Willingness to Fight for One's Country Among Residents of Different Countries Worldwide According to a Gallup survey conducted in late 2023, only 32% of Russians expressed their willingness to fight for their country if necessary, with another 48% being uncertain. This places Russia between Bulgaria and Canada in terms of readiness to fight for their country. On a global scale, the survey revealed that 52% of participants expressed their readiness to fight. Japan and Italy were among the countries with the lowest willingness to fight, with only 9% and 14% respectively. In contrast, Armenia topped the list with a staggering 96% readiness rate, followed closely by Saudi Arabia (94%), Azerbaijan (88%), Pakistan (86%), and Georgia (83%).

The Percentage of Marriages with Cousins Around the World Marrying blood relatives is uncommon in many Western countries like the United States and France, where less than 0.1% to 2.6% of marriages involve cousins. This trend extends to Latin American countries, where rates are also low, around 3%. In contrast, in Africa and the Middle East, marrying cousins is widespread, with some countries exceeding a 50% rate of such unions. This highlights a significant cultural contrast with Western practices.

Cities with the Biggest Changes in Beer Prices since 2020 Over the past five years, beer prices have seen significant fluctuations globally. In the Emirates, prices dropped by 37% in Dubai and 36% in Abu Dhabi, while in Japan, Tokyo experienced a 30% decrease. Similarly, Egypt's capital, Cairo, saw a 29% reduction in beer prices. Conversely, certain cities witnessed considerable price hikes. Buenos Aires, Argentina, recorded an 89% increase, while in the UK, Birmingham saw a 63% rise, and London experienced a 47% increase. In Mexico, Mexico City observed a substantial 60% surge in beer prices.

Global Central Banks Hold More Gold Than US Treasury Bonds For the first time since 1996, global central banks now hold more gold in their reserves than US Treasury bonds. The share of gold in central bank reserves has doubled in the past decade, reaching 24%, while the portion of US Treasury bonds has decreased to 23% from over 30% a decade ago. This shift marks a notable change, driven largely by the rapid increase in gold prices, which has contributed to this new balance. Despite this recent development, the current proportion of gold in central bank reserves remains far below the levels observed in the 1970s and 1980s when it peaked at 60%. This shift in holdings signifies a significant change in the composition of central bank reserves, highlighting the ongoing fluctuations in global economic trends and investment preferences.

Global Leaders in Natural Gas Production The USA dominates global natural gas production, with only three states - Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania - collectively ranking third in the world for this resource. These states alone extract a staggering 389 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The rest of the USA contributes even more, producing a total of 664 billion cubic meters each year, securing its position as the top global producer. Russia follows closely behind in second place, producing 630 billion cubic meters annually. The top three producers, essentially the USA and Russia, combined account for a significant 70% of the world's total gas production. Other notable contributors include Iran with 263 billion cubic meters per year, China with 248 billion, Canada with 194 billion, and Qatar with 179 billion cubic meters annually, albeit at a considerable distance from the leading duo.