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When most of us think about the word “data'' our eyes glaze over as a million Excel cells appear in our minds, putting us to sleep. So clever folks out there rolled up their sleeves and got to work, making visual depictions of data that help us better understand the world.

This online group shares various cool and interesting maps that help put all sorts of facts and figures into context. So get comfortable, prepare to brush up on some geography, and get to scrolling. Be sure to upvote your favorite posts and share your thoughts and observations in the comments section below. 

#1

Good Political Maps Of Oceania Are Hard To Come By

Good Political Maps Of Oceania Are Hard To Come By

RecordingFancy8515 Report

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Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kiwis breathe a sigh of relief that they are not being overlooked for a change

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#2

The Literal Meaning Of Every Country's Name In Africa

The Literal Meaning Of Every Country's Name In Africa

Homesanto Report

#3

Endings Of Places In Poland

Endings Of Places In Poland

DaveBensonPhilips Report

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Bernd Herbert
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the result of an old dialectal boundary. and another fun fact: In Northeastern Germany you will find lots of places that end in -ow, showing that the old Slawic Tribes were living in that area, way before any of today's national borders.

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If you have ever taken a casual look at an average map of the world, you have no doubt been struck by the sheer size of Russia and, to a lesser extent, Canada. This does make sense, as these are the largest countries on the planet, however, did you know that a little feature of mapmaking called Mercator projection makes them look significantly larger than they really are?

This comes from the Flemish geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator, who created a “cylindrical” map to represent the world in 1569. After all, unless you are looking at a globe, most maps are drawn, painted, or printed on a rectangular surface. Imagine the tube-like maps pirates are always dragging around and you have a pretty good depiction of an early Mercator map. 

#5

What’s The Most Popular Sport In Each Country?

What’s The Most Popular Sport In Each Country?

geographyfacts Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Correct usage of football ⚽️ /s ☺️ not that I care about sports, just find the wordusage peculiar..

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#6

Time Needed To Earn 1€ Million Earning On Average Wage

Time Needed To Earn 1€ Million Earning On Average Wage

karinasnooodles_ Report

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Tee Pussi
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, if you can manage not to pay taxes or rent and don't eat for a few decades.

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After all, the real landmasses on the planet, which are spherical, don’t translate 1-to-1 on a rectangular map. Certain sections end up stretched and, as a result, appear to be a lot larger than they actually are. Mercator chose to “focus” the map on the northern hemisphere, where locations closer to the “top” of the map would end up seeming larger. Hence Russia and Canada being absolutely gigantic on so many maps. 

#8

How Many % Of People Would Not Want To Live Next Door To Lgbt People?

How Many % Of People Would Not Want To Live Next Door To Lgbt People?

theworldmaps Report

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Sarinz
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldn't want to live next door to people who "Would Not Want To Live Next Door To Lgbt People"...

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BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's just Europe. I'd like to see a world map showing this.

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R Dennis
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I can live across the street from somebody who mows his lawn every day (seriously!) and kept his giant "TRUMP 2020" flag up into 2022, I do believe I would have no problem with LGBTQIA neighbors...

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BeaBea
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG this is scary. Please put LGBTQ+ people on all sides of my home/apartment, please!

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Melissa Powell
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t get why people don’t/won’t/can’t live next door to LBGQT people. How would you even know?

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Nikki Gross
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since I live in the ghetto and have drug and gang houses directly across the street from me, if I had LGBTQIA+ neighbors it would be a massive improvement considering my current living situation.

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BeaBea
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Notice how this compares to the map of how many years it takes to earn a €1 million

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Margaret Jobe
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More extremist the country, more people who would not want to live next door to an lgbt person. Haters gonna hate.

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Kate Gleeson
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How exactly is it damaging their lives? In fact. If the neighbours got to know them, it would educate them and more than likely brink more love.

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Analyn Lahr
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The darker green countries need to wake up and join the 21st century.

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TheOneWhoKnows(Nothing)
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This sums up quite well what extreme religious beliefs do. And also these conservative countries are doing rather bad on other social aspects too (or are worsening day by day). For example Finland where the current government has started to make new laws to save money, but in reality it's just rich people getting richer and less fortunate getting kicked in their guts. This then increases crimes and so on and so on, and soon we'll have more countries in war or losing the grip of their societies. Long rant, sorry about that, but I'm just so worried for our future as a civilized world...

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Nat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me I wouldn't really care. I mean I would move in and if someone asks if I'm upset I would say "I don't mind it. I mean, I would only get upset if someone tries to force and influence on me. Otherwise I'm fine." And being upset would only last for like... idk 1 to 2 days.

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Ph!lol
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like Lgbt people who buy homes increase everyone's property value bc they either renovate it or take care of it and their lawn.

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Sea Squirrel
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So there's hope for our son? Great! I'll tell him to clean his room and mow the lawn as soon as he's recovered from the mastectomy he had last Monday! (seriously?!)

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Navel gazer
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't believe Portugal to be this low. It is a very racist country and prejudice rarely comes in one flavour only.

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Caroline Nagel
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again nothing from Ireland, Belgium and the Vatican... And Luxemburg!

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Becky Samuel
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ireland was I believe the first country to vote in an openly gay Prime Minister.

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sbj
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not surprised at Cyprus as they don't even want to share an Island

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Jonathan MacFarlane
Community Member
5 months ago

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Eastern Europe is honestly just a countries that want to be like the USA.

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Rita Benkő
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

USA under Trump:-( Book bans, anti-LGBT+ rhetorics, racism and bigotry, in the name of Christianity and protection of family values, in Central Europe. I live here. Edit: I hate it.

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#9

World Map According To China In 1799

World Map According To China In 1799

Redstream28 Report

In fact, at the time, these maps were specifically created to aid in marine navigation. While it’s quite irrelevant to us, early seafarers could use a Mercator map to get a “straight” bearing when sailing to a new location. On a map that doesn’t use Mercator projection, the bearing would be a curve, representing the curve of the globe.

#10

U.S. States That Have Banned The Most Books (In Autumn 2022)

U.S. States That Have Banned The Most Books (In Autumn 2022)

GaffersB Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least it started backfiring in Utah, banning the bible from schools. For content of murder, violence, sexual things etc.

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#11

Percentage Of Population (25-64yrs) In Europe That Cant Speak Any Foreign Language

Percentage Of Population (25-64yrs) In Europe That Cant Speak Any Foreign Language

MardukSyria Report

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TotallyNOTAFox
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

English is mandatory here in Germany, additionally there are usually choices for french and spanish on top

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This sort of map has simply stuck around for hundreds of years, leading many people to draw somewhat incorrect conclusions about the real size of things. We are lucky that Russia and Canada really are the two largest countries, so the distortions don’t seem as bad. Other examples of distortion are the similarity between the UK and Madagascar, despite the latter being nearly twice as large.

#13

Belief In Life After Death In Europe

Belief In Life After Death In Europe

cloudtdaz Report

#14

Average Money Spent On Weddings In US States

Average Money Spent On Weddings In US States

Starry_Night0123 Report

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Bernd Herbert
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is absolutely wild. Looking at California....this is more than I spent in the last 10 years for various vacations. I'm from Germany, and those vacations included USA & Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, the Seychelles, Mauritius and countless trips within Europe. (Yes, I'm counting my expenses.) I would never ever exchange these experiences with a one-time party. Absolutely absurd!

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#15

Roman Coin Hoards, From The 'Coinage In The Roman Empire' Project — 'Hoards Containing Coinage In Use In The Roman Empire Between 30 B.c. And A.d. 400.'

Roman Coin Hoards, From The 'Coinage In The Roman Empire' Project — 'Hoards Containing Coinage In Use In The Roman Empire Between 30 B.c. And A.d. 400.'

idonotknowtodo Report

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sbj
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those Romans were very careless with their loose change on their travels

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Even more comically, due to its northerly position, Alaska appears to be roughly the size of Australia, despite the fact that the land down under is almost five times larger. You can find an excellent gif depicting the presented and real size of various nations here

#16

When Is Weekend

When Is Weekend

two_plus_two_is_zero Report

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#17

Asia's Counting System. How Do You Say The Number 57

Asia's Counting System. How Do You Say The Number 57

Mokkasakka Report

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TotallyNOTAFox
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blue and yellow are reasonable, the rest seems overly complicated. Edit: Orange, not yellow ^^

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#19

Male Body Hair Distribution Of Indigenous Human Populations Around The World

Male Body Hair Distribution Of Indigenous Human Populations Around The World

Homesanto Report

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Tuesday
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

South Indians are hairy, didn't need a graph to tell me that, just a mirror... sigh. I'm a woman and I'm hairier than my North Indian father

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#20

Sex Ratio

Sex Ratio

Hockputer09 Report

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Tracy Wallick
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet, men are treated as the default despite being a smaller percent of the population in the majority of countries.

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#21

Percentage Of Light vs. Brown Hair In European Countries

Percentage Of Light vs. Brown Hair In European Countries

Specific_Ad_097 Report

#22

Most Wasteful Countries In The World

Most Wasteful Countries In The World

flyingcatwithhorns Report

#24

Air Polution In Europe

Air Polution In Europe

therealcup_1 Report

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Monstarr the Divisive
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoa... What's happening in nort Italy, Poland and around the Balkans? Why is it so bad there?

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#25

US States By Violent Crime Rate

US States By Violent Crime Rate

Specific_Ad_685 Report

#26

The Countries With The Most Island

The Countries With The Most Island

robertjan88 Report

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BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The islands in Sweden are very very small but numerous. That's why they don't show up on most maps.

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#27

The Most Consumed Type Of Meat By Country Including Fish & Seafood

The Most Consumed Type Of Meat By Country Including Fish & Seafood

giuliomagnifico Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope, according to 'The Swedish Board of Agriculture', it's poultry meat (when not including sausages, ham and kassler). When you include them (and assuming they are 100% pork meat, pork is #1 by approximately 3,5x compared to fish.

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#28

The Most And Least Happy Countries In The World

The Most And Least Happy Countries In The World

Intelligent_Store0 Report

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R L
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think Israel's view may have changed somewhat in the past weeks.

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#29

Projection Of Water Stress Level By Country In 2040

Projection Of Water Stress Level By Country In 2040

giuliomagnifico Report

#30

Highest Temperature Recorded In Europe Countries

Highest Temperature Recorded In Europe Countries

Redstream28 Report

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pep Ito
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These maps are misleading. They should have shown the point where it was reached and the temperature by zones. As it appears on the map it seems that all of Spain reached 47 degrees when it was in the south of Spain and probably in the northern half the temperatures were. By far lower

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Note: this post originally had 54 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.