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Map Projections: Mercator Vs The True Size of Each Country

November 11, 2018 11 Comments

Mercator Vs True Size of Each Country

Map found via reddit, click for larger version

While it’s well known that the mercator projection distorts the world, the maps here show very clearly by how much. Countries close to the equator barely change, whereas countries further north shrink dramatically.

The maps are all the work of climate data scientist @neilrkaye.

You can see an animation below:

Animation Mercator Vs True Size of Each Country

Map found via reddit, click for larger version

Finally the map gives a bar graph to show the relative size of the world’s largest countries:

Mercator Vs True Size of Each Country With List

Map found via reddit, click for larger version

Also, see:

  • The True Size of Africa
  • Map Projections & What They Say About You

Filed Under: World Maps

Comments

  1. Code Clements says

    April 23, 2019 at 2:39 pm

    As a retired map reader, planner, totally amazing and wonderfully interesting

    Reply
  2. nidhi khanna says

    September 5, 2019 at 9:44 am

    superb work. thank you so much.

    Reply
  3. Martins says

    December 10, 2019 at 10:01 am

    Please show real map not minimized, how they look from space, all connectted

    Reply
    • Paolo says

      December 5, 2021 at 9:10 am

      That’s simply not possible, or you have to distort the shape of each country. It’s simply not possible to project the correct size AND shape from a globe to a flat map. See e.g. Gall-Peters projection that retains the correct size, but not the shape.

      Reply
      • James says

        October 17, 2022 at 4:31 am

        Maybe, if that is the correct size, the earth is not a globe, but a flat plane.
        “When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” – Spock.

        Reply
    • asobrite says

      December 8, 2021 at 2:21 pm

      you just have to type “world map” in google to find what you requested.

      Reply
  4. Sadagoapan Thiruvali says

    December 17, 2019 at 9:16 am

    Loved your maps. Especially that gif which scales down the distortion due to Meractor projection. That was awesome! May I use your images on Quora?

    Reply
    • Brilliant Maps says

      January 13, 2020 at 11:25 am

      As long as you give credit back should be fine.

      Reply
  5. Bruce Packard says

    June 1, 2020 at 11:13 pm

    The most impressive demonstration of this issue I’ve ever come across.

    Reply
  6. Keshav Brij says

    October 22, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Thank you very much. Your efforts counts and respect from my side. I am an Indian philosopher and and conducts talk sessions, for any help contact me via my mail address.

    Reply
  7. Owain says

    August 31, 2021 at 10:33 am

    Really cool projection, but it appears the world doesn’t fit together anymore. Are you planning on finishing the Atlas?

    Reply

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