Infographic maps of the world are endlessly engaging. Mainly, their popularity comes from how easily they present information using graphics and creative imagery. The rise of funny maps is a testament to this.
Want to find out the most popular last names in Europe? Or the most beloved booze across the continent? Maybe you want to know where all the billionaires live? Or which countries are the happiest and which are the most corrupt?
We’ve made a list of the 140 most interesting, coolest, funniest maps of the world, to help answer all those burning questions that you never knew needed answering!
The first of these somehow funny maps is mainly about the US.
Did you know there are only 2 countries other than the US that do not use the metric system? Do you know what they are?
Burma and Liberia are 2 of only 3 countries in the entire world that do not use the metric system. See the details of each on this fascinating map!
This brilliant and unique map will show you exactly what state popular American businesses came from.
Greeks gave us so much, from scientific practice to theatre. But this map shows all the national stereotypes that the Greeks invented too!
Britain – once the superpower of the world – has a long history of colonialism. This map shows how nearly 90% of the world has been invaded by Britain at some point in history.
One of the cool maps from this article shows the distribution of redheads throughout Europe on this great map.
The US has some of the highest usages of crystal meth in the world. See the concentration of meth labs throughout the country with this map.
This interesting map shows how Europeans view themselves. The Dutch? Stoned. The Greeks? Poor.
There are some fascinating stories behind where the most popular surnames in Europe originated. The English name ‘Smith’, for instance, came from the Old English word for ‘one who works in metal’. The Austrian name ‘Gruber’ means ‘miner’.
This is one of the interesting maps that might change how you view the world. See which sport is most favored in different areas of the globe. And no, Americans, baseball and American football aren’t that popular outside the US.
In this map, each state is labeled with whichever TV show is the most popular. Great for fans of the small screen!
See who has the largest breasts around the world.
Opinion is divided over which animal truly makes the greatest pet. See which one is the most popular by individual state in this map.
According to this map, the heaviest drinkers are the Irish, Russians, French, and Germans. Surprised? Maybe not. But there are some major surprises in this fascinating map.
For example – Belarus is actually the highest consumer of all, with an average of 17.5 liters of alcohol drank per person every year.
The Earth has not always looked as it looks now. It was once a huge, single landmass. This unique map displays an overlay of the current political world over a map of the ancient Earth, to see where we would fit in the world of millennia gone by!
This might be one of the funny maps we have in this article… according to Europeans. The stereotypes of the US as seen by Europeans – makes for an entertaining read.
According to this, Americans and Australians love beer, while Asia, Russia, and the Caribbean love spirits. Who knew?
Businesspeople will find this map especially interesting. Track which exports are the highest earning by country in this handy map.
You might be surprised by the answer to this – but then again maybe not (Ireland).
You’ll be amazed at just how many countries use red in their official flag designs.
This map is similar to the previous, but with blue instead of red. Just as amazing!
Everyone knows the Mississippi River is mighty, but this map shows clearly just how powerful and huge it really is. Track all the rivers that feed it in this unique graphic map.
Need we say more?
Coffee is one of the most popular tradeable goods in the world. They say machines run on oil, and people run on coffee. See here just how true that really is.
Lions once ruled over Africa. See in this map where they were most prevalent through history, and how their population densities have changed over time.
It’s surprising where the majority of US citizens can trace their ancestry back to. Who would have guessed there were so many descendants of Germans?
Let’s get back to funny maps. Europe loves beer, so it’s no surprise that the Europeans have so many different names for it.
This is one of the interesting maps in the article that makes you put things into perspective. This useful map shows how long Americans need to work in order to pay off their mortgage. It displays the information by state and takes the averages of each of these into account.
A free press is vital to a free society. See where in the world the press is most free – and where a journalist can be jailed for reporting the truth.
See if you’re in the right career for you and your dreams of wealth on this map!
Beer seems to be the most common, except in strict religious countries where alcohol is restricted.
Billionaires have seemingly unlimited resources – for that reason they’re able to keep to themselves. There are more than most realize – 585 in the US alone! See where they mostly congregate on this map.
See the world in a different way with this creative map.
The longest waterway is 20,000 miles long. See it here!
This map can be handy in helping you find a destination that is a little off-the-beaten-track. Typical destinations like France or Spain spend tens of billions on tourism, whereas somewhere like Cyprus spends a lot less. This is a good indication of where might be less busy.
See visually which side of the road drivers use in different parts of the world.
Millennials are the first generation in decades to earn less than the generation before them. See here which areas pay the most to help fight that trend!
Obesity is an ongoing health crisis in many countries around the world. See which are the most afflicted with this interesting map.
Some areas of the world are more war-torn than others. See which is which here.
Europe is known for its beautiful people. See where they all are here!
See which company dominates in each country with this fascinating map.
It seems as though Russia struggles the most with toxic waste. Use this map to see which areas of the world also have this problem.
And back again to one of the funny maps. Google autocomplete is the source of many funny anecdotes. See what is most commonly searched by location on this map!
Everyone has their own personal favorite messaging app. See which are the most commonly used here!
See the fertility rate of different areas.
Who’s packing the highest number of weapons? It’s no surprise it’s the US! Americans own nearly half of all civilian-owned guns in the world. See what the figures are in different parts of the globe.
See the world differently here with the map that translates population density into geographical data.
Cities use the most energy, but see how that looks across the world.
Every culture has its own version of the alphabet. See how they compare with this interesting map.
Japan, Iceland, and Australia are all prospering from various specific industries. See how the world compares.
This is a unique look at the world’s population and how it would look in one city. It really puts things into perspective!
More than 2.2 billion people worldwide describe themselves as Christians. Islam has around 1.8 billion followers. See a more detailed look on this fascinating map.
You’ll be surprised which surnames crop up the most in the US!
It may give a fairly bleak outlook of the world, but according to this map more than two-thirds of countries around the world score below 50 on the scale of 0 – 100 in terms of how corrupt they are. Denmark is winning, apparently being viewed as the least corrupt!
See which parts of the world are struck by lightning the most. This map gives you a fascinating look at lightning patterns across the globe.
The European Union is home to the highest amount of smart people in the world. At the top of the list is Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
This shows the Earth in a very different way to what we’re used to! Well worth a look.
For most countries, their most populous cities are their capital. But this is not true for three. For example, in Turkey, the most populous city is not the capital Ankara, but Istanbul.
Antarctica is massive – so massive that it spans multiple time zones! See more on this brilliant map.
See how the country looked in 1861 before the Civil War. It looks like a very different place to how it looks these days.
You might be surprised to learn what these well-known US cities used to be called!
In some states, women make just 70% of what men make! Even the better states are still falling short.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Europe is one of the most photographed places in the world!
All sorts of disasters can lead to a state receiving federal aid. See which ones receive it most here!
There are 98 nuclear reactors powering millions of homes across the states! According to this map, the east coast is a particular hotspot.
See how far your money goes across Europe!
You may be surprised (or not!) to see which places are the happiest in the world. Scandinavia, Australia, and Canada take the prize!
You will most likely never complain about overcrowding again after seeing this.
See which states raised their minimum wage in 2019. In some areas, the wage was raised to $15.69 per hour!
Metalheads of the world unite!
This comprehensive map factors in a huge range of data points, such as benefits, neighborhood safety, school rankings, medical care, and more. See which areas of the US are best for working mothers!
See what Europeans love to search for!
See how Germany in 1914 may have seen the threats surrounding them with this cartoonish map!
This time, see what Americans love to search for! The similarities with Europe may shock you…
This crisis is rapidly growing in the US. See how this epidemic is spread across the nation in this harrowing map.
See what those in Asia love to search for, and how it compares to the rest of the world!
We really feel for those that cannot enjoy the wonders of cheese.
See who has the hottest heads or the coolest tempers in the world!
See how the share of votes was spread across the country during the most contentious election of recent years. Red is Trump, while blue is Clinton.
For many of this age, living with their parents is still the only financial option.
Tipping amounts can vary by location for numerous reasons. Some countries pay higher wages, making tipping less common.
See where the best place to be born in the world is!
See how many refugees are admitted into the US. The conflict in Syria has devastated the country, leading many to try and find a better life elsewhere. The UN estimates that around 13.5 million Syrians became refugees in 2017 alone.
See all mthe rich countries in one place!
The world was so different back then that it may as well have been an alien planet! This mapdates back to 1595 when King Philip II of Spain ruled over a huge part of the world.
The quote at the bottom translates to, “For what human affairs can seem important to a man who keeps all eternity before his eyes and knows the vastness of the universe?”
Huge areas of this vast country are uninhabitable. See where people live with this map!
The world was vastly different then. The Mughal Empire was in full bloom, and the Qing empire was at its height. See more on this map!
This great map shows who earns the most in the public sector. Apparently, football coaches get great pay!
See where our leaders were educated!
There’s no up or down in space. Because of this, it’s just a tradition for us to place the northern hemisphere at the top of a map. See what the world looks like with this reversed!
See which alcohol is favored, and where!
See how each side of the Cold War looked laid out on a map of the world.
See how the world would look if the population was spread out evenly!
The amount of water needed to keep the world moving is truly staggering. See this visually on this great map.
Different parts of the world respond differently to foreign visitors. Areas marked in red are maybe best avoided!
This interesting map shows birthright citizenship data by area!
Every area produces a different kind of grape – and therefore a different flavor of wine!
If you’re traveling and you smoke, it’s good to know where you can smoke and where you can’t. This map can help with that!
See a map of the monarchies of the world!
Can you identify a country just by its flag? Test yourself with this map!
A map of love! Or maybe the lack of love?
Antarctica is a frozen land, but there is more than just ice there! Beneath the freeze lies mountains, lakes, and maybe even frozen forests!
See what locations get the most sun at different times!
Handwashing is more important than ever before. You may be concerned with the numbers of people in Italy who don’t wash their hands. Just as well – the food is so good!
See which countries are favored most by travelers.
According to this map, Jay-Z and Drake are the most popular in the US.
According to this map, if you want to retire by the age of 35, you will need $1.5 million! In California, this becomes $2.37 million!
The western US has seen a huge increase in craft breweries in recent years. See more details on this great map!
Charlemagne ruled most of Europe until his death in 814. See the political situation of Europe throughout the medieval period with this riveting map!
Around the same time, Vikings invaded much of Europe from the north.
President Eisenhower created the US Interstate System in 1956, involving more than 46,000 miles of roads, and costing $129 million! See this on a fascinating map here.
There is around $1.5 trillion of student debt in the US. This is increasing exponentially as the years go by.
Many Americans apparently want to learn about World War One and the European Union. But when it comes to Googling Norway, the most popular search is about the penguin that was knighted by the country!
Can you name each state by its flag?
Plan your drive around Africa with this detailed map of the African highway network, stretching through multiple African countries.
Want to get around Europe? This comprehensive train network is your best bet!
Such a vast country stretching across 3.7 million square miles with almost 1.4 billion people could never speak just one language!
See which countries hosted Grand Prix races in 2019!
Multiple factors were taken into account to judge how democratic each country is in the making of this fascinating map!
The Romans ruled over most of Europe, northern Africa, and parts of the Middle East by the year 117 AD. However, by 476 AD the Empire had collapsed.
The US seized huge amounts of land when it became a nation. See where here!
Keep this handy for your next trip so you know how to express your gratitude!
Everyone has their preference – what’s yours?
Which character pops up twice on this fun map?
I think we can all see a bit of truth on this map!
Certain countries make it hard or even impossible for girls to go to school. According to UNESCO, 15 million girls will never go to school. See where on this map.
See which countries have the most parrots! (Colombia wins with 1,878!)
There are 300 billion trees in the US alone!
According to this map, it can take more than an hour to make one dollar in many countries such as Yemen, India, and Vietnam. It can take even longer in others!
There are more bikes than people in the Netherlands– 1.3 per human!
This once great empire surrounded the Mediterranean Sea and ruled from 330-1204 and 1261-1453. Once considered “New Rome”, this empire was a superpower until overtaken by the Turks and the Ottoman Empire.
The only country in Europe still with a death penalty in place is Belarus!
The UK comes out on top of all colonial powers here.
Up through 1945, the UK continued to be the dominating force, particularly in Africa.
The US and Russia are two giants in oil production.
Certain areas are blessed with high gold deposits. See where on this map and get digging!
It’s no surprise that the UK speaks the most English in Europe – of course!
Each state is known for something. What’s yours known for?
Germany has no speed limits!
On this map, green countries are landlocked. Purple ones are doubly landlocked!
Africa has the fewest number of Wikipedia writers out there. It’s no surprise, considering just a quarter of Africans have access to the internet!
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