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Maps / 3 days ago
How the Pacific Ocean outsizes all the continents combined
Imagine placing Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia and Antarctica into one huge basin and still having room to sail around. That’s essentially what a recent World in Maps illustration suggests: a silhouette of the Pacific Ocean overlaid with the outlines of entire continents. Covering about 63 million square miles (163 million km²), roughly one‑third of Earth’s surface, the Pacific Ocean is big enough to fit all the world’s landmasses and still leave spare space. It’s not just wide; it stretches about 12,300 miles (19,800 km) from west to east.
Maps / 3 days ago
Ireland vs South Korea: Two countries that look alike on the map but different
An infographic from The World in Maps overlays the outline of Ireland on the Korean Peninsula, showing how the two countries have remarkably similar north–south silhouettes. Beyond their shapes, however, South Korea and Ireland diverge sharply in terms of geography, population, and economy. South Korea spans about 100,222 km² and has around 51.2 million people (2025), ranking as the world’s 29th‑most‑populous country. Ireland covers roughly 69,947 km² and has 5.34 million residents.
Maps / 4 days ago
Africa’s religious divide: Map reveals a Muslim north, a Christian south and one Hindu-majority state
Across North Africa and parts of the Sahel, Islam dominates; most of central and southern Africa is majority Christian; and only Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, is predominantly Hindu. Islam first reached Africa in the seventh century when the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates spread the faith across the northern edge of the continent. Over time, Muslim kingdoms and trans-Saharan trade networks entrenched Islam across North and West Africa.
Maps / 1 week ago
The world’s biggest cities in 1700: Where people lived before the industrial revolution
A fascinating historical map by The World in Maps reveals the global distribution of cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in the year 1700. Long before skyscrapers, subways, and megacities, these urban centres were the beating hearts of empires, trade networks, and cultural exchange. In Europe, cities like London, Paris, and Amsterdam were rapidly rising as hubs of trade and colonial expansion. London had around 575,000 people, while Paris was close behind with roughly 500,000.
Maps / 1 week ago
Java Island’s population surpasses most countries in the world
Home to over 156 million people, Java is the most populated island on Earth, surpassing the populations of nearly every country worldwide. According to population data compiled by The World in Maps, Java’s population exceeds that of entire nations such as Russia, Japan, Mexico, and Egypt. Only a handful of countries—including China, India, the United States, Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia—have more people than this single Indonesian island.
Maps / 1 week ago
Mapping Asia: The six regions that shape the world’s biggest continent
Asia, the world’s largest continent, is often divided into six distinct regions to better understand its vast geography, cultures, and economies. A new visualisation highlights these divisions: East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and North Asia. The United Nations describes Asia as the most populous continent, home to 4.7 billion people (nearly 60% of the world’s population). It stretches from the deserts of the Middle East to the high peaks of the Himalayas and the dense cities of East Asia.
Maps / 1 week ago
Global ageing trends: UN report reveals median age by region in 2025
The world’s population is ageing at an unprecedented pace, but this trend is far from uniform across different parts of the globe. According to the United Nations’ World Population Prospects 2024 (the UN’s latest population report), the median age – the age at which half the population is older and half younger – reached about 31 years globally in 2025. This is a sharp increase from around 22 years in 1950, reflecting decades of rising life expectancy and falling birth rates worldwide. However, a closer look at regional age comparison data reveals striking disparities: some regions remain very young, while others are greying rapidly. Below, we explore the median age by world region in 2025 and the historical trends since 1950.
Maps / 2 weeks ago
40% of Greeks live in Attica, despite its small size
Although Attica represents only a small fraction of Greece's landmass, it houses nearly half the population. A whopping 40% of Greece’s population resides in Attica. The municipality spans an area of roughly 3,808 km², yet it accommodates approximately 3.8 million Greeks, out of the nation’s total population of around 10.48 million, according to The Greek Reporter.
Maps / 2 weeks ago
Here are the world’s oldest continuously used national flags
A map published by World in Maps highlights 10 countries whose flags have been flown almost unchanged for centuries. The list begins with Denmark, whose red banner with a white cross, known as the Dannebrog, holds the Guinness record as the world’s oldest continuously used national flag. According to Guinness World Records, the design of a white Scandinavian cross on a red background was adopted in 1625, while the square shape used on Danish ships was defined in 1748. The cross, derived from Christian symbolism, appears on other Nordic flags, but Denmark’s version has been in unbroken use longer than any other national emblem.
