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2026-04-18 19:47:29

Mapped: The Happiest States in America

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Your state might play a bigger role in your happiness than you think.

This map ranks all 50 states using a composite “happiness score,” revealing a wide gap between top-performing states like Hawaii and lower-ranked ones like West Virginia. The difference between first and last place exceeds 30 points, highlighting stark disparities in well-being across the country.

The data comes from WalletHub, which evaluated states across 30 metrics tied to emotional and physical health, income growth, work conditions, and community factors.

Why Hawaii and the Northeast Dominate the Rankings

Hawaii’s top ranking reflects strong performance across emotional well-being and community-related metrics.

The Northeast stands out as a clear hotspot for happiness, with multiple states clustering near the top of the rankings. In contrast, much of the South appears near the bottom, reinforcing a clear regional divide in overall well-being.

The data table below shows the happiness score and ranking of all 50 U.S. states:

Rank	State	Happiness Score
1	Hawaii	65.5
2	Maryland	64.1
3	Nebraska	63.6
4	New Jersey	63.4
5	Connecticut	62.5
6	Utah	61.1
7	California	60.1
8	New Hampshire	59.6
9	Massachusetts	59.2
10	Idaho	58.3
11	Minnesota	58.2
12	Delaware	56.1
13	South Dakota	55.9
14	Florida	55.9
15	Virginia	55.5
16	New York	55.4
17	Iowa	55.4
18	Pennsylvania	54.7
19	Georgia	53.9
20	Wisconsin	53.6
21	North Dakota	53.4
22	Illinois	53.4
23	Arizona	52.9
24	Washington	52.9
25	South Carolina	52.8
26	Rhode Island	51.7
27	Kansas	51.3
28	North Carolina	51.0
29	Vermont	49.9
30	Wyoming	49.5
31	Missouri	48.3
32	Montana	47.8
33	Maine	47.6
34	Indiana	47.4
35	Michigan	47.1
36	Oklahoma	47.1
37	Texas	46.4
38	Ohio	45.7
39	Oregon	44.9
40	Nevada	44.8
41	Colorado	44.5
42	Mississippi	43.9
43	Kentucky	43.3
44	New Mexico	43.1
45	Tennessee	41.2
46	Alaska	40.7
47	Alabama	40.7
48	Arkansas	37.0
49	Louisiana	34.3
50	West Virginia	32.0
--	Average	51.2

One surprise in the rankings is Nebraska, which places third overall ahead of larger and wealthier states. Its strong performance reflects consistent results across multiple categories rather than dominance in any single metric.

Meanwhile, among the four most populous states, results vary widely, highlighting how size alone does not determine quality of life. California ranks 7th overall, while Texas falls to 37th, creating one of the largest gaps among peer states in the ranking.

Southern States Have the Lowest Happiness

The lowest-ranked states cluster heavily in the South, with West Virginia, Louisiana, and Arkansas all scoring well below the national average. These states tend to rank poorly in both health outcomes and work environment metrics, two of the most heavily weighted components in the index.

West Virginia’s last-place finish is driven by bottom rankings in both emotional and physical well-being and work environment. Louisiana also ranks 49th in those two categories, though a mid-pack community and environment result keeps it narrowly ahead of West Virginia overall.

How WalletHub Built the Happiness Ranking

WalletHub says the study draws on 30 indicators, ranging from depression rates and the share of adults feeling productive to income growth and unemployment. According to the source methodology, the underlying data used to build the ranking was collected as of June 23, 2025, from a mix of federal agencies, Gallup, TransUnion, Sharecare, AmeriCorps, and other organizations.

Rather than capturing momentary mood, the ranking reflects broader living conditions. By combining health, economic, and community indicators, it offers a more comprehensive view of what drives happiness across states.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out this map of the world’s happiest countries on Voronoi.

2026-04-17 21:33:58

Ranked: The World’s Largest Exporters in 2025

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Global trade is dominated by a handful of export powerhouses—but the scale gap between them is striking.

China exported nearly $3.8 trillion in goods in 2025, maintaining a wide lead over the United States and every other economy. Meanwhile, Europe collectively accounts for a massive share of global exports, and smaller trade hubs like the Netherlands and UAE continue to punch far above their weight.

This graphic ranks the world’s 30 largest exporters using the latest data from the World Trade Organization.

China: The World’s Top Exporter

China’s $3.8 trillion in exports is nearly double that of the United States, underscoring the scale of its dominance in global manufacturing and trade.

Beginning with the country’s gradual liberalization in the late 1970s and 1980s, China pursued an export-driven growth model that sought to position the country as “the world’s factory floor.” Today, no country ships more merchandise abroad.

This data table lists the world’s top exporters and their 2025 goods export value.

Rank	Country	Value (Billion USD)
1	China	3,772
2	United States	2,185
3	Germany	1,764
4	Netherlands	989
5	Hong Kong	754
6	Japan	738
7	Italy	726
8	South Korea	709
9	United Arab Emirates	707
10	France	683
11	Mexico	665
12	Taiwan	641
13	Belgium	568
14	Singapore	567
15	United Kingdom	556
16	Canada	555
17	Switzerland	554
18	Vietnam	473
19	India	445
20	Spain	445
21	Russia	419
22	Poland	414
23	Malaysia	376
24	Brazil	348
25	Thailand	340
26	Australia	338
27	Saudi Arabia	311
28	Ireland	293
29	Czech Republic	284
30	Indonesia	283

China’s expansive exports have been boosted by its various free-trade agreements, including with Australia, Pakistan, South Korea, and the ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian markets.

The effect is undeniable: China is today the largest trade partner of over half the world’s countries, playing an increasingly central commercial role for developed and emerging markets across all continents.

The U.S. Export Profile

The United States may be best known today as the world’s largest import market, but it’s also responsible for over $2.2 trillion worth of diversified exports including cars, oil, soy, and medical products.

The top U.S. trade partners include its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, as well as China, Germany, and Japan.

Integrated North American supply chains mean that many U.S. exports actually obtain their inputs from imports across the border. Car parts, for example, may cross a U.S. border with either Canada or Mexico some six to eight times during the vehicle assembly process.

The Export Prominence of the Persian Gulf

Gulf states like Saudi Arabia ($311 billion) and the United Arab Emirates ($707 billion) also punch quite above their weight as exporters, aided by their sprawling hydrocarbon reserves.

Oil products make up nearly 75% of Saudi exports and over half of Emirati exports, in contrast to the less than 20% share seen in the U.S., the world’s largest oil producer.

The Gulf countries’ high dependence on their petroleum production thus makes them vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions in the Middle East, with the ongoing conflict involving Iran emerging as a clear example.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out China Outtrades the U.S. in Asia-Pacific on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

2026-04-17 19:41:05

Mapped: What It Takes to Be Upper-Middle Class in Every State

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For many Americans, earning $100,000 still feels like a financial milestone. But depending on where you live, that salary may fall well short of “upper-middle class.”

Across the U.S., the income required to reach this tier ranges from under $100K in some Southern states to over $160K in the Northeast.

Using a GOBankingRates analysis of 2024 U.S. Census data, this map shows the minimum income needed in each state to break into the top-third of middle-income earners.

The gap between states exceeds $70,000, meaning the same salary can place you in very different economic tiers depending on location.

Ranked: Income Thresholds by State

The Northeast and West Coast dominate the top of the rankings, with Massachusetts ($163,066) and New Jersey ($162,235) leading the nation.

Some of the biggest shifts are happening outside traditional coastal hubs. States like Colorado ($151,065) and Utah ($150,357) now rank among the most expensive for upper-middle-class status, with thresholds above $150K, higher than New York ($133,498).

This reflects rapid population growth, rising home prices, and an influx of higher-paying jobs in these regions.

The following table breaks down the minimum annual income needed to be considered upper-middle class in every state, ranked from highest to lowest.

In Texas, a salary of $124,010 secures an upper-middle-class lifestyle, a figure that is 24% lower than the entry point in Massachusetts. Florida tells a similar story. At $120,921, the cost of status is roughly in line with Pennsylvania, but without the burden of a state income tax.

The Growth of the Upper-Middle Class

Recent research from the American Enterprise Institute shows that since 1979, the share of Americans in the “core” middle class has declined, largely because households are moving up the income ladder.

The upper-middle class has tripled in size, growing from roughly 10% of families in 1979 to over 31% today, based on households earning $133,000 to $400,000 in 2024 dollars.

While more Americans now qualify as upper-middle class on paper, the definition itself has shifted upward. Rising housing costs and inflation mean that even six-figure incomes may not deliver the same level of financial comfort they once did.

In practical terms, where you live matters as much as how much you earn.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s richest countries versus the happiest countries.

2026-04-17 12:54:25

The Top Trade Partner of Every European Country

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Germany sits at the center of Europe’s trade network, but it is not the only global force shaping the continent’s economy.

This map highlights the top trading partner of each European country based on International Monetary Fund data for Q1-Q3 2025.

Europe’s nearly $30 trillion economy is diverse and spans sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, yet nearly half of all European countries rely on the same major trading partner for their imports and exports.

Germany: The Center of Europe

Germany is the top trade partner for 19 European countries, more than six times as many as the next closest countries, which each count just three.

This dominance reflects Germany’s central role in European manufacturing, supply chains, and intra-EU trade.

The table below shows how many European countries rely on each nation as their top trade partner, highlighting Germany’s outsized role in the region.

Top Trade Partner (2025 Q1-Q3)	# of Countries
Germany	19
U.S.	3
China	3
Netherlands	3
Italy	2
Greece	2
France	1
Finland	1
Sweden	1
Lithuania	1
Poland	1
Romania	1
Serbia	1
Spain	1
Switzerland	1
Russia	1

The Dutch, French, and Italian economies, among others, are closely linked to Germany, which is a major industrial player and consumer of primary goods ranging from crude oil to agricultural products. German cars and other high-value exports, meanwhile, have found success across European markets, especially within the 27-member European Union.

The following table shows each European country’s largest trade partner.

Country	Largest Trade Partner 2025 (Q1-Q3)
Albania	Italy
Austria	Germany
Belarus	Russia
Belgium	Netherlands
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Germany
Bulgaria	Germany
Croatia	Germany
Cyprus	Greece
Czechia	Germany
Denmark	Germany
Estonia	Finland
Finland	Sweden
France	Germany
Germany	Netherlands
Greece	Germany
Hungary	Germany
Iceland	Netherlands
Ireland	US
Italy	Germany
Kosovo	Germany
Latvia	Lithuania
Lithuania	Poland
Luxembourg	Germany
Malta	Italy
Moldova	Romania
Montenegro	Serbia
Netherlands	Germany
North Macedonia	Greece
Norway	Germany
Poland	Germany
Portugal	Spain
Romania	Germany
Russia	China
Serbia	Germany
Slovakia	Germany
Slovenia	Switzerland
Spain	France
Sweden	Germany
Switzerland	US
Turkey	China
Ukraine	China
United Kingdom	US

While Germany is Europe’s trade giant, its own largest trade partner is the Netherlands. The two countries have an annual trading relationship worth more than $200 billion, marked by extensive economic integration and joint supply chains.

The Netherlands, home to Europe’s largest seaport at Rotterdam, is also the main trade partner of neighboring Belgium, with which it forms part of the Benelux union.

Europe’s Other Top Trading Partners

Many European countries trade most with their largest neighboring country. For example, Malta’s main trade partner is Italy. Portugal’s top trade partner is Spain, while Spain’s is France.

The Baltics take this a step further: Latvia’s largest trade partner is Lithuania, while Lithuania’s is Poland. Estonia’s main trade partner is Finland, while Finland’s is Sweden. Poland and Sweden, in turn, maintain their largest trade relationships with Germany.

Some clear exceptions emerge. As the world’s largest economy, the U.S. is the primary trade partner of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

The Rise of China to the East

While Germany dominates within Europe, China is expanding its influence along the continent’s eastern edge.

It is now the top trade partner for Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey, displacing traditional European partners such as Germany in some cases.

Chinese exports to Russia and Ukraine play a major role in the country’s relationship with both Eastern European nations. Beijing also imports significant amounts of primary goods from the two warring countries, including food and mineral products from Ukraine as well as hydrocarbons from Russia.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The $19 Trillion European Union Economy on Voronoi.Use This Visualization

2026-04-16 23:18:11

Ranked: The World’s Biggest Natural Gas Producers

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The U.S. has pulled far ahead as the world’s largest natural gas producer, accounting for a quarter of global supply in 2024.

This chart ranks the top gas-producing countries using the latest available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, showing how output is concentrated among a handful of players that anchor global energy markets.

That dominance is becoming more important as disruptions in the Middle East tighten supply and shift trade flows toward large, stable producers like the United States.

The U.S. is the World’s Largest Natural Gas Producer

The U.S. isn’t just the top producer. It operates at a completely different scale.

In 2024, it produced 37,751 billion cubic feet of natural gas, more than 1.6x Russia and nearly equal to the combined output of Iran and China. No other country comes close. The gap between the U.S. and Russia alone is larger than the total output of most top-10 producers.

The data table below shows the ranking of natural gas production by country in 2024 in billion cubic feet:

Rank	Country	Natural Gas Production in 2024 (billion cubic feet)
1	United States	37,751
2	Russia	22,672
3	Iran	9,853
4	China	9,111
5	Canada	7,028
6	Qatar	6,003
7	Australia	5,368
8	Norway	4,626
9	Saudi Arabia	4,344
10	Algeria	3,496
11	Malaysia	2,860
12	Turkmenistan	2,755
13	Indonesia	2,472
14	United Arab Emirates	2,084
15	Argentina	1,660
16	Egypt	1,660
17	Uzbekistan	1,624
18	Oman	1,554
19	Nigeria	1,377
20	Azerbaijan	1,342
21	India	1,271
22	United Kingdom	1,095
23	Mexico	1,095
24	Kazakhstan	1,024
25	Thailand	953
26	Israel	953
27	Trinidad and Tobago	883
28	Venezuela	883
29	Pakistan	848
30	Brazil	777
31	Bangladesh	706
32	Kuwait	706
33	Bahrain	671
34	Ukraine	636
35	Peru	494
36	Myanmar	459
37	Libya	424
38	Bolivia	388
39	Brunei	388
40	Papua New Guinea	388
41	Colombia	353
42	Iraq	353
43	Netherlands	343
44	Romania	325
45	Equatorial Guinea	237
46	Vietnam	226
47	Angola	205
48	Poland	184
49	Germany	145
50	Syria	131
51	Ghana	120
52	New Zealand	117
53	Ivory Coast	95
54	Italy	92
55	Cameroon	88
56	Turkey	81
57	Denmark	78
58	Tanzania	71
59	Japan	67
60	Congo	64
61	Hungary	60
62	Philippines	60
63	Tunisia	42
64	Mozambique	42
65	Chile	39
66	Ireland	39
67	Cuba	35
68	Croatia	25
69	Gabon	18
70	Austria	18
71	Serbia	11
72	Ecuador	11
73	Czechia	7
74	Jordan	7

After the top four, production drops off sharply, with no country exceeding 7,500 billion cubic feet. Canada and Qatar lead the second tier, followed by a mix of LNG exporters and regional suppliers. This steep decline underscores how concentrated global supply is at the very top.

Together, those countries form the core of the global gas supply system, spanning North America, Eurasia, the Middle East, and key LNG-exporting hubs.

America’s Shale Helped Redraw the Production Map

U.S. natural gas output has roughly tripled since 2005 as hydraulic fracturing unlocked shale formations that were previously uneconomical. This surge helps explain why the U.S. stands so far ahead of other producers and why it has become central to both pipeline and LNG flows.

Recent tensions in the Middle East have disrupted natural gas infrastructure and shipping routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global energy trade.

With flows constrained, global markets are leaning more heavily on large, stable producers. This dynamic further amplifies the role of the U.S., which leads both in natural gas output and LNG export capacity.

As supply risks persist, this concentration is becoming more consequential. Countries with large, stable production, especially the U.S., are playing a growing role in balancing global energy markets and meeting LNG demand.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out U.S. Natural Gas Trade with North America (1985-2024) on Voronoi.

2026-04-16 22:06:58

Ranked: Countries With the Most College Graduates

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Higher education is becoming the norm in some countries, while remaining out of reach in others.

This chart ranks countries by the share of adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education—including college degrees and equivalent programs—based on data from OECD’s Education at a Glance 2025.

Canada leads at 63%, and a number of advanced economies have crossed the 50% threshold, highlighting how college education is becoming more widespread in the global workforce.

Countries like Ireland, Japan, and South Korea are part of this group where a majority of adults now hold a college degree, marking a shift toward higher-skilled labor markets.

Canada Is the Only Country Above 60%

Canada tops the ranking at 63%, making it the only country where nearly two-thirds of adults hold a college degree. The United States is at 51%, just above the OECD average of 42%.

This reflects decades of investment in higher education systems and sustained demand for skilled labor.

Country	% with higher education
Canada	63
Ireland	58
Japan	57
Korea	56
Luxembourg	54
United Kingdom	54
Australia	53
Sweden	52
Israel	51
United States	51
Norway	50
Lithuania	48
Switzerland	46
Belgium	45
Denmark	45
Netherlands	45
Iceland	44
New Zealand	44
Estonia	43
Finland	43
France	43
Spain	42
Latvia	40
Poland	39
Peru	39
Austria	38
Greece	35
Slovenia	35
Germany	34
Bulgaria	34
Chile	33
Colombia	31
Hungary	31
Portugal	31
Croatia	30
Slovak Republic	29
Costa Rica	28
Türkiye	27
Czechia	25
Argentina	24
Italy	22
Mexico	22
Brazil	22
China	19
Romania	19
India	14
Indonesia	13
South Africa	9
OECD average	42

Europe Spans From 58% to Below 25%

Europe shows one of the widest internal gaps in education attainment.

Ireland ranks among global leaders at 58%, while countries like Italy (22%) fall far behind, highlighting uneven access to higher education across the region.

Major Economies Still Below 20%

Some of the world’s largest economies remain well below OECD levels. China (19%), India (14%), and Indonesia (13%) show how access to higher education is still expanding, with important implications for future workforce development.

As these economies grow, expanding access to higher education will play a critical role in productivity, income growth, and global competitiveness as demand for skilled labor rises.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World has Made Substantial Progress in Increasing Basic Levels of Education on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.