With historic global voter turnouts, unprecedented spending, and seismic shifts in political power, the numbers reveal more than who won—they tell the story of our increasingly divided and decisive era.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2020 US presidential election, Joe Biden received 81,283,501 votes, representing 51.3% of the popular vote, while Donald Trump received 74,223,975 votes or 46.8%, sourced from official certified results.
- The voter turnout in the 2020 US election reached 66.8% of the voting-eligible population, the highest since 1900, with over 159 million votes cast.
- In India's 2019 general election, Narendra Modi's BJP won 303 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha, securing a majority government.
- Democratic Party holds 213 seats in US House post-2022 midterms, Republicans 222.
- Republican Party controls 49 state governorships as of 2024.
- UK's Conservative Party has been in power since 2010, winning 4 elections.
- US federal budget FY2023 spending totaled $6.13 trillion, 24% of GDP.
- US defense budget 2023: $816 billion, more than next 10 countries combined.
- China's 2023 defense budget: 1.55 trillion yuan ($225 billion), 7.2% increase.
- US aid to Ukraine 2022-2024: over $175 billion appropriated.
- NATO defense spending 2024: 23 members meet 2% GDP target, total $1.47 trillion.
- China-US trade volume 2023: $664.4 billion, down 11.6% from 2022.
- 55% of Americans view China unfavorably per 2024 Pew poll.
- 62% of US adults disapprove of Biden's job performance, Gallup May 2024.
- 91% of Republicans believe 2020 election stolen, PRRI 2023.
Global election and opinion statistics reveal a complex, divided, yet highly engaged political landscape worldwide.
Foreign Policy
- US aid to Ukraine 2022-2024: over $175 billion appropriated.
- NATO defense spending 2024: 23 members meet 2% GDP target, total $1.47 trillion.
- China-US trade volume 2023: $664.4 billion, down 11.6% from 2022.
- Russia invaded Ukraine Feb 24 2022, annexing 18% territory by 2024 claims.
- Israel-Hamas war started Oct 7 2023, 1,200 Israelis killed, 40,000+ Palestinians.
- US-China military encounters in South China Sea: 180+ in 2023.
- EU sanctions on Russia post-2022: 16 packages, targeting 2,300 entities.
- India-Russia trade 2023-24: $65.7 billion, up 50% YoY due to oil.
- Taiwan Strait transits by US warships: 13 in 2023.
- North Korea missile tests 2024: 30+ launches by mid-year.
- Iran nuclear deal JCPOA: US withdrew 2018, IAEA reports 60% enrichment 2024.
- US-Mexico border encounters 2023: 2.48 million by CBP.
- China Belt and Road Initiative: $1 trillion invested in 150+ countries by 2023.
- UN General Assembly votes on Ukraine: 141 yes for condemning Russia 2022.
- OPEC+ oil production cuts 2023-2024: 5.86 mb/d voluntary reductions.
- UK AUKUS pact with US/Australia: nuclear subs deal 2021.
- France deployed 1,000 troops to Sahel pre-2023 withdrawal.
- Turkey mediated Ukraine grain deal 2022: 33 million tons exported.
- India abstained on 10+ UN votes condemning Russia 2022-2023.
- US arms sales 2023: $238 billion approved, Saudi $3.5B.
- EU migration pact 2024: aims to process 30,000 asylum claims/month.
- Japan defense spending to rise to 2% GDP by 2027, $320B plan.
- Brazil BRICS expansion 2024: added Egypt, Iran, UAE, Ethiopia.
- South China Sea disputes: China claims 90% area, 9 nations protest.
Foreign Policy Interpretation
The world's checkbook is wide open for war, alliances are bracing, trade is sputtering, and from the Taiwan Strait to the Sahel, every ledger line and missile test tells the same sobering story: the old order is splintering into a dangerous and expensive new game of geopolitical chess.
Government Expenditure
- US federal budget FY2023 spending totaled $6.13 trillion, 24% of GDP.
- US defense budget 2023: $816 billion, more than next 10 countries combined.
- China's 2023 defense budget: 1.55 trillion yuan ($225 billion), 7.2% increase.
- EU total budget 2021-2027: €1.074 trillion, focusing on green deal.
- UK public spending 2023/24: £1.19 trillion, 44% of GDP.
- India's 2024-25 budget: ₹48.21 lakh crore total expenditure.
- France 2024 budget deficit: 5.5% of GDP, €152 billion.
- Japan's public debt 2023: 255% of GDP, highest in developed world.
- Brazil federal spending 2023: R$4.4 trillion, social security 30%.
- Germany's 2024 budget: €476.8 billion, debt brake suspended.
- US Medicare spending 2023: $944 billion, 21% of national health expenditure.
- Australia's 2023-24 budget: AUD 630.5 billion total outlays.
- Canada's 2023-24 federal spending: CAD 531.5 billion.
- Italy debt-to-GDP 2023: 140.6%, €2.8 trillion total debt.
- South Korea 2024 budget: 656.6 trillion won, 3.3% increase.
- Mexico 2024 budget: 9.07 trillion pesos, infrastructure focus.
- Turkey 2024 central gov budget: 14.03 trillion lira expenditure.
- Spain 2024 deficit target: 3% GDP, €196 billion spending.
- Netherlands 2024 budget: €457 billion, welfare 30%.
- Sweden 2024 budget: SEK 1,255 billion, defense up 10%.
- Poland 2024 budget deficit: 5.1% GDP, PLN 289 billion.
- Argentina 2024 fiscal deficit target: 2% GDP after austerity.
- Indonesia 2024 budget: IDR 3,325 trillion, education 20%.
- US Social Security 2023 outlays: $1.4 trillion.
- Russia 2023 federal budget: 36.65 trillion rubles, military 40%.
- Saudi Arabia 2024 budget: SAR 1.285 trillion expenditure.
- Egypt 2023/24 budget: EGP 3.8 trillion, debt service 50%.
Government Expenditure Interpretation
Reading this global fiscal menu, it's clear we're all ordering the same entrée of staggering debt, but with wildly different—and often militarized—side dishes.
Political Parties
- Democratic Party holds 213 seats in US House post-2022 midterms, Republicans 222.
- Republican Party controls 49 state governorships as of 2024.
- UK's Conservative Party has been in power since 2010, winning 4 elections.
- India's BJP membership exceeds 180 million as of 2024.
- US Democrats raised $1.8 billion in 2020 cycle vs Republicans' $1.6 billion.
- France's National Rally (formerly FN) grew vote share from 13.2% in 2012 to 33.4% in 2024 EU elections.
- Germany's AfD polled at 16% nationally in 2024.
- Brazil's PT party founded in 1980, held presidency 2003-2016 and 2023-present.
- China's CCP has 98.04 million members as of 2023.
- Australia's Labor Party won 2022 election after 9 years opposition.
- Canada's Liberal Party led by Trudeau since 2015, minority government.
- Italy's Brothers of Italy rose from 4.4% in 2018 to 26% in 2022.
- Sweden Democrats hold 20.5% vote share in 2022, kingmaker role.
- Japan's LDP uninterrupted rule 1955-1993 and since 2012.
- South Africa's ANC vote share declined from 69.7% in 2004 to 40.2% in 2024.
- US Green Party received 0.3% national vote in 2020.
- UK's Labour Party membership peaked at 564,443 in 2016.
- France's La France Insoumise holds 75 seats in National Assembly post-2024.
- Mexico's Morena party won 364 federal deputies in 2024.
- Netherlands' VVD led Rutte governments for 14 years until 2024.
- Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) governed 2015-2023, 35.4% in 2023.
- Spain's Vox party 12.4% vote in 2023, 33 seats.
- Turkey's AKP founded by Erdogan, held power since 2002.
- Argentina's Peronist PJ fragmented, Milei outsider win 2023.
- South Korea's Democratic Party 175 seats in 2024.
- Indonesia's PDI-P largest party, 128 seats in DPR 2024.
- New Zealand's National Party 48 seats in 2023 parliament.
- US Libertarian Party 1.2M votes in 2020, 1.2% share.
- Germany's CDU/CSU alliance 24.1% in 2021 election.
- UK's Reform UK got 14.3% vote in 2024 election, 5 seats.
- India's Congress party reduced to 52 seats in 2019 from 206 in 2009.
Political Parties Interpretation
A global political landscape emerges where established parties cling to power with slim margins and vast membership rolls, while challengers surge from the fringes and occasionally break through, revealing a world both resistant to change and suddenly capable of it.
Public Opinion Polls
- 55% of Americans view China unfavorably per 2024 Pew poll.
- 62% of US adults disapprove of Biden's job performance, Gallup May 2024.
- 91% of Republicans believe 2020 election stolen, PRRI 2023.
- UK net migration concerns: 52% say too high, Ipsos 2024.
- France Macron approval 28%, IFOP May 2024.
- Germany Scholz approval 20%, Forsa June 2024.
- India Modi approval 75%, Morning Consult 2024.
- Brazil Lula approval 35%, Datafolha June 2024.
- Australia Albanese approval 41%, Newspoll 2024.
- Canada Trudeau approval 28%, Angus Reid June 2024.
- Italy Meloni approval 42%, Ipsos 2024.
- Japan Kishida approval 17%, JNN May 2024.
- 71% of Americans worry about democracy, NPR Marquette 2024.
- 45% of Brits back leaving EU regrets, YouGov 2024.
- 58% French support far-right National Rally, Elabe 2024.
- 67% Germans favor more Ukraine aid, Körber 2024.
- 52% Indians see US as top ally, Pew 2023.
- 39% Brazilians approve Bolsonaro nostalgia, Quaest 2024.
- 55% Australians climate change priority, Lowy 2024.
- 63% Canadians favor pharmacare expansion, Abacus 2024.
- 48% Italians economic pessimism, SWG 2024.
- 75% Japanese oppose nuclear restart full, NHK 2024.
- 54% South Koreans favor US alliance, Asan 2024.
- 41% Mexico trust in democracy, Latinobarómetro 2023.
- 37% Turkey approve Erdogan economy handling, Konda 2024.
- 60% Spaniards back amnesty for Catalans, CIS 2024.
- 46% Dutch immigration too high, I&O 2024.
- 52% Swedes trust gov on defense, SOM 2023.
- 68% Poles support NATO, CBOS 2024.
- 55% Argentinians economic crisis worst ever, Poliarquía 2024.
- 49% Indonesians approve Prabowo, Indikator 2024.
- 57% of US voters prioritize economy, CBS 2024.
- 64% Republicans view immigration crisis, Rasmussen 2024.
- 70% global youth distrust leaders, Edelman 2024.
Public Opinion Polls Interpretation
In a global landscape where leaders are broadly distrusted and electorates are anxious, the stark exception appears to be that a strong majority of Indians are quite content with their own political direction while viewing America favorably, a sentiment American voters, preoccupied with domestic crises and democratic fears, are in no position to reciprocate toward anyone, including their own president or the Chinese.
Voting and Elections
- In the 2020 US presidential election, Joe Biden received 81,283,501 votes, representing 51.3% of the popular vote, while Donald Trump received 74,223,975 votes or 46.8%, sourced from official certified results.
- The voter turnout in the 2020 US election reached 66.8% of the voting-eligible population, the highest since 1900, with over 159 million votes cast.
- In India's 2019 general election, Narendra Modi's BJP won 303 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha, securing a majority government.
- France's 2022 presidential election saw Emmanuel Macron win re-election with 58.55% of the vote in the second round against Marine Le Pen's 41.45%.
- Germany's 2021 federal election resulted in the SPD winning 25.7% of the vote, forming a coalition government with Greens and FDP.
- Brazil's 2022 presidential runoff had Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeating Jair Bolsonaro 50.90% to 49.10%.
- UK's 2019 general election saw Conservatives win 365 seats with 43.6% vote share under Boris Johnson.
- South Africa's 2019 election gave ANC 57.50% of the vote, 230 seats in National Assembly.
- Japan's 2021 general election: LDP-Komeito coalition secured 261 seats in House of Representatives.
- Australia's 2022 federal election: Labor won 77 seats, forming majority government.
- In 2020 US election, 69% of voters aged 18-29 supported Biden, per exit polls.
- Nigeria's 2023 presidential election: Bola Tinubu won with 36.61% of votes, 8,794,726 total.
- Indonesia 2019 election: Joko Widodo re-elected with 55.5% vote share.
- Canada's 2021 election: Liberals won 160 seats with 32.6% popular vote.
- Mexico's 2018 election: AMLO's Morena party won presidency with 53.2% vote.
- Turkey's 2023 election: Erdogan re-elected with 52.18% in runoff.
- Italy's 2022 election: Right-wing coalition won 43.8% vote, 237 seats.
- Sweden's 2022 election: Right-wing bloc 176 seats vs left 173.
- New Zealand 2023: National Party won 38.1% vote, coalition government.
- Pakistan 2024: PTI-backed independents won most seats despite rigging claims.
- In 2024 US primaries, Trump won 93% of Republican delegates by Super Tuesday.
- EU Parliament 2019: EPP group largest with 182 seats out of 705.
- South Korea 2020: Democratic Party won 180 seats in National Assembly.
- Philippines 2022: Marcos Jr. won presidency with 58.8% vote.
- Argentina 2023: Javier Milei won presidency with 55.7% in runoff.
- Poland 2023: Civic Coalition won most seats, ending PiS rule.
- Spain 2023: PP won 33.1% vote but PSOE formed government.
- Netherlands 2023: PVV won 37 seats, largest party.
- In 2016 US election, Hillary Clinton won popular vote by 2.1% (65.8M vs 62.9M).
- Taiwan 2024: DPP's Lai Ching-te won presidency with 40.05% vote.
Voting and Elections Interpretation
It appears the world’s democracies are collectively muttering, "We have firmly held, completely incompatible opinions, delivered with either slim majorities or confounding electoral math, proving that while everyone gets a vote, nobody gets a clear instruction manual."
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