Accurate Size World Map

These interactive maps, show the accurate size of the world's countries. They display the world as different projections. Wait, if you want to see all the projections. To pick a specific one, scroll through the menu and click on it.

Size Accurate World Maps

It is easy to think that maps show you the actual size of countries or the world. Nevertheless, maps are just representations of the world.

Cartographers look for the best way to represent a "sphere" which is our world, onto a flat surface, a map.

"Sphere" is quoted because the world is not a perfect sphere. The world is wider at the Equator than at the poles.

Maps translate a 3D object into a 2D object. How can it be done? Well, cartographers came up with different solutions depending on the map's use.

These solutions are known as map projections.

There are over 100 map projections! The maps above display 45 different projections.

The most popular one is the Mercator Projection.

Mercator Projection

This projection was created by a Flemish cartographer and geographer, Gerardus Mercator in 1569.

It became the standard map projection for nautical purposes because of its ability to represent lines of constant true direction.

In a time when sailing was the main mode of long distance travel, true direction meant that the straight line connecting any two points on the map, was the same direction that a compass would show.

In a Mercator map, longitude and latitude lines are parallel, therefore this map is always a rectangle. Source : ICSM.

For these reasons it turned into a widespread popular map used even in classrooms.

The result is the appearance of countries and landmasses closer to the poles looking wider.

Nordic countries, Greenland, Russia, and Canada seem even larger than their true size.

Antarctica looks gigantic but it is conveniently chopped off in most maps.

The True Size of Each Country

When making maps, cartographers choose a different projection depending on the country.

To display countries along the Equator cylindrical maps like the Mercator Projection work fine.

To display mid-latitiude countries like the U.S. Conical projections are more appropriate.

The U.S. is commonly displayed as an Albers Projection. Many Databayou Census maps have this projection. For example the U.S. GDP map.

Arctic regions are better represented with the Azimuthal Equidistant, which displays accurate direction and distance from the pole.

A good example is this map of Arctic Permafrost.

To represent Renewable Energy Worldwide, I used the Robinson projection.

The Robinson Projection attempts to present the entire world on a flat surface, minimizing distortion while maintaining a pleasing visual representation.

I used the Orthographic projection to display the countries of the world. It displays the world as a sphere.

I personally like the advantages of the digital age. This map rotates with the click of your mouse!

If you want to read and learn more about maps, Amazon has Great Maps: The World's Masterpieces Explored and Explained (DK History Changers) Hardcover – Illustrated.

This book has examples of medieval Mappa Mundi and the first atlas to Google Earth and maps of the moon, this captivating maps book is a must-have for all history and geography enthusiasts and explorers!

Printable Globe

If you feel like turning a 2D map into a 3D map, you can print this globe.

The Dymaxion fold is a map projection of the Earth developed by Buckminster Fuller. This projection can be folded into a 20-sided icosahedron, forming a globe.

Print it, cut it and fold it! You will get your own globe!