40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

Post date: Oct 12, 2009 11:33:21 PM

tattoo-of-world-with-countries-visited-colored-in

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 Pandaearlier this year that are worth checking out. Enjoy!

1. Where Google Street View is Available

map-of-the-world-where-google-street-view-is-available

Map by Google

2. Countries That Do Not Use the Metric System

map-of-countires-that-use-metric-system-vs-imperial

Map via Wikimedia Commons

3. The Only 22 Countries in the World Britain Has Not Invaded (not shown: Sao Tome and Principe)

the-only-countries-britain-has-not-invaded

Map by Stuart Laycock (via The Telegraph)

4. Map of ‘Pangea’ with Current International Borders

map-of-pangea-with-current-internatoinal-borders

Map by eatrio.net via Reddit

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

map-of-countries-with-mcdonalds

Map by Business Management EU

6. Paid Maternal Leave Around the World

paid-maternal-leave-by-country

Map by The New York Times

7. The Most Common Surnames in Europe by Country

map-of-most-common-surnames-in-europe

Map by Teepr on Reddit

8. Worldwide Driving Orientation by Country

Worldwide_Driving_Orientation_by_Country-(1)

Map by ChartsBin.com

9. Map of Time Zones in Antarctica

Map-of-time-zones-in-Anarctica

Map by Phoenix B 1of3

10. Global Internet Usage Based on Time of Day

internet-usage-of-the-world-based-on-time-of-day_2

Map by Carna Botnet via Reddit

11. The World’s Busiest Air Routes in 2012

top-10-busiest-air-travel-routes-of-2012

Map by Vizual Statistix

12. Visualizing Global Population Density

there-are-more-people-living-inside-this-circle-than-outside-of-it

Map by valeriepieris on Reddit

13. Flag Map of the World

Flag-Map-denmark-puerto

Map by andrewfahmy on Reddit

14. Map of Alcohol Consumption Around the World

map-of-alocohol-consumption-around-the-world

Map by World Health Organization

15. Map of Alcoholic Drink Popularity by Country

drink-popularity-by-country

Map by World Health Organization

16. Map of Rivers in the Contiguous United States

map-of-united-states-rivers

Map by Nelson Minar

17. US Map of the Highest Paid Public Employees by State

highest-paid-US-public-employees-by-state

Map by Deadspin.com

18. World Map of Earthquakes Since 1898

earthquakes-by-magnitude-since-1898

Map by John M Nelson

19. Map of Where 29,000 Rubber Duckies Made Landfall After Falling off a Cargo Ship in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean

where-rubber-ducks-made-landfall-after-being-dumped-in-pacific-ocean

Map via prometheus08 on Reddit

20. Map of Countries with the Most Violations of Bribery

bribery-nigeria-is-the-worst

Map by James Mintz Group

21. World Map of Vegetation on Earth

map-of-vegetation-on-earth

Map by NASA/NOAA

22. Average Age of First Sexual Intercourse by Country

Average_Age_at_first_sex_by_Country-(1)

Map by ChartsBin.com

23. If the World’s Population Lived in One City

the-worlds-population-concentrated

Maps by Tim De Chant @ persquaremile.com

24. The Number of Researchers per Million Inhabitants

Around the World

Number_of_Researchers_per_million_inhabitants_by_Country

Map by ChartsBin.com

25. Worldwide Map of Oil Import And Export Flows

worldwide-oil-import-and-export-flows

Map by BP via Business Insider

26. The 7000 Rivers that Feed into the Mississippi River

map-of-rivers-that-feed-into-the-mississippi-river

Map via Gradeskee on Reddit

27. World Map of the Different Writing Systems

map-of-the-writing-systems-of-the-world

Map by Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) on Wikimedia Commons

28. Worldwide Annual Coffee Consumption Per Capita

Coffee_Consumption-(3)

Map by ChartsBin.com

29. The Economic Center of Gravity Since 1 AD

evolution-of-the-earth's-economic-center-of-gravity

Map by McKinsey&Company

30. The World Divided Into 7 Regions,

Each with a Population of 1 Billion

population-of-the-world-split-into-equal-sections-of-one-billion

Map by delugetheory on Reddit

31. Earth’s Population by Latitude and Longitude

the-worlds-population-by-latitue-and-longitude

Photograph by mrgeng on Reddit

32. Map of Contiguous United States

Overlaid on the Moon

map-of-united-states-overlaid-on-the-moon

Map by boredboarder8 on Reddit

33. Frequency of Lightning Strikes Throughout the World

frequency-of-lightning-strikes-in-the-world

Map by Citynoise on Wikimedia Commons

34. Overall Water Risk Around the World

drought-risk-its-not-just-isolated-around-the-equator

Map by World Resources Institute

35. The Most Dangerous Areas in the World

To Ship Due to Pirates

riskiest-areas-to-ship-where-the-pirates-rule-the-seas

Map by Control Risks

36. Area Codes in Which Ludacris Claims to Have H*es

(song reference)

area-codes-in-which-ludracris-claims-to-have-hoes

Map via asonjones on Reddit

37. Where 2% of Australia’s Population Lives

where-2-percent-of-australia-lives

Map by e8odie on Reddit

38. The Longest Straight Line You Can Sail on Earth

(Pakistan to Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia – 20000 miles)

the-longest-straight-line-you-can-sail-in-the-world

Map by kepleronlyknows on Reddit

39. Map of Europe Showing Literal

Chinese Translations for Country Names

literal-map-of-europe-by-chinese-name

Map by haohaoreport.com

40. Reversed Map with Southern Hemisphere at Top of Map (because position of North is arbitrary)

map-of-world-upside-down-south-pole-on-top

Map via nnm.me

*Bonus*

World Map Tattoo with Countries Visited Coloured

tattoo-of-world-with-countries-visited-colored-in