conflict - World Visualized

conflict

Culture / 1 week ago

Faith and power: How religion still shapes the Middle East

From the Mediterranean coast to the Persian Gulf, the Middle East is a patchwork of belief, a living mosaic of faiths that have coexisted, overlapped, and at times collided for centuries. The sea of green across the map above represents Sunni Muslims, the largest branch of Islam, stretching from Egypt and Saudi Arabia through to Turkey and Jordan.

Environment / 1 week ago

The largest immigrant communities across the Middle East

According to the UNHCR, the Middle East and North Africa region remains one of the largest hosts of refugees and migrants in the world. Millions are displaced by conflict and economic hardship, and the region accounts for about 14% of the global migrant population. The Pew Research Centre also reports that the Middle East’s migrant population more than doubled between 2005 and 2015, increasing from 7% to 13% of the total regional population. Labour migration, mainly from South Asia, is a key factor in this rise.

Politics / 3 weeks ago

Who and who recognises Israel's statehood?

Most countries around the world formally recognise its statehood, but a notable number still withhold recognition or have broken off relations. According to current data, Israel is recognised by around 163 of the 192 United Nations member states, roughly 83% of UN members.

Politics / 3 weeks ago

Russia vs. Ukraine: A look at the military might amid an evolving conflict

The war between Russia and Ukraine continues to dominate global headlines, and a recent infographic from Maven Mapping highlights a notable contrast in the military capabilities of the two countries. According to the graphic, Russia reportedly fields around 1.32 million active‐service soldiers compared to Ukraine’s approximately 900,000.

World / 4 weeks ago

Countries with the highest civilian gun ownership in the world

The United States leads the world in civilian gun ownership, with an average of 120.5 firearms for every 100 residents. That far exceeds the next country on the list, Yemen, with 52.8 guns per 100 people, followed by New Caledonia at 42.5. Other nations in the top ten include Serbia and Montenegro (each at 39.1), Canada (34.7), Uruguay (34.7), Cyprus (34.0), Finland (32.4), and Lebanon (31.9), according to the chart.

Maps / 6 weeks ago

Europe’s surge in airspace violations

Over the last year, European airspace has witnessed a startling rise in aerial attacks, many involving Russian aircraft and drones breaching the boundaries of NATO and EU nations. A new map plotting violations between September 2024 and 2025 starkly illustrates how Russia has taken the role of principal provocateur, regularly testing the resilience of allied air defences.

World / 7 weeks ago

'Opening Voices' at UNGA 80: Who speaks first?

The United Nations General Assembly enters its 80th session in September 2025 under the banner "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” The High-Level General Debate begins Tuesday, September 23, where world leaders deliver keynote addresses.

Maps / 8 weeks ago

Israel’s expanding military campaign is redrawing the map of the Middle East

Since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, Israel’s military campaign has stretched far beyond Gaza, marking one of the most expansive regional operations in decades. A map highlights the countries struck by Israeli forces: Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Oman, illustrating how the conflict has become a regional confrontation rather than a strictly local war.

Politics / 11 weeks ago

Israel in Africa explained: Friends, foes, and the countries in between

While the majority of African nations recognise Israel and maintain formal ties, a small but significant bloc of countries continues to withhold diplomatic recognition. The map above illustrates this divide: green for recognition, red for rejection. This diplomatic split is deeply rooted in history, shaped by solidarity with Palestine, pan-Arab influence, and Africa’s own political transformations.

Culture / 13 weeks ago

The European football fixtures FIFA and UEFA won’t allow

Football may be a global language, but the sport cannot escape geopolitics. A map created by The World in Maps shows four sets of European fixtures that UEFA and FIFA refuse to stage because longstanding territorial disputes or active wars would make those games flashpoints for unrest. They include matches between Ukraine and Russia, Spain and Gibraltar, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Kosovo against Serbia, Bosnia‑Herzegovina or Russia.

World / 15 weeks ago

A century on, this is how World War I wiped out nations

More than a century after the guns went silent, The World in Maps is highlighting the human cost of World War I. Marked in shades of red, pink and black, the map estimates what proportion of each country’s population died in the conflict. Countries like Serbia and the Ottoman Empire are shaded the darkest, indicating that more than 10% of their populations died; other nations fall into bands ranging from 4‑10% down to below 0.5%.

Environment / 19 weeks ago

UK issues urgent travel warning for the Middle East

Although the Middle East is among the richest and most beautiful regions in the world, it continues to struggle with heightened insecurity following the conflicts between Israel and Iran, as well as between Israel and Gaza. In view of this, The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has released its latest Foreign Travel Advice for the Middle East, outlining crucial guidance for British citizens planning trips to the region.

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