Gallery: Distorted map (cartogram)

Cartograms are distorted maps, where the geographic areas represent data values, but retain (at least some) similarity in shape to the original map. The Cartogram above shows each country of the world, with the circle size representing annual carbon emissions, the World graphic at the top-right used to establish colours used for continents, and the bar-chart and table at the bottom showing data values in ranked order.

The two maps both show levels of recorded crime across Leicestershire at Lower Super Output Area LSOA level (with darker red representing higher levels of crime). The map on the left shows the actual geography of the LSOA areas across the County. LSOA areas each contain roughly 1,500 residents - larger areas on this map therefore represent rural areas with lower-density population. The cartogram, or distorted, map on the right shows the same data at LSOA level, but represents each of the LSOAs as a fixed size hexagon. This avoids the problem of over-emphasising the more rural LSOAs, seen on the left. However, it becomes more difficult for users to understand which areas are which - so a numbered key is used to identify particular areas.

Where the recession hit the Us the hardest: an interactive map showing how different regions and industries have weathered the downturn—and the recovery

Proportion of people claiming benefits in English cities, 2003.

Interactive tool that combines the power of a cartogram, a bar chart and a pie chart to explore possible outcomes of the 2010 election.

This swingometer simulates voter’s change of preference among the main parties as well as the size of the change and its potential impact on the political landscape in each constituency.

This is a 'swingometer', designed to explore the changes each party requires to gain a majority in parliament.

This is a Gastner/Newman cartogram of the 2007 Parliamentary Constituencies. Each constituency is roughly the same size, whilst retaining something of its original shape. The colour shows the Government Office Region.

Local Council election results 1974 to 2008.

A world-view cartogram for World's Aids Day. The size of a region indicates the number of people infected with HIV - each square being 10,000 people infected. The colour of a region indicates the rate of infection, in relation to the global average.