reinforced by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi at number 23.

Why Brand Strength Matters in Healthcare

Peer recommendations guide healthcare professionals, so brand strength boosts trust, talent recruitment, and credibility with insurers and regulators.

Consequently, for hospital leaders, reputation is measurable, and global visibility is increasingly part of the competitive set.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on investment peaks by industry.

The data for this visualization was sourced from Global Top 250 Hospitals 2025 Report, a publication by one of our data partners, Brand Finance. Our data partnerships are commercial agreements that may or may not include compensation, and partners are not involved with our editorial or graphical processes in any capacity.

Related Topics: #Brand Strength #hospitals #medical care #John Hopkins #Medical Research

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2026-02-05 21:06:13

Mapped: Where Birth Rates Are Highest in the U.S.

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.

Birth rates in the U.S. have been declining for decades, but that decline has hit some states faster than others.

The projections in this visualization are from SmartAsset, who analyzed results from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 1-Year American Community Survey. The number shown for each state represents births per 1,000 people, and is based on most recent fertility rate data and state demographics.

Utah’s Demographic Advantage

Utah ranks first in the nation, with an estimated 9.7 babies born per 1,000 people each year. The state’s relatively young population plays a major role, as younger adults are more likely to be in childbearing years. Cultural and religious influences also contribute, with larger family sizes remaining more common than in many other states.

Large States, Strong Numbers

Texas and California rank near the top both in absolute and relative terms. California is projected to see more than 340,000 births per year, while Texas exceeds 278,000. On a per-capita basis, both states are driven by younger populations and higher shares of immigrants.

Where Birth Rates Lag

States in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest tend to rank lower. Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia sit near the bottom, with fewer than eight babies born per 1,000 people annually. Older populations, higher living costs, and delayed family formation all play a role.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Countries With the Biggest Gains in Life Expectancy on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2026-02-05 14:44:28

Mapped: Which European Countries Pay the Highest Salaries

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.

Salaries across European countries vary widely, with the contrast especially apparent between Eastern and Western Europe.

While some European workers earn salaries comparable to those in the United States, others take home less than €20,000 (roughly $23,700) a year, highlighting the wide income gap within Europe’s economy.

This visualization shows the average annual full-time salary in every European country in 2024, using data from Eurostat and the OECD. OECD figures have been converted to euros using 2024 exchange rates.

Europe’s Highest-Paying Countries

Luxembourg ranks first in Europe, with an average full-time salary of around €83,000, also placing it among the highest-paying countries in the world.

Besides being driven by high-paying industries such as IT and finance, Luxembourg also uses a wage indexation system that automatically adjusts salaries in line with inflation to maintain purchasing power.

Here’s a look at average full-time salaries across 31 European nations:

Rank	Country	Average full-time salary in 2024 (euros)
1	Luxembourg	€82,969
2	Iceland	€77,189
3	Switzerland	€75,062
4	Denmark	€71,565
5	Norway	€64,029
6	Ireland	€61,051
7	Belgium	€59,632
8	Austria	€58,600
9	Netherlands	€58,248
10	Germany	€53,791
11	United Kingdom	€51,657
12	Finland	€49,428
13	Sweden	€46,525
14	France	€43,790
15	Slovenia	€35,133
16	Spain	€33,700
17	Italy	€33,523
18	Malta	€33,499
19	Lithuania	€29,104
20	Cyprus	€27,611
21	Estonia	€26,546
22	Portugal	€24,818
23	Czechia	€23,998
24	Croatia	€23,446
25	Latvia	€22,262
26	Poland	€21,246
27	Romania	€21,108
28	Slovakia	€20,287
29	Hungary	€18,461
30	Greece	€17,954
31	Bulgaria	€15,387

Iceland ranks second among Europe’s highest-paying countries with the average worker taking home just over €77,000. The country has also has strong union coverage, with around 90% of all employees covered by a trade union—potentially allowing for greater leverage in wage negotiations.

Several Nordic and Western European countries also rank highly. Switzerland, Denmark, and Iceland all report average salaries above €70,000 per year. Meanwhile, Germany and France—Europe’s two largest economies—sit near the middle, with average full-time wages of €53,791 and €43,790, respectively.

The East–West Divide in European Salaries

Moving south and east within Europe, average salaries drop significantly.

While Southern European countries such as Spain, Italy, and Portugal cluster closer to the €30,000 mark, Eastern European nations sit at the bottom of the ranking. Bulgaria reports Europe’s lowest average full-time salary at just €15,387, preceded by Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.

However, while headline salaries are useful for comparison, they don’t tell the full story. Countries with higher wages also tend to have higher living costs, especially for housing, childcare, and services. Meanwhile, lower-wage countries often benefit from cheaper housing and everyday expenses, partially offsetting income gaps.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

How have median incomes changed in the world’s largest economies from 1994 to 2024? Find out in this visualization on Voronoi.

2026-02-05 03:08:04

Charted: Silver Price Rallies Over Time (1965–2026)

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.

Unlike gold, silver plays a dual role as both a monetary metal and an industrial input, making it especially sensitive to shifts in supply, demand, and investor sentiment.

This chart highlights four major silver price rallies between 1965 and 2026, showing how quickly prices can surge during periods of economic stress or market disruption. Prices shown are not adjusted for inflation, and 2026 figures reflect data as of February 2, 2026.

The data for this visualization comes from Macrotrends and Kitco.

The Hunt Brothers and the 1980 Silver Spike

Maybe the most notorious silver rally occurred between 1979 and 1980. During this period, billionaire brothers Nelson and William Hunt attempted to corner the silver market by amassing physical silver and futures contracts.

At their peak, the Hunts controlled nearly one-third of global silver supply. Prices surged from $7.69 to $49.45 per ounce in just one year, a gain of 543%. The rally ultimately collapsed after regulatory intervention, leading to sharp losses and long-lasting market reforms.

Post-Financial Crisis Momentum (2009–2011)

Silver’s next major rally followed the 2008 global financial crisis. As central banks introduced aggressive monetary stimulus and interest rates fell, investors sought hard assets as a hedge against currency debasement.

Between 2009 and 2011, silver prices climbed from $12.59 to $49.47 per ounce, a 293% gain over two years.

The Pandemic and the 2025–2026 Breakout

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked another sharp rally in 2020, with prices rising 107% in a single year.

However, the most dramatic move came this year, when silver surged from $29 at the beginning of 2025 to a new all-time high above $121 in February 2026.

China’s tighter controls on silver exports constrained global supply, while escalating geopolitical tensions increased demand for safe-haven assets.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out All of the World’s Silver Reserves by Country, in One Visualization on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

2026-02-04 23:36:17

Countries Spending the Most on Research and Development

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.

For decades, the U.S. stood as the global leader in research and development (R&D) spending, however, China is increasingly challenging the scientific balance of power.

Backed by rapid growth and strategic investment, China’s share of global R&D has surged from 4.0% in 2000 to 27.4% in 2024. South Korea and India are also increasing their R&D presence, helping push Asia to the forefront of global innovation.

This graphic shows R&D spending by country, based on data from the World Intellectual Property Organization.

The Global Leaders in R&D Spending

Below, we rank countries by their R&D spending (in purchasing power parity-adjusted constant 2015 U.S. dollars):

Ranking	Country	R&D Spending 2024	Global Share	R&D Spending (% of GDP)
1	China	$785.9B	27.4%	2.7%
2	U.S.	$781.8B	27.2%	3.5%
3	Japan	$186.0B	6.5%	3.5%
4	Germany	$132.2B	4.6%	3.1%
5	South Korea	$126.4B	4.4%	5.3%
6	UK	$86.5B	3.0%	2.8%
7	India	$75.7B	2.6%	0.7%
8	France	$65.8B	2.3%	2.2%
9	Türkiye	$43.2B	1.5%	1.4%
10	Brazil	$38.4B	1.3%	1.2%
11	Russia	$38.1B	1.3%	0.9%
12	Canada	$33.2B	1.2%	1.8%
13	Italy	$32.5B	1.1%	1.3%
14	Spain	$29.0B	1.0%	1.5%
15	Israel	$26.5B	0.9%	6.3%
16	Australia	$25.1B	0.9%	1.9%
17	Netherlands	$23.0B	0.8%	2.2%
18	Switzerland	$20.8B	0.7%	3.3%
19	Belgium	$19.9B	0.7%	3.3%
20	Sweden	$19.9B	0.7%	3.6%
21	Egypt	$16.4B	0.6%	1.0%
22	Austria	$15.6B	0.5%	3.3%
23	Thailand	$15.1B	0.5%	1.2%
24	Singapore	$11.7B	0.4%	1.9%
25	UAE	$11.4B	0.4%	1.5%
26	Denmark	$10.4B	0.4%	3.0%
27	Malaysia	$10.2B	0.4%	1.0%

China ranks first globally, spending $785.9 billion on R&D in 2024.

Much of that investment is shaped by China’s centralized funding model, where a large share of research flows through government labs aligned with national priorities such as energy, biotech, and frontier technologies.

The U.S. ranks second at $781.8 billion. Unlike China, American R&D is driven primarily by the private sector, with Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta among the world’s largest corporate R&D investors.

Together, China and the U.S. R&D investment account for 54.7% of the global total.

Japan ranks a distant third, investing $186.0 billion in 2024. Since 2000, its share of global R&D has fallen by 7.2 percentage points, the second-largest decline after the U.S. Toyota has long led corporate R&D spending in Japan, with Honda also investing heavily.

Europe also places three countries in the global top 10, including Germany (#4), the UK (#6), and France (#8). However, each has seen its share of global R&D shrink since 2000.

Still, there are bright spots. In 2024, EU corporate R&D investment rose 13.0% in healthcare, while energy surged 19.8%, outpacing growth in China, the U.S., and Japan.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the Global Innovation Index in 2025.