A collection of maps and charts on the world’s substance habits. Sources: @juliepeasleydataviz / OECD Health at a Glance 2025 / @visualcapitalist / @theeconomist / @chartrdaily / University of Michigan Monitoring the Future Report / Gallup​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

My latest Substack article takes a look at the risks stemming from US-China tensions! Geopolitical Guy | Substack https://geopoliticalguy.substack.com Sponsored by a SECTARA, a risk assessment software provider. https://sectara.com

For most of human history, more people meant more output. That relationship is maybe not quite as strong as it once was. Source: @ourworldindata

he world's eight most valuable public companies as of April 2026. Six are American. One is Saudi. One is Taiwanese. Not a single European company makes the list. Source: @Statista

Road deaths kill more people annually than many wars... Source: @ourworldindata

The US has completed 44 successful or semi-successful moon missions. The USSR managed 23 during the Cold War. China has now reached 10 and is moving faster than either did at the same stage! Source: @statista

The fuel crisis triggered by the Iran conflict is reshaping energy policy in many parts of the globe, particularly in the eastern hemisphere. Source: @statista

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing unprecedented pressure over his leadership following the Labour Party’s significant loss in local elections. Geopolitical Guy | Substack https://substack.com/@geopoliticalguy

Air Canada is late nearly half the time. Source: @statista

Cost of living: the chronic political blindspot that will ultimately cost them at the ballot... Source: @statista

China 48.9% control of global rare earth reserves is somewhat of a strategic masterstroke by Beijing... Source: @statista

$139 million worth of antiques leave France every year. Source: The European Correspondent

The US birth rate peaked in 2007 and has fallen almost every year since. Source: @visualcap

Nearly half of all income goes to food and housing in San Diego and Miami. Source: @visualcapitalist

The clean energy transition by country. Source: @visualcap

A 1908 colonial map of Africa published by the Wells Missionary Map Co. of Chicago

The Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire, overlaid.

How this isn’t a massive conflict of interest is staggering. The average American who wants to run a business alongside salaried work at a major corporation would be scrutinised by the compliance department. Source: Forbes

Africa has long exported its oil and bought back the refined product at a premium. Dangote is trying to end that arrangement. Source: S&P Gobal H/T @mapsafrican (X user)

The AI supercycle mapped across four phases. Phase 1, semiconductors and chips, is already done. Phase 2, data centres and power infrastructure, is happening right now. Phase 3, robotics, drones, and rare earths, is next. Phase 4, AGI dominance, starts after 2030. Source: @MrMikeInvesting (X user)

As Trump makes more veiled threat to use nukes against Iran, Tehran is considering its next steps in the escalation ladder. Desalination plants have been flagged as one pressure point, but undersea cables may be the next. Source: Telegeography https://submarine-cable-map-2025.telegeography.com

China leads on total solar generation. But Australia leads the world on solar per capita at 2,080 kWh. Source: Ember

Syria's energy map explains a lot about its war. Source: The Syria Report

Over 8,500 potentially toxic shipwrecks are rotting on the ocean floor Source: @Visualcap

The oil market at $2.1 trillion is larger than the top 10 metal markets combined. Source: @visualcap

By mapping the world's oil stockpiles, China's is bigger than the US, Japan, and OECD Europe combined.

Britain's political map has been redrawn by sustained socio-economic hardship. The irony is that British voters now see the man who spearheaded the Brexit campaign, the single biggest contributor to stagnation in the UK over the last decade, Nigel Farage, as the solution. Source: @theeconomist

America's European footprint is significant, but its reliability as a security partner is growing increasingly shaky, not only in Europe, but the Middle East and Asia. Source: @statista

In 1970, 67 countries formally recognised Taiwan. By 2026, that number has fallen to 12. Beijing's diplomatic pressure campaign has been relentless and nearly complete. Source: AFP

After decades of narrowing, global current account imbalances are opening up again. The US deficit keeps growing. So do China's and Germany's surpluses. The gap between creditor and debtor nations is back. Source: IMF

The US at $38 trillion dwarfs every other nation on earth in terms of debt. Is the world's largest economy also its most financially reckless? Source: @outlook_business

European leaders are looking at ways to increase their defence spending amid concerns about an aggressive Russia and an erratic United States. Source: Graphic News

South Korea is automating its workforce at a rapid rate. Source: @ourworldindata

Global antidepressant use per 1,000 people: The US leads the world in antidepressant use, 110 per 1,000 people, nearly 9x more than Korea. Source: Tech Insider / OECD & CDC

The Middle East and North Africa are among the world's most water-stressed regions. Source: Continental Drying: A Threat to Our Common Future (Zhang et al.)

Africa has $2.1 trillion in private wealth and most of it sits in four cities... Source: Henley & Partners (Africa Wealth Report)

Over 70% of U.S. rare earth imports come from China, which is a massive strategic vulnerability in America’s defense supply chain! Source: Visual Capitalist https://www.voronoiapp.com/military/How-Rare-Earths-Power-US-Defense-5833

Four countries — the U.S., China, Japan, and France — account for more than half of the world’s millionaires. Source: Visual Capitalist https://www.voronoiapp.com/wealth/The-Worlds-Millionaire-Population-by-Country—6893

As Trump makes veiled threats to restart strikes on Iran, US military bases in the region are likely to be targeted again in retaliation by Iran.

The $100 bill has a lifespan of over 20 years, significantly lower than $1s (7 years) and $5s (5 years) Source: Visual Capitalist https://posts.voronoiapp.com/money/The-100-Bill-is-the-Most-Popular-US-Note-in-Circulation—791

Education pays? Source: Visual Capitalist https://www.voronoiapp.com/education/Comparing-Education-Levels-Across-45-Countries—6872

EU Breakdown Source: Visual Capitalist https://www.voronoiapp.com/economy/The-19-Trillion-European-Union-Economy—3984

Half the world is on the verge of demographic decline! Source: @statista

Urban Oasis 🌳🌲 Source: Scally Cap https://posts.voronoiapp.com/climate/Ranked-Urban-Tree-Cover-of-European-Capital-Cities-1770

Breakdown of the World Economy in 2025! Source: Visual Capitalist https://www.voronoiapp.com/economy/-How-the-World-Economy-Will-Look-in-2025-3358

In a world of scrolling, some are still turning pages… 📚 Source: Designeris https://www.voronoiapp.com/other/Which-Country-Reads-the-Most-7019

One in five US flights arrives late. Source: @statista

Most of the world has dirty air according to a new 2024 report by the Switzerland-based air pollution watchdog, IQAir.

American shale changed the global energy map Source: @VisualCap

Two chokepoints with significant ramifications Source: @the_IMF