Population of Southeast Asia Compared to the Rest of the World
Maps can be great guides for more than just finding routes for traveling. They often provide insight on the rest of the world. Taking a look at certain maps can be incredibly informative, especially when comparing the standing of countries in relation to one another. In fact, many passionate cartographers take pride in creating maps that present relevant knowledge through a visual medium.
Whether they're on topics concerning population density, educational level, or even a gauge of internet usage across the world, each serves a purpose of sharing data to enlighten minds. Most people aren't constantly traveling and immersing themselves into the practices of multiple nations, so a statistically informed map can help us all learn more about how we compare to the people of a country on the opposite end of Earth.
An ever-growing collection of informative maps are available through ChartsBin, Target Map, and the MapPorn subreddit. There's also a wonderfully curated list over on Twisted Sifter. Here's our roundup of the top 25 informative maps that you'll never forget.
Top map: reddit
Countries That Do Not Officially Use the Metric System
Wikimedia
Frequency of Lightning Strikes Around the World
Citynoise
Worldwide Driving Orientation by Country
Benjamin D. Esham
World's Population Evenly Divided into 7 Regions, Each with 1 Billion People
All That is Interesting
The Longest Straight Line You Can Sail on Earth
reddit
Most Used Web Browser by Country
Vlad III Tepes
World Internet Usage by Time of Day
Carna Botnet
Worldwide Annual Coffee Consumption Per Capita
ChartsBin
Daily Fat Intake Per Capita
ChartsBin
Most Popular Spectator Sports in the World
Target Map
Most Consumed Alcoholic Beverages by Country
World Health Organization
Total Worldwide Adult Alcohol Consumption
World Health Organization
National IQ Scores
Target Map
Areas with Highest Income and College Education Level in the US
The Washington Post
Number of Researchers Per Million Inhabitants by Country
ChartsBin
Interactive Map of the World's Shrinking Forests
Wired
Currently Married Population Around the World
ChartsBin
Average Age of First Sexual Intercourse by Country
ChartsBin
Gender Inequality Index Based on Reproductive Health, Empowerment, and Labor Market
ChartsBin
Paid Maternity Leave: Almost Everywhere
The New York Times
World Level of Happiness by Country
Roketjack
Global Median Age
ChartsBin
Worldwide Oil Import and Export Flows
BP
Satellite Map of Earth Over the Course of One Year
Wikimedia