Top 25 Informative Maps That Teach Us Something Uniquely Different About the World

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

Pinar

Pinar Noorata is the Managing Editor at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College and is an alumni of the Center for Arts Education’s Career Development Program in NYC. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching movies, reading, crafting, drawing, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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