August 13, 2013 at 2:53 pm

40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

by twistedsifter

 

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

map of the world where google street view is available 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

Map by Google

 

 

2. Countries That Do Not Use the Metric System

map of countires that use metric system vs imperial 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

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 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

4. Map of ‘Pangea’ with Current International Borders

map of pangea with current internatoinal borders 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

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 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

6. Paid Maternal Leave Around the World

 
paid maternal leave by country 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

7. The Most Common Surnames in Europe by Country

map of most common surnames in europe 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

8. Worldwide Driving Orientation by Country

Worldwide_Driving_Orientation_by_Country-(1)

 

 

9. Map of Time Zones in Antarctica

Map-of-time-zones-in-Anarctica

 

 

10. Global Internet Usage Based on Time of Day

internet usage of the world based on time of day 2 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

Map by Carna Botnet via Reddit

 

 

11. The World’s Busiest Air Routes in 2012

 
top 10 busiest air travel routes of 2012 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

12. Visualizing Global Population Density

there are more people living inside this circle than outside of it 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

13. Flag Map of the World

Flag-Map-denmark-puerto

 

 

14. Map of Alcohol Consumption Around the World

 
map of alocohol consumption around the world 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

15. Map of Alcoholic Drink Popularity by Country

 
drink popularity by country 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

16. Map of Rivers in the Contiguous United States

map of united states rivers 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

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

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

 

 

18. World Map of Earthquakes Since 1898

earthquakes by magnitude since 1898 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

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 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

20. Map of Countries with the Most Violations of Bribery

 
bribery nigeria is the worst 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

21. World Map of Vegetation on Earth

map of vegetation on earth 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

Map by NASA/NOAA

 

 

22. Average Age of First Sexual Intercourse by Country

Average_Age_at_first_sex_by_Country-(1)

 

 

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

the worlds population concentrated 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

24. The Number of Researchers per Million Inhabitants
Around the World

Number_of_Researchers_per_million_inhabitants_by_Country

 

 

25. Worldwide Map of Oil Import And Export Flows

worldwide oil import and export flows 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

26. The 7000 Rivers that Feed into the Mississippi River

map of rivers that feed into the mississippi river 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

27. World Map of the Different Writing Systems

map of the writing systems of the world 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

28. Worldwide Annual Coffee Consumption Per Capita

Coffee_Consumption-(3)

 

 

29. The Economic Center of Gravity Since 1 AD

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

 

 

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 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

31. Earth’s Population by Latitude and Longitude

 
the worlds population by latitue and longitude 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

Photograph by mrgeng on Reddit

 

 

32. Map of Contiguous United States
Overlaid on the Moon

map of united states overlaid on the moon 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

33. Frequency of Lightning Strikes Throughout the World

 
frequency of lightning strikes in the world 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

34. Overall Water Risk Around the World

drought risk its not just isolated around the equator 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

35. The Most Dangerous Areas in the World
To Ship Due to Pirates

riskiest areas to ship where the pirates rule the seas 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

36. Area Codes in Which Ludacris Claims to Have H*es
(song reference)

area codes in which ludracris claims to have hoes 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

37. Where 2% of Australia’s Population Lives

where 2 percent of australia lives 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

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 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

39. Map of Europe Showing Literal
Chinese Translations for Country Names

literal map of europe by chinese name 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

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 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

Map via nnm.me

 

 

*Bonus*
World Map Tattoo with Countries Visited Coloured

tattoo of world with countries visited colored in 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

 

 

 

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