EVER THOUGHT TO YOURSELF, “How many smaller countries could you fit into Australia?” Or possibly, “Which countries in the western hemisphere have legit secessionist movements?” Or, perhaps most pressing of all, “Where does it pay best to be a lifeguard?” We live in the age of the map now, so these are no longer questions you have to continue simply wondering about.

Maps are spectacular at conveying a lot of information in a simple image. Did you know, for example, that four breweries control a huge share of the world’s beer market? Or that Belgium’s largest immigrant population is Italian? Each month we do a round-up of some of the best maps on the internet. Here are the best from October.


1

Australia is a really big country

How many other countries could fit into Australia? Via Reddit

2

Most disproportionately well-paid jobs in the U.S.

It pays to be a lifeguard in Hawaii. Via Reddit

3

Change in liveability score 2010-2015

Which cities have had the biggest changes in fortune over the last 5 years? Via Reddit

Intermission

Culture

The world’s 5 most beautiful alphabets you’ll never learn to read

Aug 27, 2020Felipe Sant'Ana Pereira
News

Stonehenge will livestream its summer solstice celebration for the first time ever

May 13, 2020Eben Diskin
Travel

Loop from Boston to California and back on the ultimate US train trip

May 21, 2020Matthew Meltzer
4

Where is Uber banned?

Where in the world have local governments taken a stand against Uber? Via Reddit

5

The world's dominant breweries

Four breweries basically dominate the world of beer. Via Reddit

6

Biscuits vs. McMuffins

Which do local customers prefer more? Via Reddit

7

The states where women are most likely to be murdered by men

What are the worst states for violence against women per capita? Via Reddit

Intermission

Culture

The 13 most beautiful college campuses in the US

Aug 26, 2020Emese Fromm
Travel

Loop from Boston to California and back on the ultimate US train trip

May 21, 2020Matthew Meltzer
Entertainment

Live out your Halloween fantasy in the Colorado town that inspired The Shining

Aug 18, 2020Tim Wenger
8

Where the immigrants come from

Where are the most immigrants from in each European country? Via Reddit

9

School holidays in Europe

Which countries have the most school holiday weeks? Via Reddit

10

The U.S. governors religion map

What religion are the governors of the U.S.? Via Reddit

11

The long form of country's English names

When you say "Congo," are you talking about the Republic of Congo, or the Democratic Republic of Congo? Via Reddit

Intermission

Entertainment

Live out your Halloween fantasy in the Colorado town that inspired The Shining

Aug 18, 2020Tim Wenger
Entertainment

Live out your Halloween fantasy in the Colorado town that inspired The Shining

Aug 18, 2020Tim Wenger
Food + Drink

Swedish restaurant puts tables in nature for beautiful socially distanced dining

Jun 25, 2020Elisabeth Sherman
12

What Columbus expected the world to look like

What Columbus thought he'd be sailing to vs. what he was really sailing towards. He was WAY off. Via Reddit

13

U.S. military bases vs. Russian military bases

Russia still doesn't have anywhere near as much global military presence as the U.S. Via Reddit

14

Where wolves historically have lived.

Wolves used to be everywhere in the northern hemisphere. Via Reddit

15

Where the Syrian refugees are

Who is taking in the most Syrian refugees? Via Reddit

16

The quality of democracy by country

Where is democracy most robust around the world? Via Reddit

17

The average age at first marriage for females

How old are women (on average) when they first get married? Via Reddit

18

Interest in hoverboards by Google search

Californians REALLY want hoverboards. Via SelfBalancingReviews.com

19

How much of humanity is in your hemisphere?

What percentage of the world's population is within 10,000 kilometers of you? Via Reddit

20

Fourth of July songs by state on Spotify

What is each state's favorite Fourth of July song on Spotify? Via Reddit

21

Coffee vs. Tea

Does your country prefer coffee or tea? Via Reddit

22

The permanent Republican states until 1988

These states were considered guaranteed Republican states for 20 years -- they were not expected to ever change. Via FiveThirtyEight

23

Most guns per capita

The U.S. wins pretty handily. Via Reddit

24

Peace in Mexico

What are the safest areas in Mexico? Via Reddit

25

Prevailing religions by country

A world of religions. Via Reddit

26

How the U.S. population would fit into China

There are a lot of people in China. Via Reddit

27

Europe circa 1600

Europe looked a lot different 400 years ago.

28

Countries with Papa John's

Which countries have access to the world's most mediocre pizza? Via Reddit

29

Age difference between men and women at first marriage

What's the average difference in age between men and women for each country? Via Reddit

30

Countries with laws against apostasy against Islam

Where is it most dangerous to blaspheme against Islam? Via Reddit

31

Active separatist movements in the western hemisphere

Where are there secessionist movements in the Americas? Via Reddit

32

300 years of world population growth

The size of the country over time is the country's proportion of the total global population. Via Reddit

h/t: Thanks to the MapPorn subreddit for being a great resource for both finding maps and for getting criticism and analysis of those maps.