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The Most Valuable Brand in Each Country in 2018

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Map: The Most Valuable Brand in Each Country in 2018

Map: The Most Valuable Brand in Each Country in 2018

Last year, we covered the world’s top brands based on the measure of brand value, and one thing stood out.

The top of the list was dominated by U.S. brands like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Visa, AT&T, and McDonald’s, but only one non-American brand (China’s Tencent) was able to crack the top 10 list.

Today’s infographic comes to us from HowMuch.net, and it helps to make the international brand value picture a lot clearer. Using updated rankings from Brand Finance’s Global 500 Report, it shows the top brand for each country in 2018.

It’s worth noting, however, that there are many countries that are not represented here, as they do not have a brand large enough to make the top 500 list.

A Steep Dropoff

Keeping the aforementioned U.S. dominance of brands in mind, there is a pretty steep drop from the U.S. to other countries on the map. After retail giant Amazon, which ranks as the world’s top brand at $150.8 billion, the next biggest brand in any other country is Samsung (South Korea) at $92.3 billion.

From there, it’s another big fall to get to the next tier, which includes China’s ICBC ($59.2 billion), Germany’s Mercedes-Benz ($43.9 billion), Japan’s Toyota ($43.7 billion), and Royal Dutch Shell ($39.4 billion).

After that, the remaining brands on the list are in the $4 billion to $25 billion range, including well-known names like Nestlé ($19.4 billion), Zara ($17.5 billion), and RBC ($13.8 billion). While small compared to Amazon, these are still mostly large international or national brands.

Why is Amazon so Dominant?

As Amazon continues to rapidly scale its revenue, and as the Jeff Bezos Empire expands, we are all now very familiar with the online retailer’s dominance.

That said, while Amazon appears massive on the map, it actually only just edged out Apple as the most dominant brand overall. Further, because Apple is also based in the U.S., the iconic tech company doesn’t have its logo appear on the map itself.

Here’s a look at how brand value for the top five brands has changed over time:

Brand Value Over Time

Courtesy: Brand Finance

According to Brand Finance, the value of Amazon’s brand increased by 42% between 2017 and 2018. Here’s what Brand Finance CEO, David Haigh, had to say about the future of Amazon’s brand:

The strength and value of the Amazon brand gives it stakeholder permission to extend relentlessly into new sectors and geographies. All evidence suggests that the amazing Amazon brand is going to continue growing indefinitely and exponentially.

– David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance

Interestingly, the report authors also offer up reasons for Apple and Google getting “left behind”.

For Apple, an over-dependency on the iPhone limits the brand’s growth opportunities, while Google’s investments outside of search are unable to offer the scale, impact, or audacity demonstrated by Amazon’s ventures.

A Note on Brand Value

Understandably, there is often some confusion behind the definition of “brand value”.

Not to be confused with market capitalization or enterprise value, brand value is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset that generates economic benefits for a brand within a company. In other words, this is the value of the image of the brand itself, as represented in the minds of stakeholders.

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Mapped: Internet Download Speeds by Region

North America and East Asia have the speediest internet.

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Map illustrating median download speeds in each global region.

Mapped: Internet Download Speeds by Region

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

In today’s fast-paced world, internet speed isn’t just a convenience—it’s the driving force behind how we work, play, and connect.

In this map, we illustrate median download speeds in each global region, based on data from the World Bank’s Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023.

North America and East Asia Have the Speediest Internet

According to the World Bank, download speeds in high-income countries increased significantly between 2019 and 2023, while speeds in lower-income countries stagnated.

As of 2022, North America and East Asia have the speediest internet.

RegionMedian mobile download speed (Mb/sec)Median fixed broadband download speed (Mb/sec)
East Asia & Pacific90171
Europe & Central Asia4485
Latin America & the Caribbean2674
Middle East & North Africa3636
North America83193
South Asia2743
Sub-Saharan Africa1615

This difference in broadband speeds can mainly be attributed to investment.

In 2020, nearly 90% of global telecommunication investment came from East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and North America. These regions not only concentrate the highest-income population but also the top technology hubs.

Meanwhile, low- and middle-income regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for less than 10% of total investment.

Most of the investment is directed towards fiber optic and 5G mobile networks. According to the mobile industry association GSMA, mobile operators alone are projected to invest more than $600 billion between 2022 and 2025, with 85% of the total allocated for 5G.

In 2023, broadband speeds in high-income countries were 10x faster for fixed connections, and 5x faster for mobile connections compared to those in low-income countries.

Fixed broadband connections, which provide high-speed internet to residences or businesses, reached 38% of the population in high-income countries. In comparison, fixed broadband penetration was only 4% of the population in lower-middle-income countries and almost zero in low-income countries.

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