23 maps to learn about the world

YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM a map. Who, for example, hasn’t asked themselves the burning question, “How many goats are there in the world, and where are they most dense?” Or who, perhaps while driving through middle America, hasn’t thought, “I wonder how many of these homes are actually meth labs?” And I know for a fact that every man in America has wondered if his state is home to the largest average penis size.

Fortunately, maps can answer all of these questions and more. Here are 23 maps that will teach you something about the world that you didn’t know before. Yes, you may not have needed to know some of these things, but learning is good for its own sake. Right?




1

What each state is best at

Hawaii's "best at" seems a little unfair. And kudos, North Dakota. Via

2

A map of Europe adjusted for coastline length

"Coastline length" is a notoriously difficult measurement, but this map helps give you some idea of how it's length can be much longer in much smaller countries like Britain while being very short in places like France. Via

3

The Age of Heterosexual consent by country

A larger version of this map available here.

Intermission


173
The 20 coolest towns in the US
by Matador Team



367
What bartenders actually think of your drink order
by Lisa Millar-Jones




17 places Coloradans would rather keep to themselves
by Michael Bonocore













4

The Languages of Europe

A larger version of this map available here.

5

The Meth Labs of the US

There's a very clear "meth belt" in the United States. Via

6

World Systems of Government

A larger version of this map is available here.

7

The world split up into $1 trillion of GDP

The more colorful, the more wealthy an area is. Via

8

Number of Instagram posts with #(country name)

As someone on Reddit pointed out, Turkey likely does well around Thanksgiving. Via

9

The state religions of the world

There are surprisingly few left. Via

Intermission


367
What bartenders actually think of your drink order
by Lisa Millar-Jones



137
The 22 craziest party hostels around the world
by Matt Kepnes




15 photographs that show the diverse beauty of Utah
by Michael Bonocore













10

The most popular destinations for migrants in each country

Mexico's should surprise no American, but that the converse is true about US immigrants to Mexico is perhaps a bit unexpected. Via

11

World goat density

Presented without comment. Via

12

Top religious traditions by state

The Northeastern United States not being uniformly Catholic is the biggest surprise for me. Via

13

Europe by alcohol preference

Blue is vodka, red is wine, and the kind of yellowish-brown is beer. Via

14

How long has each country been a republic?

And which countries still aren't? Via

15

World population growth

For the year 2014. Via

Intermission


137
The 22 craziest party hostels around the world
by Matt Kepnes



484
9 American habits I lost when I moved to Germany
by Vanessa Van Doren




Texas has the greatest skies on Earth, and these 13 photographers prove it
by Kate Siobhan Mulligan













16

Population density

Canada is practically an expanse of white. Via

17

The importance of the Mississippi to the Midwest

Without the Mississippi River system, the Midwest as we know it would basically not exist. Via

18

Where Britain's immigrants come from

India and Poland are no surprise, but you may be surprised at the amount of American immigrants. Via

19

Native American population percentage

In which countries have the most Native Americans survived? Via

20

Life satisfaction in Europe

The moral: stay away from the Balkans and Baltics. Via

21

The world's most heavily guarded countries

Where are the world's great walls built, and why? Via

22

The average number of languages spoken in each country

Thank god the US isn't on this map.

23

The habitable range of homo sapiens

We really have expanded over a staggeringly huge part of the earth. Via