Maps are the way to communicate with an audience visually. Though telling a story with maps demands knowledge of essential cartographical principles, it also triggers creativity and makes the process enjoyable. Here you can find several thematic maps made with different techniques. All the maps are made in QGIS.

Choropleth map

The map represents population density in Estonia for 2017. The data type is quantitative and aggregated by administrative units, shown as a polygon layer. The sequential colour scheme refers to colours from low to high figures.

This map is made with the same principles as the previous map - it represents quantitative data, shown with the sequential colour scheme. However, the difference is the aggregation method. Instead of aggregating by administrative units, the data are calculated per sq km in settled areas, and instead of polygons, it is represented by grids. This map gives a more detailed overview of population density.

Proportional maps

The map represents an example of using different types of techniques. The information is shown by two types of data: quantitative and qualitative. Proportional points represent quantitative data, so the size of the point represents the class of distribution. Colour is used to express qualitative data, and categorical colour scheme refers to colours for individual comparison.

The map represents an example of the simple proportional maps. The quantitative data are shown as points, and the proportion of point refers to the class. The map is minimalistic by using one component of information and background of the country.