International travel remains out of reach for much of the world's population, with new data highlighting significant differences in overseas travel experience across major economies.

According to findings from the Pew Research Centre , India ranks among the countries with the highest share of people who have never left their home country, with 95% of respondents reporting they had never travelled abroad. Indonesia followed at 92%, while Nigeria stood at 90%.

The survey shows that large developing nations account for many of the highest percentages of citizens who have never crossed an international border.

After India, Indonesia and Nigeria, the ranking includes Brazil (87%), Mexico (79%), South Africa (77%), Kenya (72%) and Argentina (64%).

By contrast, wealthier countries reported substantially lower figures. In Japan, 34% of respondents said they had never travelled abroad, compared with 32% in Poland and 23% in the United States .

Researchers note that population size can play a major role. Countries such as India, Brazil and the United States offer vast domestic travel opportunities, reducing the necessity of international trips for many citizens.

Pew Research has consistently found that income levels strongly influence overseas travel patterns. International travel often requires significant spending on transportation , accommodation, visas and travel documents, making it less accessible for lower-income households.

Passport ownership also varies widely between countries. Government data show that only a minority of citizens in many developing nations hold valid passports, limiting opportunities for international travel even when interest exists.

In addition, visa restrictions continue to affect mobility. Citizens of some countries face more stringent entry requirements, higher application costs and longer approval processes than travellers from wealthier nations.

Experts say high percentages of citizens who have never travelled abroad do not necessarily indicate a lack of travel culture.

In countries with large territories and diverse landscapes, domestic tourism frequently serves as an alternative. India, for example, attracts hundreds of millions of domestic tourist visits annually, while Brazil, Mexico and the United States maintain extensive internal tourism markets.

Geography can also influence travel habits. Residents of smaller European countries often cross borders regularly for work, leisure or education, contributing to higher rates of international travel experience.

Despite the disparities, international tourism has grown significantly over recent decades. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism), global travel has recovered strongly following the pandemic-era downturn, with international arrivals approaching or surpassing pre-2020 levels in many regions.

Latvia's capital, Riga, has emerged as the European city with the highest proportion of women relative to men, according to demographic data compiled by Insider Monkey using statistics from Eurostat and national statistical agencies across Europe.

The ranking, based on the female-to-male ratio among urban populations, places Riga at the top with 126 women for every 100 men, followed by Porto in Portugal at 122.7% and Salamanca in Spain at 120.6%.

The findings offer a snapshot of broader demographic trends shaping European cities, including ageing populations, migration patterns, educational mobility and differences in life expectancy between men and women.

The list is heavily concentrated in Southern and Eastern Europe, with Portugal accounting for four cities in the top 15: Porto, Lisbon, Funchal and Braga.

Spain also features prominently through Salamanca, Madrid and Donostia-San Sebastián, while Central and Eastern European capitals such as Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest and Bratislava rank among the cities with the largest gender imbalances.

According to Eurostat, women outnumber men in most European Union countries, largely because women live longer on average . Across the EU, female life expectancy exceeds male life expectancy by several years, creating increasingly female-majority populations in many urban areas.

Migration also plays a role. University centres such as Salamanca, Coimbra and Warsaw attract large numbers of female students and young professionals. At the same time, some regions experience outward migration of working-age men seeking employment opportunities elsewhere.

In cities such as Riga and Bucharest, demographic changes following decades of economic transformation and labour mobility have contributed to persistent gender imbalances.

Portugal's representation in the ranking reflects both demographic and social trends. The country has one of Europe's oldest populations, while urban centres continue attracting women pursuing higher education, healthcare careers and service-sector employment.

Cities such as Porto and Lisbon have also benefited from economic growth, tourism and international investment, drawing new residents while retaining strong female participation in the workforce.

The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive a record $50 million prize , highlighting the unprecedented financial scale of the first-ever 48-team tournament to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The prize structure, illustrated in the latest FIFA financial breakdown , shows that even teams eliminated in the earliest knockout stage will earn millions of dollars. At the same time, every qualified nation is guaranteed a substantial financial reward simply for reaching the tournament.

Champions to receive $50 million

Under FIFA's official distribution model, the 2026 World Cup champions will take home $50 million, while the runners-up will receive $33 million. The third-placed team will earn $29 million, with fourth place worth $27 million.

Teams reaching the quarter-finals but failing to advance will each receive $19 million, while Round of 16 participants will earn $15 million. Nations eliminated in the new Round of 32 will receive $11 million, and teams exiting after the group phase will still collect $9 million.

The financial rewards represent a significant increase from previous World Cups, reflecting FIFA's ambition to make the 2026 edition the most commercially successful tournament in football history .

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, expanding from the traditional 32-team format used from 1998 through 2022. The tournament will be staged across host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, making it the largest World Cup ever organised.

FIFA projects the competition will generate record revenues through broadcasting rights, sponsorships, ticket sales and hospitality packages. Analysts estimate the governing body could generate around $13 billion in revenue during the current four-year cycle, nearly double the amount recorded in previous periods.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the 2026 World Cup as a landmark event not only for football but also for the sport's global economic growth, with a significant portion of tournament revenues earmarked for development programs worldwide.

“There are still some technical and procedural steps to be completed on the Ukrainian side. And for us, what remains to be done is to verify if the conditions linked to the first disbursement under the macrofinancial assistance programme for Ukraine are met or not met,” Lammert admitted.

The loan agreement followed a diplomatic breakthrough in late April, when Slovakia and Hungary eased opposition to key EU measures supporting Ukraine. Hungary had previously blocked the package under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban amid disagreements linked to the Druzhba pipeline.