Empowering people with data

Mar 10, 2025 | Stocks

NYSE and Nasdaq monthly market cap of listed companies comparison 2018-2025

As of Janaury 2025, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq - the two largest stock exchange operators in the United States - held a combined market capitalization for domestic listed companies of over 62 trillion U.S. dollars. Both markets were almost evenly sized at this point in time - at approximately 32 and 30 trillion U.S. dollars, respectively. However, the Nasdaq has grown much quicker than the NYSE since January 2018, when their respective domestic market caps were 23 and 11 trillion U.S. dollars. Much of this can be attributed to the success of information technology stocks during the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as the Nasdaq is the traditional venue for companies operating in the tech sector.

Mar 10, 2025 | eSports

Fortnite average viewer count on Twitch 2025

Fortnite is an online battle royale video game developed by Epic Games and released in 2017. Fortnite events on the video streaming service Twitch were watched by an average of 70,000 viewers in February 2025. Engagement with the game spiked after the re-release of the original map in November 2023 as part of the OG season, as well as the launch of Lego Fortnite in December 2023.

Mar 12, 2025 | National Security

Number of active military personnel in NATO in 2025, by member state

In 2025, the United States had the largest number of active military personnel out of all North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, with almost 1.3 million troops. The country with the second-largest number of military personnel was Türkiye, at around 355,200 active personnel. Additionally, the U.S. has by far the most armored vehicles in NATO, as well as the largest Navy and Air Force. 

NATO in brief

NATO, which was formed in 1949, is the most powerful military alliance in the world. At its formation, NATO had 12 member countries, which by 2024 had increased to 32. NATO was originally formed to deter Soviet expansion into Europe, with member countries expected to come to each other’s defense in case of an attack. Member countries are also obliged to commit to spending two percent of their respective GDPs on defense, although many states have recently fallen far short of this target. 

NATO in the contemporary world

Some questioned the purposed of NATO after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union a few years later. In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron even called the organization 'brain-dead' amid dissatisfaction with the leadership of the U.S. President at the time, Donald Trump. NATO has, however, seen a revival after Russia's President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine in February 2022. Following the invasion, Sweden and Finland both abandoned decades of military neutrality and applied to join the alliance, with Finland joining in 2023, and Sweden in 2024.

Mar 11, 2025 | Diseases

Distribution of measles cases in the U.S. in 2024 and 2025, by vaccination status

In 2024, there were a total of 285 cases of measles in the United States. Around 89 percent of these cases were among those who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. From January 1 to March 6, 2025, there were 222 cases of measles, with those who were unvaccinated or with an unknown vaccination status accounting for 94 percent of these cases. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be especially dangerous for young children. Vaccines against measles resulted in a significant decrease in cases in the United States over the last few decades; however, increasing vaccine hesitancy and skepticism has been blamed for recent outbreaks. 

Mar 11, 2025 | Income & Expenditure

Real GDP growth rate Japan Q1 2019-Q4 2024

According to the second preliminary announcement in March 2025, the real gross domestic product (GDP) of Japan in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased by 0.6 percent (seasonally adjusted) and 2.2 percent (annualized) compared to the previous quarter.

GDP refers to the total market value of all goods and services that are produced within a country. Real GDP is adjusted for price changes and is therefore regarded as a key indicator for the economic well-being of a country.

Mar 11, 2025 | Emissions

Most polluted cities based on PM2.5 concentration in India 2024

Byrnihat was the most polluted city in India in 2024, with an average PM2.5 concentration of nearly 130 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³). This high level of pollution made the small industrial town on the Assam Meghalaya border the most polluted cities worldwide in 2024.

India was the fifth-most polluted country in the world in 2024, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 50.6 μg/m³. That same year, the country's capital New Delhi was also the most polluted capital city in the world. Vehicle exhaust and wood burning are some of the main sources of particulate air pollution in India, together with soil, road and construction dust .

The severe air pollution in India can have detrimental health impacts on the country's population. Fine particle pollutants penetrate deeply in the lungs, causing respiratory problems and can even result in premature death. More than two million deaths are attibuted to air pollution in India every year.

Mar 11, 2025 | Banks

Leading banks in the UK 2024, by number of customers

The United Kingdom's banking landscape in 2024 revealed a competitive field dominated by established institutions, with Barclays leading the pack with 48 million customers worldwide. HSBC followed closely with 41 million customers, showcasing the enduring strength of traditional banks despite the rise of digital challengers. Interestingly, customer numbers don't necessarily correlate with satisfaction, as online banks like Starling Bank, First Direct, and Monzo Bank topped the charts for customer contentment.

While Barclays boasts the largest customer base, HSBC maintains its position as the UK's largest bank by market capitalization. As of December 31, 2024, HSBC's market value reached approximately 176.71 billion U.S. dollars, rebounding to pre-pandemic levels and solidifying its status as Europe's largest bank by market value. This financial strength is further reflected in HSBC's annual revenue, which towered at 65.9 billion British pounds in 2024.

The banking sector's shift towards digital services has led to widespread branch closures among the UK's "big four" banks, with Barclays, Lloyds, and NatWest each shuttering over 1,000 locations between 2017 and 2024. This transition, while improving efficiency, has also resulted in significant job losses. Despite these changes, some traditional banks have managed to maintain strong customer loyalty. Nationwide, for instance, led UK banks in net current account gains in the third quarter of 2024, attracting over 22,000 new customers through the Current Account Switch Service. However, digital challengers like Revolut have made significant inroads, with the London-based neobank reporting over 50 million global customers by November 2024, highlighting the growing appeal of digital-only banking solutions.

Feb 13, 2025 | Elections

Votes casted in the presidential elections in Ecuador 2025

In the first round of Ecuador's presidential election, incumbent President Noboa emerged as the candidate with the most votes. The candidate received 44.3 percent of the votes and will face Luisa González in a second round.

Mar 10, 2025 | Electricity

Household electricity prices in Africa 2024, by country

Cabo Verde recorded the highest electricity price for households in Africa. As of June 2024, one kilowatt-hour costs around 0.35 U.S. dollars in the country. Kenya and Sierra Leone followed, with households paying 0.26 and 0.25 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Mail, Burkina Faso, and Gabon also recorded relatively higher prices for electricity on the continent. On the other hand, Egypt, Zambia, Angola, and Libya registered the lowest prices for electric energy in Africa.

In Africa, countries with high electricity prices for households also tend to have higher prices for businesses. For instance, Cabo Verde, Burkina Faso, and Kenya’s energy prices for companies placed them among the most expensive four countries on the continent. As of late 2023, the electricity prices stood at around 0.2, 0.2, and 0.19 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, respectively.

A significant share of Africans still live with no access to electricity. Although almost all of North Africa's population had access to electricity, the other regions had lower electricity access in 2021. Western, Southern, and Eastern Africa had just over 50 percent of their citizens living in electrified areas, while in Central Africa it stood at around 31 percent. Nevertheless, according to a survey, two Eastern African countries ranked highest with the most reliable electricity supply on the continent. Between 2021 and 2023, some 99 percent of Mauritians and 96 percent of Seychellois reported having a supply that worked most or all the time.