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