Today we are going with a light post for a summer weekend. Below you will see a series of maps of Worldmapper.org very interesting. Many of you have already seen some of them, but let's make some revealing comparisons between some of these distorted thematic maps in function and proportion to what is depicted on them:
Let's start with the simple territorial map (#0) and compare it with the following one (#1), what differences do you see and which one looks more familiar? For most of you, the first one will look slightly distorted in its southern hemisphere, with Africa, South America and Oceania exaggeratedly elongated, while the second one looks more realistic. No, the first one is the one that fits the geographical reality, while in the second one the southern hemisphere is minimised. Likewise, in map #2 we see the reverse distortion, with a minimised northern hemisphere. Indeed, the scale of the lower half of the world map is used to contract in order to have a better and more detailed view of the northern hemisphere, where most of the developed world is concentrated. But the world is much more extensive in its lower half than we have usually wanted to see.
#0
#1
#2
The following map shows the population in 2002. If we compare it with the territorial map #1 we will see that the extension of the territory does not correspond at all with the population. As a curiosity, Australia is 21 times larger than Japan, but the Japanese population is 6 times larger. Another curious fact is that in the year 2050, 6 billion people (the entire current population) will live in Africa and South-East Asia, while 3 billion more will live in the rest of the planet.
#3
The following two maps show the differences between the number of births (1TP5Q4) and the population over 65 (1TP5Q5), with Europe, the USA, China and Japan being the most affected by population ageing:
#4
#5
Infant mortality (#6) would be the opposite map of population ageing. Surprisingly, in the Americas as a whole, this rate is moderately low compared to Africa or Southeast Asia:
#6
In terms of the number of people infected by HIV (#7), we can see that it mainly affects Africa and South-East Asia, but also significantly Europe and America. In other words, wealth can almost eradicate infant mortality, but it cannot prevent HIV infections, even with such a significant health expenditure as we can see in map #8.
(#7)
#8
As for who pollutes the most, this is clear from map #9. It is quite consistent with that of the largest importers of oil and oil products 1TP5Q10 (note South Korea and Japan), and with that of current GDP 1TP5Q11. However, it should be noted that in general China and India pollute a lot in proportion to the fuel they import and also to their GDP.
#9
#10
#11
The appearance of the map changes radically if we focus on the major oil exporters of #12. Here we see an American continent with Brazil, Mexico and Canada very visible. A Northern Europe together with significant Russia, and of course an unrecognisable Persian Gulf:
#12
Another dramatic map is that of war and war-related deaths #13. Here it is Africa that once again bears the brunt. Asian countries such as Russia, Afghanistan and the Balkans are also significant. If this map were updated to this year, the impact of the Iraq war could be seen. But it was last updated in 2002.
#13
In terms of religions, we will see the differences between Christians (#14) and Muslims (#15). Also significant is the map of Agnostics (#16) led by China.
#14
#15
#16
If we talk about PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) 1TP5Q17, only 53 million people earn more than €130 a day. And of these, 58% are in the USA. It should be noted that this graph is from 2002 and does not include the nouveau riche of the East in recent years.
#17
Finally, we can see how Europe (and Spain) are leaders in terms of tourist destinations 1TP5Q18
#18
In short, the world is what it looks like from a bird's eye view. But the inequalities are so brutal that our picture from the sky might look very different if our fundamental affect our appearance.