50 Informative Maps People Shared On This Group That Might Change Your Perspective On Things

I was lucky enough to be born in a time where I’ve never had to use physicalmapsto get places. And while I do find paper maps to be charming, I have to admit that I’m glad I can rely on Google and a robotic voice with questionable pronunciation to tell me where I need to go while driving. But if you’re not behind the wheel, maps can be somuch morethan simply tools for navigation.We took a trip toThe World in MapsInstagram account and gathered some of their most informative and fascinating posts below. As you scroll through this list, we hope you’ll learn something new about ourplanet, and perhaps even your own country.Enjoy diving into the wonderful world of maps, and keep reading to find a conversation with the creator of The World in Maps,Xavier Ruiz!This post may includeaffiliate links.

We took a trip toThe World in MapsInstagram account and gathered some of their most informative and fascinating posts below. As you scroll through this list, we hope you’ll learn something new about ourplanet, and perhaps even your own country.Enjoy diving into the wonderful world of maps, and keep reading to find a conversation with the creator of The World in Maps,Xavier Ruiz!

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Cats labeled as Argentina and Chile humorously representing informative maps' boundaries.

To learn more about maps and find out howThe World in Mapsstarted in the first place, we reached out to the account’s creator, Xavier Ruiz, who was kind enough to have a chat withBored Panda.“The origins of The World In Maps trace back to 2017 when, after years of being a passive user on X (formerly Twitter), I decided to become more active and build a following,” Xavier shared.“I spent time brainstorming how I could bring something unique to the platform, combining my two main passions: history and international politics, along with my love for maps,” the creator explained. “This combination felt like the perfect way to present complex global issues and historical events in an accessible, visual way. Today, the X account (@xruiztru) has over 70k followers.”

To learn more about maps and find out howThe World in Mapsstarted in the first place, we reached out to the account’s creator, Xavier Ruiz, who was kind enough to have a chat withBored Panda.

“The origins of The World In Maps trace back to 2017 when, after years of being a passive user on X (formerly Twitter), I decided to become more active and build a following,” Xavier shared.

“I spent time brainstorming how I could bring something unique to the platform, combining my two main passions: history and international politics, along with my love for maps,” the creator explained. “This combination felt like the perfect way to present complex global issues and historical events in an accessible, visual way. Today, the X account (@xruiztru) has over 70k followers.”

World map showing daylight distribution, illustrating when 99% of the global population receives sunlight.

Map of Greenland and Iceland labeled as “The biggest scam in history,” highlighting size misconception.

“In 2021, several friends suggested that the content I was posting on X could be just as successful on Instagram,” Xavier continued. “Initially hesitant and not quite comfortable with the platform, I decided to give it a try in June of 2021 when I had more time at work.““At first, I kept the Instagram page a secret from family and friends, feeling a bit embarrassed,” he admitted. “However, the growth was almost immediate. The page gained momentum quickly, and now we have more than 270k followers. There are some times that we grow more than 3k followers a day!”

“At first, I kept the Instagram page a secret from family and friends, feeling a bit embarrassed,” he admitted. “However, the growth was almost immediate. The page gained momentum quickly, and now we have more than 270k followers. There are some times that we grow more than 3k followers a day!”

Aerial view of illuminated city map at night, showcasing intricate street patterns and glowing urban areas.

Three cats labeled Norway, Sweden, and Finland cuddling humorously, illustrating geography in a unique perspective.

Map route from Poo Poo Point to Pee Pee Island, highlighting a whimsical travel perspective.

And it’s no secret to Xavier why his account has become so popular. “The rapid success of The World In Maps is a result of the clear, visual presentation of topics likehistoryand international politics, which resonate with a wide audience,” he explained.“I believe many people are interested in these subjects, and the visual format makes the content both engaging and easy to understand. Additionally, our ability to post about timely topics and current events has helped us stay relevant, contributing to the page’s ongoing growth.”

“I believe many people are interested in these subjects, and the visual format makes the content both engaging and easy to understand. Additionally, our ability to post about timely topics and current events has helped us stay relevant, contributing to the page’s ongoing growth.”

Map showing Turkey bordering seven countries with unique alphabets, highlighting geographical diversity.

Map showing a continuous vertical line from Finland to South Africa, highlighting a unique perspective on geography.

Map highlighting Croatia’s proximity to Bosnia, featuring humorous text about beach access.

When it comes to why maps are so fascinating, Xavier says, “They provide a unique, visual representation of the world, turning complex concepts into something tangible and easy to understand. As both a historian and a fan of international politics, I appreciate how maps offer a way to explore connections between places, events and cultures across time and space. They can tell stories, reveal hidden patterns, and even change the way we perceive the world.““What I find particularly captivating is how maps don’t just show locations but also embody the power dynamics, histories, and cultural shifts of different regions,” the creator added. “Whether it’s a map tracing the reach of ancient empires or a modern political maps illustrating shifting alliances, maps serve as lenses through which we can understand the complexities of the world.”

“What I find particularly captivating is how maps don’t just show locations but also embody the power dynamics, histories, and cultural shifts of different regions,” the creator added. “Whether it’s a map tracing the reach of ancient empires or a modern political maps illustrating shifting alliances, maps serve as lenses through which we can understand the complexities of the world.”

Map highlighting Watkins Range, Scandinavian, Appalachian, and Atlas Mountains; informative perspective-changing geography.

Map humorously explaining California with regions labeled by stereotypes.

Map showing Europe, with Hungary highlighted as having no women in government, illustrating gender representation differences.

Xavier also says maps are dynamic, as they evolve the same way the world does. “Borders shift, populations change and new discoveries unfold and maps constantly reflect these transformations,” he noted. “For me, they are a perfect intersection of my interests inhistoryand global affairs, offering endless opportunities for exploration and understanding how the world once was as well as the world we live in.”

Map showing population comparison: Russia with 143.9 million and Bangladesh with 165.9 million, highlighting informative data.

Map showing countries that gained independence from the UK, with flags depicting each nation.

Amounting to only about 20% of its historic range.nn#WorldLionDaynnvia wikipedia

Map showing historic and present distribution across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Red indicates historic, blue indicates present areas.

So how does Xavier decide which maps to post? “I always consider current relevance. I aim to share maps that are connected to trending topics or global events, helping to explain ongoing situations in a visually engaging way,” he told Bored Panda.“For example, if a major geopolitical issue is being discussed, I might post a map that clarifies the geographic context or highlightsinteresting factsabout the country or region involved,” Xavier explained. “For historical events, I like to mark important anniversaries with the hashtag #OnThisDay, providing maps that shed light on key moments inhistory.”

“For example, if a major geopolitical issue is being discussed, I might post a map that clarifies the geographic context or highlightsinteresting factsabout the country or region involved,” Xavier explained. “For historical events, I like to mark important anniversaries with the hashtag #OnThisDay, providing maps that shed light on key moments inhistory.”

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Armenian population map showing changes over time in highlighted green areas.

World map showing UN vote on ending US embargo; green for in favor, red for against, purple for abstained.

Map highlighting Ecuador and Kiribati with arrows, emphasizing geographic perspective shift.

We were also curious where these fascinating maps come from. “Sometimes I find maps online that are well-designed and fit the topic at hand, and I always make sure to credit the original source.Othertimes, I create my own maps, adding a unique perspective or offering more in-depth analysis,” Xavier shared. “Other times, I just create maps that are more like memes. When I design my own, I include the World in Maps logo, so it’s clear they are original creations. This approach allows me to offer a mix of curated content and custom visuals to keep the page fresh and engaging.”

Map illustrating the Columbian Exchange, showing crops and animals exchanged between the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Color-coded map of North America with country names from other continents for perspective-changing insight.

Map showcasing historical trade routes across Asia and Europe, highlighting terrain features.

Finally, we wanted to know if Xavier was partial to any of the maps he’s ever shared. “One of my favorite maps that I’ve created is one showing the population density of the ‘tiny’island of Javain Indonesia compared to the rest of the world,” he noted.“It’s truly fascinating how densely populated Java is—despite being just one island, it’s home to more people than many entire countries! This map is especially striking because it highlights the stark contrast between Java andothernations, making the scale of its population size even more surprising,” the creator said. “The fact that Java is one of the most populous islands in the world, but still relatively small in geographical size, makes this map both eye-opening and thought-provoking.”

“It’s truly fascinating how densely populated Java is—despite being just one island, it’s home to more people than many entire countries! This map is especially striking because it highlights the stark contrast between Java andothernations, making the scale of its population size even more surprising,” the creator said. “The fact that Java is one of the most populous islands in the world, but still relatively small in geographical size, makes this map both eye-opening and thought-provoking.”

Map showing average female height in European countries, highlighting tallest in Netherlands at 170.4 cm.

Timeline of countries legalizing same-sex marriage from 2001 to 2023, ending with Greece’s legalization in 2023.

Map of Cyprus rotated 162 degrees to fit perfectly on the Sea of Marmara, Turkey.

World map showing 87% of land north and 13% south of the equator, highlighting perspective on global land distribution.

Informative map showing countries of North America with flags of Canada, USA, and Mexico.

Map showing a line from Iceland to Ireland with humorous name variations, highlighting informative geographic perspectives.

Map showing variations in saying “92” across Europe, highlighting linguistic differences in colorful regions.

Map showing sugar content in Fanta across Europe, highlighting varying levels from less than 5g to more than 10g per 100ml.

Map showing English proficiency index in European countries, highlighting non-native English speakers in 2023.

Map showing olive oil vs butter consumption in Europe with olive and butter regions highlighted.

Map showing countries without rivers, highlighting regions in red, changing perspective on geographical features.

Map of Italy displaying logos of famous brands, showcasing regional origins, changing perspective on geography and industry.

“Comparison of Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai metro maps from 1993 to 2013, showing infrastructure development."

Map showing drive distances from Rome, highlighting regions reachable within various hours, changing travel perspective.

Antique map of Australia with Arabic script, showcasing historical cartography insights.

Map showing high September 2024 air temperatures in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, highlighting climate changes.

Aerial views of San Francisco, Tokyo, Thessaloniki, Sydney, Paris, Lagos, Florence, Mexico City, Dubai, Barcelona, Bourtange, Venice.

Map showing maximum temperature anomalies in Europe from July 12 to 19, 2024, highlighting climate variations.

Map of Europe showing English conversation ability by percentage, with UK at 95% and Hungary at 20%.

Map of South America showing indigenous population percentages by country, revealing diverse demographic data.

Map showing population percentages living in capitals across South America, highlighting varied urban concentrations.

Map highlighting a blue zone covering parts of Europe, illustrating an informative perspective on geographical regions.

Map of Italy with colorful regions and bold text highlighting various statistics.

Map showing average salaries across Europe in 2023, highlighting differences in hourly wages between countries.

Map showing Iranian diaspora in countries with the highest populations, featuring the USA, Canada, and Germany prominently.

Map showing Europe’s top 50 valuable companies, highlighting countries and market capitalizations.

Map highlighting six consecutive southern Euro Cup winners in red.

Map showing countries with the highest Irish diaspora populations, including the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Map Shows The Largest Foreign Community In Each Country Across The Americas

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