If you’re a visual learner like myself, then you know maps, charts and infographics can really help bring data and information to life. Maps can make a point resonate with readers and this collection aims to do just that.
Hopefully some of these maps will surprise you and you’ll learn something new. A few are important to know, some interpret and display data in a beautiful or creative way, and a few may even make you chuckle or shake your head.
If you enjoy this collection of maps, the Sifter highly recommends the r/MapPorn sub reddit. You should also check out ChartsBin.com. There were also fantastic posts on Business Insider and Bored Panda earlier this year that are worth checking out. Enjoy!
1. Where Google Street View is Available
2. Countries That Do Not Use the Metric System
3. The Only 22 Countries in the World Britain Has Not Invaded (not shown: Sao Tome and Principe)
4. Map of ‘Pangea’ with Current International Borders
Pangea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, forming about 300 million years ago. It began to break apart around 200 million years ago. The single global ocean which surrounded Pangaea is accordingly named Panthalassa.
5. McDonald’s Across the World
6. Paid Maternal Leave Around the World
7. The Most Common Surnames in Europe by Country
8. Worldwide Driving Orientation by Country
9. Map of Time Zones in Antarctica
10. Global Internet Usage Based on Time of Day
11. The World’s Busiest Air Routes in 2012
12. Visualizing Global Population Density
13. Flag Map of the World
14. Map of Alcohol Consumption Around the World
15. Map of Alcoholic Drink Popularity by Country
16. Map of Rivers in the Contiguous United States
17. US Map of the Highest Paid Public Employees by State
18. World Map of Earthquakes Since 1898
19. Map of Where 29,000 Rubber Duckies Made Landfall After Falling off a Cargo Ship in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean
20. Map of Countries with the Most Violations of Bribery
21. World Map of Vegetation on Earth
22. Average Age of First Sexual Intercourse by Country
23. If the World’s Population Lived in One City
24. The Number of Researchers per Million Inhabitants
Around the World
25. Worldwide Map of Oil Import And Export Flows
26. The 7000 Rivers that Feed into the Mississippi River
27. World Map of the Different Writing Systems
28. Worldwide Annual Coffee Consumption Per Capita
29. The Economic Center of Gravity Since 1 AD
30. The World Divided Into 7 Regions,
Each with a Population of 1 Billion
31. Earth’s Population by Latitude and Longitude
32. Map of Contiguous United States
Overlaid on the Moon
33. Frequency of Lightning Strikes Throughout the World
34. Overall Water Risk Around the World
35. The Most Dangerous Areas in the World
To Ship Due to Pirates
36. Area Codes in Which Ludacris Claims to Have H*es
(song reference)
37. Where 2% of Australia’s Population Lives
38. The Longest Straight Line You Can Sail on Earth
(Pakistan to Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia – 20000 miles)
39. Map of Europe Showing Literal
Chinese Translations for Country Names
40. Reversed Map with Southern Hemisphere at Top of Map (because position of North is arbitrary)
*Bonus*
World Map Tattoo with Countries Visited Coloured
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