Mapped: Global Sentiment on AI

​The World Risk Poll 2021, conducted in 121 countries with 125,000 respondents, revealed the global opinion on artificial intelligence (AI) is divided. The poll asked whether AI would "mostly help" or "mostly hurt" people in their home country over the next 20 years. The average ratio of those who believe AI will help versus harm is 1.4 globally. However, significant regional differences exist. Notably, the US showed skepticism towards AI with a ratio of 0.9, while China expressed a ratio of 4.5, indicating greater confidence in AI.

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Mapped: World’s Top 40 Largest Military Budgets

​According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military budgets reached an all-time high of $2.2 trillion in 2022, marking the eighth consecutive year of increase. The United States had the largest military budget, accounting for almost 40% of global military expenditures. China ranked second with a military budget of $292 billion, followed by Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia. However, the lowest budgets in the top 40 ranged from $5.2 billion to $5.6 billion.

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Mapped: The Safest Cities in the U.S.

​The article discusses the safest cities in the US, based on FBI data and Census Bureau populations from 2023. The ranking only includes cities with a population of 25,000 or higher and is based on total index crimes reported, including arson, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, murder, rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. The top 100 cities on the list have a median population of just 32,000, and many of them are located in the Northeastern states.

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Mapped: Meat Consumption By Country and Type

​TheWORLDMAPS has created a graphic highlighting the most consumed type of meat in every country in the world using data from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The graphic shows the annual per capita consumption of each type of meat, including beef, pork, mutton, poultry, seafood, and other meats. Poultry is the most popular meat by weight consumption in 70 countries, while fish and seafood are the second most popular in 56 countries, most of which have significant coastlines.

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Visualized: The Rise of the LFP Battery

​The article discusses the growing market for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are becoming popular in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. LFP batteries are favored for their safety, longevity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. The global LFP battery market was valued at $12.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $52.7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 19.7%. LFP batteries currently hold a 30% market share in the EV industry, a significant increase from 6% in 2020.

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How Long it Took for Popular Apps to Reach 100 Million Users

​Threads, Meta’s newest social media platform, reached 100 million users in just five days after its launch, according to Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg. This puts Threads ahead of other popular platforms in terms of speed at achieving this milestone. For comparison, Open AI’s ChatGPT took a little over a month to reach 100 million users, while TikTok and WeChat both took around nine months.

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Ranked: The World’s Most Valuable Football Club Brands

​Brand Finance, a brand valuation and strategy consultancy, has compiled a list of the world's 50 most valuable football club brands. Manchester City FC of the English Premier League takes the top spot with a brand value of $1.56 billion. Real Madrid CF of Spain is in second place with a brand value just above $1.5 billion, followed by FC Barcelona with a brand value of $1.4 billion. The UK is home to the most high-valued football club brands (18), followed by Germany (10) and Spain (9).

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Does “Made in America” Still Matter to Consumers?

​A recent survey conducted by Morning Consult found that around two-thirds of American consumers regularly seek out products that are "Made in America." The report also revealed that companies that choose to move their production back to the U.S. are likely to experience reputational gains with American consumers. The survey showed that while both Democrats and Republicans had the same share of respondents favoring American-made products at 76%, only 57% of independents favored American-made products.

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Visualized: The U.S. $20 Trillion Economy by State

​Every state in the U.S. plays a crucial role in the country's economy. California has the largest state economy with a real GDP of $2.9 trillion. New York and Texas are also major contributors to the nation's economy. The median GDP per state was $217 billion in 2022. The Great Lakes region and the Mideast region have GDPs higher than the median, while states in the Plains region and lower-population states generally have lower GDPs.

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Hotter Than Ever: 2023 Sets New Global Temperature Records

​July 2023 set new global temperature records, with the global average temperature reaching an unprecedented 17.2°C. The four hottest days on record occurred from July 4 to July 7, surpassing the previous record set in 2016. The increase in temperatures is attributed to the combination of the El Niño climate phenomenon and climate change. The Earth's average global temperature has risen by at least 1.1°C since 1880, and the pace of warming has significantly increased in the last century due to the burning of fossil fuels.

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What’s New on VC+ in July

Visual Capitalist is introducing a new program called VC+ that provides exclusive access to visual insights for leaders at Fortune 500 companies. VC+ members will receive a newsletter called The Trendline twice a week, as well as monthly special dispatches and access to the VC+ Archive. This month, VC+ members can expect special dispatches on cartography and a Q&A with the VC team about the development of their upcoming app. In addition, members will receive the premium newsletter, The Trendline, which highlights the best visualizations and reports each week.

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3 Ways the Shipping Industry is Addressing Climate Change

​According to a two-part series from Seaspan Corporation, the global shipping industry emitted 1.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, making up 2.89% of anthropogenic emissions. This figure is expected to increase by 90-130% in 2050. The report suggests several ways the shipping industry can become more sustainable, including propeller upgrades, hull coatings, main engine retrofits, and slowing down ships.

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How Do Chinese Citizens Feel About Other Countries?

​Chinese sentiment towards other countries has been significantly impacted by tensions over Taiwan, the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, and the war in Ukraine, according to a survey by the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University. The survey found that just under 60% of respondents held Russia in a favorable view, contrasting with the mere 12% who viewed the U.S. positively. Japan ranked just below the U.S. in terms of overall unfavorability, while Indian received the lowest favorability rating at just 8%.

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How U.S. Vehicle Production Has Shifted Over 45 Years

​The production of SUVs in the United States has surged over the last few decades, with SUVs becoming the leading vehicle type. Once seen as off-road vehicles, SUVs became popular as a transportation option for large families and subsequently became top-selling models for automakers. The growth of SUVs has been partly attributed to all-wheel drive systems that gained momentum in the 1980s, as well as the introduction of new SUV models such as the Jeep Cherokee and Land Rover's Range Rover.

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How Much the Most Followed Instagram Accounts Earn on Posts

​According to data from HopperHQ, Cristiano Ronaldo, the most followed person on Instagram, could charge an estimated $2.4 million per sponsored post in 2022. Following him is Kylie Jenner, who could charge $1.8 million per sponsored post. The most commonly followed celebrities in the top 20 are musicians, such as Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift, who accounted for 45% of the most followed accounts. Interestingly, Katy Perry was found to earn more per follower than all of the top 20 accounts, despite having fewer followers than most of them.

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Understanding the Global Supply of Water

​The demand for water has increased due to the growing global population and agricultural needs, putting pressure on the world's water supply. This has resulted in stress on freshwater resources and depletion of reservoirs. Only 3% of the Earth's water is freshwater, with two-thirds locked away in snow, glaciers, and polar ice caps, and a third in fast-depleting groundwater resources. This leaves just 1% of global freshwater as easily sourced supply from rainfall and reservoirs.

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Ranked: The Top Economies in the World (1980‒2075)

​According to a report from Goldman Sachs, the balance of global economic power is expected to shift dramatically in the coming decades. By 2050, Asia is projected to have a larger share of global GDP, with Indonesia becoming the fourth-largest economy. In 2075, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Egypt are expected to break into the top 10 economies, while European economies slip further down the rankings. China, India, and the US are predicted to have similar GDPs by 2075, suggesting equal economic power and the potential to shape the global landscape.

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Mapped: Global Livestock Distribution and Density

​Mapped: Global Livestock Distribution and Density
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Combined together, meat, dairy, and eggs make up nearly 18% of the average person’s diet.

But in order for these meat and animal products to reach consumers, a vast global livestock industry—one supporting the livelihoods of 1.3 billion people globally—operates in fields and farms largely unseen from major cities.

So where are the various types of livestock concentrated in the world? And how do national consumption habits influence animal husbandry?

These maps from Adam Symington help to answer these questions, using the Gridded Livestock of the World database from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which models livestock densities from 2010 around the world.

Chicken, Beef, and Pork Livestock Density
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As a starting point, it’s worth noting that the above map of all livestock might seem reminiscent to a human population density map.

Though there is definite correlation, especially when it comes to natural obstacles for both humans and livestock like deserts, forests, and mountain ranges, the concentration of livestock spreads far further than the densest human cities.

We dive into each category of livestock below.

### Chicken Livestock Density

The UN FAO estimates that the world produced more than 121 million tonnes of chicken meat in 2021, making it the world’s most harvested meat. Chicken eggs are also estimated to account for 93% of the world’s 86 million tonnes of poultry eggs.

These numbers and the map below help illustrate the sheer number of chickens needed to support the world’s appetite for chicken goods.

Just by glancing at the heatmap map of chicken distribution, two things stand out clearly. First is how ubiquitous chickens are, with a high density of chicken livestock in almost all of the world’s populated regions.

But the map also gives us insight into where most farms are located. In the U.S. for example, Southern states including Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas are major chicken producers. Likewise in countries like Brazil and China, the chicken industry can be seen continuing inland far beyond the more populated coastal regions.

### Pig Livestock Density

Shifting attention to pig livestock, we see densities begin to concentrate in a few specific regions.

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Ranked: The Top 100 Brands by Value in 2023

​Ranked: The Top 100 Brands by Value in 2023
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Brand value can be a critical part of any company’s intangible assets.

These kind of non-physical assets, such as patents and brand names, are having an increasing influence on a company’s overall value. A 2020 analysis found that intangibles made up 90% of the S&P 500’s market value, an increase of 22 percentage points since 1995.

This graphic shows the world’s 100 most valuable brands in 2023 based on an annual ranking from Brand Finance, illustrating the role brand equity plays in a company’s market position.

The Top 100 Companies, by Brand Value
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Brand Finance examined over 5,000 companies (and in cases of groups like Alphabet and Meta, their subsidiary brands) across 38 countries.

Broadly speaking, a brand’s value represents the allocation of company earnings that are linked to the brand. More details on the methodology are found at the end of this article.

Here are the most valuable brands in 2023:

Amazon ranks number one globally with its brand valued at $299 billion. As a market leader in online retail, it has strong brand loyalty in its B2C segment which generates its largest share of revenue, and is a key player in cloud services for its B2B platforms.

Apple is in close second with a $298 billion brand. It’s important to note that both tech giants brands fell in value from last year, as supply chain disruptions, labor market constraints, and slower forecasted revenue impacted their brands.

Other big tech brands Google (#3) and Microsoft (#4) were next in the ranking. Korean conglomerate Samsung (#6) was the highest-ranking firm based outside of America.

Brand Value: Leading Sectors in 2023
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Looking at brand value based on sector, we can see that tech continues to dominate. The sector breakdown below uses data from the top 500 brands covered by Brand Finance.

Overall, the top tech brands were worth a combined $891 billion largely thanks to the outsized influence of Apple, Microsoft, and Samsung.

After retail and media, the banking sector still held significant brand sway at $467 billion. Automobiles rounded out the top five sectors at $397 billion, led by companies like Tesla and Mercedes-Benz.

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The Fastest Growing and Declining Industries in the U.S. (2021-2031P)

​U.S. Employment Trends by Industry (2021–2031)
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The labor force is always shifting, responding to technological or societal changes.

For that reason, keeping an eye on the fastest growing industries can help workers and businesses stay on top of the crucial trends driving employment.

Today, we look through projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the fastest growing industries, as well as those that are the fastest declining, by percentage employment change between 2021 and 2031.

Ranked: Fastest Growing Industries By Employment Change
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Event Promoters, Agents, and Managers top the list of fastest growing industries, with an impressive predicted growth of 39%, employing over 180,000 workers by 2031.

Amusement Parks and Arcades follows close behind, with an expected 38% increase—adding over 60,000 new employees—in the same time period. Ranked third, the Performing Arts industry will start the next decade with around a 100,000-strong workforce, up 35% from 2021.

Below is the full list of BLS’ projected fastest growing industries, ranked by percent change in employment, between 2021–2031.

 
Note: Services & Other sector includes Information, Education and State & Local Government industries.All of the top three industries belong to the Leisure and Hospitality sector, which accounts for seven of the 20 fastest growing industries. This outsized performance reflects recovery more than pure growth, as the BLS notes that the Leisure and Hospitality sector was unduly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, giving it a lower-than-usual baseline in 2021.

Ranked fourth by employment change percentage is Individual and Family Services, though it is actually expected to see the largest growth in total employment terms, adding 850,000 new workers by the end of the decade. It is one of three industries in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector with large projected growth, thanks to an increased need for care service due to an aging American population.

Not to be missed is Computer Systems Design, projected to grow by 20% in employment thanks to growing demand for computing infrastructure and IT security.

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Which Countries Are Most Reliant on Coal?

​Which Countries Are Most Reliant on Coal?
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This was originally posted on Elements. Sign up to the free mailing list to get beautiful visualizations on real assets and resource megatrends each week.

Global energy policies and discussions in recent years have been focused on the importance of decarbonizing the energy system in the transition to net zero.

However, despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions, fossil fuels still account for more than 80% of primary energy use globally—and coal, the world’s most affordable energy fuel, is also the largest source of energy-related CO2 emissions.

The graphic above uses data from the Statistical Review of World Energy to show how much select countries rely on fossil fuels, particularly coal.

Coal’s Importance in Emerging Economies
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Coal is the largest source of electricity generation and the primary fuel for iron, steel, and cement production, making it central to climate and energy discussions.

The fossil fuel continues to be an affordable and abundant source of energy, particularly in emerging economies where demand is expanding rapidly.

South Africa is the world’s most coal-dependent nation featured in the statistical review, with coal accounting for 69% of its primary energy consumption in 2022.

Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. Select countries shown above.

In 2022, global consumption of coal surpassed 8 billion tonnes in a single year for the first time, with China and India being the two biggest consumers in absolute terms.

China’s power sector alone accounts for one-third of global coal consumption. Meanwhile, with a growth rate of 6% annually, India has doubled its coal consumption since 2007—and is expected to lead the growth in coal consumption for years to come.

Coal Demand in Developed Countries
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U.S. consumption of coal has dropped almost 50% compared to the early 2010s.

With initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes nearly $370 billion to accelerate the U.S.’s energy transition, coal consumption is expected to remain on a downward trajectory in the United States.

Source: BP Energy Outlook 2023. The forecast is based on BP’s scenario for global net-zero emissions by 2050.

The same movement is seen in the European Union.

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