From sun-drenched deserts to equatorial highlands, a growing number of countries now generate over 10%—and in some cases nearly 30%—of their electricity from solar power. The unlikely leader is Lebanon—a nation in the throes of state collapse. With its national grid delivering just a few hours of power per day and the central government functionally bankrupt, Lebanese citizens, businesses, and hospitals have turned rooftops into power plants. This infographic shows the share of solar in electricity generation.

Over the past two decades, the core BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China – have reshaped the global economy from within. Driven by rapid urbanization, rising wages, and expanding access to education and credit, their combined middle class has surged from a few hundred million to over 1.5 billion people.