J Estes

Oct 15, 2026

Germany, the EU’s Biggest Economy, Is a Nation of Renters

Nine of the EU’s top ten were communist in 1989. A 1990s sale of state flats explains it.

Oct 14, 2026

Washington Watches China While the Real Giant Sits Next Door

The 10 nations with the deepest roots in America’s fields. Russia and Iran barely register.

Oct 13, 2026

Venezuela’s Plotters Have Struck Out 13 Times Since 1952

Two scholars have logged 497 takeover bids since 1950. The U.S. and China have none.

Oct 12, 2026

The 10 Countries With the Highest Inflation in the World

Venezuela’s prices rise 387.4% this year, more than five times the next country. Iran is climbing. Argentina has dropped to fourth.

Oct 11, 2026

Eight of the Top Ten Sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire

Every volcano that erupted in the past 11,700 years counts. Italy, home of Etna, has 13.

Oct 9, 2026

Three London Landmarks Make the Global Top Ten

2025’s busiest art addresses. The top 100 drew over 200 million, short of 2019’s 230 million.

Germany, the EU’s Biggest Economy, Is a Nation of Renters

Oct 15, 2026

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2 min read

Germany, the EU’s Biggest Economy, Is a Nation of Renters

Nine of the EU’s top ten were communist in 1989. A 1990s sale of state flats explains it.

J Estes

Washington Watches China While the Real Giant Sits Next Door

Oct 14, 2026

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3 min read

Washington Watches China While the Real Giant Sits Next Door

The 10 nations with the deepest roots in America’s fields. Russia and Iran barely register.

J Estes

Venezuela’s Plotters Have Struck Out 13 Times Since 1952

Oct 13, 2026

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3 min read

Venezuela’s Plotters Have Struck Out 13 Times Since 1952

Two scholars have logged 497 takeover bids since 1950. The U.S. and China have none.

J Estes

The 10 Countries With the Highest Inflation in the World

Oct 12, 2026

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3 min read

The 10 Countries With the Highest Inflation in the World

Venezuela’s prices rise 387.4% this year, more than five times the next country. Iran is climbing. Argentina has dropped to fourth.

J Estes

Eight of the Top Ten Sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire

Oct 11, 2026

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3 min read

Eight of the Top Ten Sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire

Every volcano that erupted in the past 11,700 years counts. Italy, home of Etna, has 13.

J Estes

Three London Landmarks Make the Global Top Ten

Oct 9, 2026

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4 min read

Three London Landmarks Make the Global Top Ten

2025’s busiest art addresses. The top 100 drew over 200 million, short of 2019’s 230 million.

J Estes

Microstates Claim Three of the Top Five Spots for Life Expectancy

Oct 8, 2026

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3 min read

Microstates Claim Three of the Top Five Spots for Life Expectancy

Ranked by the UN's 2023 estimates for babies born that year. The U.S. sits 44th of 193.

J Estes

Heavy Industry, Not Home Comforts, Leads the Power-Use Table

Oct 7, 2026

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3 min read

Heavy Industry, Not Home Comforts, Leads the Power-Use Table

Ranked by kilowatt-hours per person in 2024, Ember's latest full year. The world average is 3,800.

J Estes

Nine of the UN's Ten Biggest Contributors Settled Up This Year

Oct 6, 2026

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3 min read

Nine of the UN's Ten Biggest Contributors Settled Up This Year

Ranked by share of the UN's regular budget. Japan's slice fell from 19.468% in 2006 to 6.930%.

J Estes

Ordinary Greeks Hold More Wealth Than Ordinary Germans

Oct 5, 2026

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3 min read

Ordinary Greeks Hold More Wealth Than Ordinary Germans

Ranked by the wealth of the adult in the exact middle. Japan makes the top 10 at $135,745.

J Estes

Europe's Pork Belt Runs From Copenhagen to Belgrade

Oct 4, 2026

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3 min read

Europe's Pork Belt Runs From Copenhagen to Belgrade

The 10 countries with the most pigs per person. Spain's herd grew 30% in a decade.

J Estes

The Biggest Coffee Drinkers on Earth Barely Farm a Bean

Oct 2, 2026

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3 min read

The Biggest Coffee Drinkers on Earth Barely Farm a Bean

The 10 countries that produce the most coffee. Uganda exports 95% of what it picks.

J Estes

Japan Gets Its First Woman Prime Minister and Stays Last in the G7

Oct 1, 2026

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2 min read

Japan Gets Its First Woman Prime Minister and Stays Last in the G7

The 10 countries closest to equality between women and men. America slips to 47th.

J Estes

One in Ten Threatened Plants on Earth Grows on the Great Red Island

Sep 30, 2026

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3 min read

One in Ten Threatened Plants on Earth Grows on the Great Red Island

Ten countries ranked by species at risk. Brazil, home of the Amazon, is only third.

J Estes

Berlin Becomes the Top Donor in a Year of Retreat

Sep 29, 2026

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3 min read

Berlin Becomes the Top Donor in a Year of Retreat

Ranked by dollars given in 2025. Every one of the top five cut, a first on record.

J Estes

Germany's Foreign Investment Tripled While France's Nearly Halved

Sep 28, 2026

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3 min read

Germany's Foreign Investment Tripled While France's Nearly Halved

The 10 biggest magnets for foreign direct investment. All of Africa got $70 billion.

J Estes

A Filipino Language Sits Second in the World's Encyclopedia

Sep 27, 2026

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3 min read

A Filipino Language Sits Second in the World's Encyclopedia

The 10 largest Wikipedias. Dutch, with 25 million speakers, outranks Spanish.

J Estes

America Tops World Chess With a Team Recruited From Abroad

Sep 25, 2026

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3 min read

America Tops World Chess With a Team Recruited From Abroad

The 10 strongest chess nations on FIDE's list. India grew its own and sits 20 points behind.

J Estes

Four Chinese Provinces Finish 37 Points Clear at the Top

Sep 24, 2026

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2 min read

Four Chinese Provinces Finish 37 Points Clear at the Top

The 10 best school systems for science. Hong Kong fell 25 points and now trails America.

J Estes

Beijing Refines Nine of Every Ten Rare Earths in the World

Sep 23, 2026

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3 min read

Beijing Refines Nine of Every Ten Rare Earths in the World

The 10 countries that mine the world's rare earths. America is second and still imports two-thirds of what it uses.

J Estes

Nine of the Top Ten Arms Industries Grew Last Year

Sep 22, 2026

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3 min read

Nine of the Top Ten Arms Industries Grew Last Year

The 10 countries that sell the most weapons. Only China went backwards last year.

J Estes

Qatar Sits at the Top of a Ranking Nobody Wants to Win

Sep 21, 2026

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3 min read

Qatar Sits at the Top of a Ranking Nobody Wants to Win

The 10 economies the IMF expects to shrink in 2026. Five of them ship through one strait.

J Estes

Japan Keeps a Fifth of Its Economy in Banknotes

Sep 20, 2026

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3 min read

Japan Keeps a Fifth of Its Economy in Banknotes

The 10 big economies holding the most paper money. Sixteen of nineteen hold less than in 2020.

J Estes

China Made More Steel Than Every Other Country Combined

Sep 18, 2026

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3 min read

China Made More Steel Than Every Other Country Combined

The 10 countries that make the most steel. Asia now pours seven tonnes in every ten.

J Estes

Iceland Holds First Place Without an Army

Sep 17, 2026

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3 min read

Iceland Holds First Place Without an Army

The 10 most peaceful countries in the world. Seven of them are in Western Europe.

J Estes