Maps

The Most Popular Surnames in Countries Around the World

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Depending on where in the world you live, the most popular surname in your country will be wildly different. In the United States (and many other English-speaking countries), the most popular surname is Smith. Reddit user u/saadtheking posted a graphic that visualizes the most common surname in every country around the world. Read on to see which surname is the most popular in your country!

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most-common-last-name-chartistry

The graphic utilizes a heat map visualization to not only showcase the most popular surnames in each country, but also the meaning behind them. Some surnames come from occupations (Smith in English-speaking countries), characteristics (Nowak, which means “newcomer” in Polish), and ancestral names (Hernandez in Mexico, which means son of Hernando/Fernando).

What are the most common surnames in the world? The world’s most popular surname is Wang, which an estimated 107 million people around the world have. It is the most common last name in China. Li/Lee is also a very popular surname with more than 100 million having it as their last name.

Smith is the most popular surname in many English-speaking countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The surname originated in England and traditionally meant to refer to people who worked with metals (like blacksmiths). Surnames related to smithing and blacksmithing are found in other countries around the world as well. Smidt, Schmidt, Smits, Ferreira, and Kowal are other smithing-related surnames that are commonly found around the world.

Does your surname make the list of most popular surnames around the world?

 

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Charts

Map Unveils Countries with Most Powerful Passports

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There are many uses for a passport, but the most useful one is access to foreign countries. A powerful passport will grant the holder easy access to many different foreign nations. This map from the team at Italian Dual Citizenship ranks countries by how many foreign nations passport holders can visit without a Visa or with the easy Visa upon-arrival option. We can see an extensive list of their results, as well as a color-coded map with the most powerful country’s passports, darkened to navy blue and the weakest labeled with vibrant green.

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Which Countries Have the World's Most Powerful Passports?

This map is a powerful demonstration of the data since we can look at the colors and notice patterns and anomalies. For example, the entire European Union, which encompasses most of Western Europe, is a deep navy blue, and the countries are among the world’s most powerful passport issuers. In the Middle East, we see a lot of green indicating weaker passports, but there’s a lone navy-blue country. The United Arab Emirates offers the world’s most powerful passport with Visa-free access to 133 countries and 46 countries with a Visa-on-arrival.

As for the countries with the most limited access, Syria is at the bottom of the list, with only nine Visa-free opportunities and 30 Visa-on-arrival. Afghanistan offers only six Visa-free opportunities but pushes past Syria with 34 Visa-on-arrival countries.

This map is a perfect way to display a huge wealth of data, like information on passport requirements.

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Maps

Study Determines the Countries Most Crowded with Tourists

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The global tourism industry is more significant than ever as jetsetters head for new sights, cultures, and sensations. All travelers have their own draws to a destination. Some seek out beautiful natural scenes, others want to visit culture-packed cities, and others focus on food quality. This map from Irish Dual Citizenship gives us further insight into what global tourists value most when traveling.

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Which Countries Are the Most (and Least) Crowded With Tourists?

The team determined that these ten countries are packed with the most tourists:

  • France
  • Poland
  • Mexico
  • United States
  • Thailand
  • Italy
  • Czech Republic
  • Spain
  • Canada
  • Hungary

The countries that receive the least visitors are:

  • American Samoa
  • Tuvalu
  • Solomon Islands
  • Marshall Islands
  • Comoros
  • Chad
  • Kiribati
  • Micronesia
  • Palau
  • Samoa
  • Moldova

We can see from the most popular list that affordability plays a large role in travel destination choice. Poland is the most affordable European country to visit, and Mexico offers incredible food and beachside resorts for some of the lowest prices. People flock to gorgeous natural scenery like the United States National Parks or the beaches and rainforests of Thailand. Still others seek out unique culture, which is why France is a perennial favorite destination along with other European destinations like Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, and Hungary.

On the flip side, safety issues drive tourists away. Many of the countries at the very bottom of the list are dangerous due to violent crime, active war zones, or terrorism. Some countries are too remote and rugged to travel to, or they just aren’t on the international radar as an appealing destination.

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Maps

New Graphic Reveals Locations of Fatal Boating Accidents

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The team at SI Yachts unveiled new research that serves as a sobering reminder for Americans who like boating. The team analyzed statistics on fatal boating accidents around the country to determine where they happened and the most common causes of fatal accidents. Using these statistics, the team created a map highlighting the most dangerous and safe states for boating. The results are an easy-to-follow map that highlights the areas that might have dangerous waters or lax boater safety rules.

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The Safest (and Most Dangerous) States for Boating

These are the safest states to boat in:

  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
  • Iowa
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Michigan
  • Pennsylvania
  • Wisconsin
  • New Hampshire
  • Mississippi

These are the most dangerous boating locations:

  • District of Columbia
  • Alaska
  • Hawaii
  • Colorado
  • Vermont
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • Nevada
  • Utah
  • Idaho
  • Washinton

Minnesota claims the top safety spot because they have thorough boater safety laws and plenty of experienced captains in a state known as “the Land of 10,000 Lakes.” As we can see from statistics, inexperienced operators are the third most common cause of fatal boating accidents. In contrast, the District of Columbia held the highest number of fatal boating accidents. The Potomac River is full of dangerous currents and unexpected hazards, the second most common cause of fatal boating accidents. Unfortunately, many people also boat on the Potomac while under the influence. Alcohol use was the number one most common cause of fatal boating accidents.

The data the team collected should remind all boaters to be careful regardless of where they’re boating. Practice good safety, pay attention to the water, and don’t take risks!

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