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Mapped: America’s Best States to Live In

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What makes a state a great place to live in 2025?

Using data from WalletHub, which evaluates 51 metrics across affordability, economic opportunity, safety, and health, this map ranks all 50 U.S. states by quality of life.

The results point to a shift in where Americans can achieve the highest standard of living. While coastal states still lead in income and infrastructure, many Midwest and Mountain states are rising by combining affordability, safety, and economic stability.

Ranked: Where Quality of Life Is Highest in America

Massachusetts tops the ranking thanks to a combination of high incomes, leading healthcare access, and a dense network of top universities, but coastal states no longer dominate the list.

States like Idaho (#2) and New Hampshire (#7) show that quality of life is increasingly driven by safety and economic stability, not just taxes or climate.

Below is the full breakdown of all 50 states, ranked by their total score. Figures are rounded.

Rank	State	Total Score
1	Massachusetts	60.2
2	Idaho	60.2
3	New Jersey	59.8
4	Wisconsin	59.7
5	Minnesota	58.7
6	Florida	58.5
7	New Hampshire	58.2
8	Utah	57.9
9	New York	57.9
10	Pennsylvania	57.9
11	Wyoming	57.9
12	Iowa	56.2
13	Maine	56.2
14	Virginia	56.2
15	Montana	55.2
16	North Dakota	54.6
17	Illinois	54.6
18	South Dakota	54.1
19	Colorado	53.6
20	Nebraska	52.9
21	Vermont	52.7
22	North Carolina	52.3
23	Kansas	52.2
24	Connecticut	52.1
25	Rhode Island	52.1
26	Ohio	51.6
27	Georgia	51.6
28	Missouri	51.2
29	Indiana	51.2
30	Michigan	51.1
30	Arizona	51.0
32	California	50.5
33	Delaware	50.0
34	Maryland	49.8
35	Hawaii	49.4
36	Washington	49.2
37	Kentucky	47.5
38	Texas	47.2
39	Oregon	47.2
40	Tennessee	47.0
41	Alabama	47.0
42	West Virginia	47.0
43	Oklahoma	46.3
44	South Carolina	45.7
45	Nevada	44.6
46	Alaska	44.2
47	Mississippi	43.5
48	Arkansas	42.1
49	Louisiana	40.6
50	New Mexico	39.7

One of the clearest trends in the 2025 rankings is the rise of the Midwest as a quality-of-life leader.

With Wisconsin (#4) and Minnesota (#5) in the top five, the region stands out for balancing strong economic, health, and educational outcomes with relatively better affordability.

States Ranking Near the Bottom

The lowest-ranked states cluster into a clear pattern at the bottom of the map.

New Mexico (#50) and Louisiana (#49) remain the only states to score around 40 points, hampered by systemic gaps in healthcare infrastructure and safety.

Moreover, the bottom quartile of the list contains many of the nation’s most “affordable” states. This creates a “livability paradox”: states with the lowest costs often rank poorly overall, as weaker healthcare, safety, and economic mobility offset their affordability advantages.

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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on average salary by state.

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Most airport rankings focus on passenger traffic, but that only tells part of the story. A different metric, aircraft movements, shows how often planes are actually taking off and landing.

Using Federal Aviation Administration data, this visualization by Julie Peasley ranks the busiest U.S. airports by total flights in 2025.

At the top, Chicago O’Hare operates at an almost continuous pace, with a takeoff or landing every 37 seconds.

U.S. Airports With the Most Flights

Here’s a look at America’s top airports by flights:

Chicago O’Hare leads by a wide margin, followed by Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth. Notably, the top four airports all exceed 700,000 annual operations, underscoring their immense throughput and operational complexity.

To put this in perspective, here’s how quickly flights move at the top airports:

• O’Hare (ORD): every 37 seconds
• Atlanta (ATL): every 39 seconds
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): every 42 seconds
• Denver (DEN): every 45 seconds

Even small differences translate into tens of thousands of additional flights per year.

Why the Busiest Airport Isn’t Always the Most Crowded

Passenger rankings favor bigger planes. Flight rankings favor more planes. That’s why airports like Chicago O’Hare and Denver rise to the top. They move aircraft more frequently, not just more people.

For context, some of the world’s busiest passenger airports do not appear at the top of this list. That’s because larger aircraft can carry more people per flight, reducing total movements even at high-traffic hubs.

O’Hare’s lead comes down to frequency. Over a full day, that 37-second pace adds up to more than 2,300 flights, far ahead of any other U.S. airport.

Meanwhile, airports like Phoenix Sky Harbor and Charlotte Douglas also rank highly because of their roles as connecting hubs, handling constant waves of arrivals and departures throughout the day.

The Role of Connectivity and Hub Strategy

Airports with strong airline hub operations naturally generate more aircraft movements. Carriers schedule tightly coordinated banks of flights to maximize connections, leading to frequent takeoffs and landings.

According to broader aviation analysis, highly connected airports tend to prioritize network efficiency over sheer passenger volume. This helps explain why hubs like Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth rank so highly, since they act as central nodes in national air travel.

Just How Busy Is “Busy”?

To put these numbers in perspective, even the 10th-ranked airport, New York’s JFK, handles a flight roughly every 67 seconds. At the top end, O’Hare’s near-continuous operations require precise coordination between air traffic control, ground crews, and airlines.

This near-constant flow of aircraft highlights how modern air travel depends on precision and coordination at scale. As flight demand grows, the busiest airports aren’t just moving more people. They’re managing an increasingly nonstop stream of planes.

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For more aviation insights, check out U.S. Airports with Most Bird Strikes on the Voronoi app.

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Ranked: The Best-Selling Video Games in History

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Video games have produced some of the best-selling entertainment products ever—but the top spot isn’t as clear-cut as it seems.

This ranking uses updated sales data from HP (2026) to compare the top-selling video games of all time, led by Tetris at more than 520 million units sold. However, its position is debated because the game has been released across dozens of platforms since 1984.

If each version is counted separately, Minecraft would take the crown, highlighting how the industry’s biggest hits span generations, platforms, and business models.

Is Tetris Really the Best-Selling Game Ever?

Tetris is widely considered the best-selling video game of all time, but that title depends on how its many versions are counted.

Since 1984, the game has been rereleased across dozens of platforms, contributing to its 520 million total. Some analysts count each version separately. Under that approach, Minecraft would rank as the best-selling single-release game in history.

Despite gaming’s decades-long history, most of the top-selling titles were released after 2010. Franchises like Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto V, and Terraria reflect the shift toward digital distribution, live-service updates, and global player communities.

The Rise of the Creeper

In 2009, Swedish game developer Mojang Studios launched early access for Minecraft, a sandbox game that allows players to create, fight, and mine while engaging with a massive online community.

Nearly two decades later, Minecraft has become the defining game of the modern era, with 350 million copies sold worldwide. It was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014.

Today, the game’s large fan community has led to the development of the annual Minecon convention, as well as a 2025 film adaptation, A Minecraft Movie, which grossed over $960 million at the box office.

GTA V and the Rockstar Reign

In November 2026, Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to be released. Much of the anticipation stems from its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, which generated over $1 billion in sales within three days of its 2013 launch, making it the fastest-selling entertainment product in history at the time.

Since then, Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 225 million copies worldwide, surpassing even bundled titles like Nintendo’s Wii Sports (83 million).

Few games released since Grand Theft Auto V have matched its commercial success. Red Dead Redemption 2, also developed by Rockstar Games, has reached 82 million sales, ahead of titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (79 million), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (60 million), and Super Mario Bros. (58 million).

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To learn more about this topic, check out the Top 10 Best-Selling Console Video Games of 1980.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

Rank	State	Income Needed to be Upper-Middle Class
1	Massachusetts	$163,066
2	New Jersey	$162,235
3	Maryland	$160,074
4	Hawaii	$156,714
5	California	$155,787
6	New Hampshire	$155,216
7	Washington	$154,605
8	Colorado	$151,065
9	Utah	$150,357
10	Connecticut	$149,410
11	Alaska	$148,812
12	Virginia	$143,251
13	Delaware	$136,164
14	Minnesota	$135,515
15	New York	$133,498
16	Oregon	$132,564
17	Rhode Island	$129,895
18	Illinois	$129,439
19	Vermont	$128,691
20	Arizona	$126,756
21	Idaho	$126,258
22	Nevada	$126,208
23	Georgia	$124,430
24	Texas	$124,010
25	North Dakota	$121,133
26	Florida	$120,921
27	Pennsylvania	$120,626
28	Wisconsin	$120,537
29	South Dakota	$119,593
30	Maine	$118,910
31	Nebraska	$118,807
32	Wyoming	$117,494
33	Kansas	$117,466
34	Iowa	$112,450
35	Montana	$117,196
36	North Carolina	$115,046
37	Michigan	$112,605
38	South Carolina	$112,544
39	Ohio	$112,330
40	Tennessee	$111,995
41	Inidana	$111,936
42	Missouri	$111,361
43	New Mexico	$105,492
44	Alabama	$103,692
45	Oklahoma	$102,897
46	Kentucky	$100,374
47	Arkansas	$96,609
48	Louisiana	$94,867
49	West Virginia	$94,575
50	Mississippi	$91,975

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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Mapped: The States Where Living Costs the Most—and Least

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Living costs vary widely across the United States, shaping how far a paycheck goes from one state to another. In the most expensive states, everyday expenses run far above the national average, while in lower-cost states, incomes stretch significantly further.

Using 2025 data from the Council for Community & Economic Research via Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, this map shows the cost of living index in every state, with the U.S. set at a baseline of 100. Housing is the biggest driver of these differences, though taxes, utilities, and healthcare also play a major role.

The map also reveals a strong regional pattern, with much of the South and Midwest below the national average, while coastal states dominate the high-cost end.

The Most Expensive States in America

Hawaii is the most expensive state in America, with living costs roughly double those in Texas and 84% above the national average.

In Q4 2025, the average home sale price reached $906K, up from $668K in Q4 2019. This surge shows how housing remains the single biggest factor behind high living costs. In addition, Hawaii residents face the highest tax burden nationally when property, income, and sales taxes are combined.

This table shows the cost of living index by state in 2025, using the U.S. as a baseline of 100.

Rank	State	Cost of Living Index (2025)
1	Hawaii	183.9
2	Massachusetts	148.5
3	California	143.1
4	District of Columbia	137.8
5	Alaska	126.7
6	New York	125.8
7	Maryland	117.4
8	New Jersey	115.3
9	Connecticut	114.0
10	Maine	114.0
11	Vermont	113.5
12	Washington	112.9
13	Oregon	112.8
14	Rhode Island	110.7
15	New Hampshire	110.5
16	Arizona	110.3
17	Delaware	103.1
18	Colorado	103.1
19	Virginia	102.2
20	Florida	101.4
21	Nevada	99.7
22	Utah	99.5
23	Idaho	99.3
24	Wisconsin	98.5
25	North Carolina	97.9
26	Pennsylvania	97.1
27	Montana	96.8
28	Illinois	95.0
29	Wyoming	94.6
30	Ohio	94.6
31	New Mexico	93.7
32	Minnesota	93.6
33	Louisiana	92.9
34	South Carolina	92.7
35	Georgia	92.2
36	Michigan	91.9
37	Nebraska	91.8
38	South Dakota	91.8
39	Kentucky	91.5
40	Texas	91.1
41	North Dakota	91.1
42	Indiana	90.7
43	Arkansas	90.1
44	Tennessee	90.1
45	Iowa	89.8
46	Missouri	88.9
47	Kansas	88.4
48	Alabama	88.1
49	West Virginia	88.0
50	Mississippi	86.0
51	Oklahoma	84.7

Massachusetts follows, with prices 49% above the U.S. baseline. Beyond high housing costs, expensive healthcare and utilities drive up prices, at 34% and 55% above the national average, respectively.

Meanwhile, California residents pay 43% higher costs overall, with Washington, D.C. (38%) and Alaska (27%) rounding out the top five.

As cost disparities widen, these high-cost states continue to face outmigration pressures, while lower-cost regions gain population and economic momentum.

The Most Affordable States

Oklahoma is the least expensive state in the country, with prices 15% below the U.S. average.

With the most affordable home prices nationwide, housing costs are 31% below the national average, making it a key driver of overall affordability. This pattern is consistent across much of the Southern U.S., where lower housing costs anchor overall living expenses.

Alabama has the fourth-lowest cost of living in the country, with home prices about 29% below the national average.

In 2025, it saw among the highest net immigration rates per capita, highlighting how affordability is increasingly driving domestic migration trends. Other affordable states like Tennessee and Arkansas also experienced strong per capita inflows.

Together, these patterns highlight how affordability is reshaping where Americans live, as lower-cost states attract residents looking to stretch their income further amid ongoing housing and inflation pressures.

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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on average salary by state.