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VISUAL CAPITALIST
MAPPED: VISUALIZING THE TRUE SIZE OF AFRICA
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MAPS
MAPPED: VISUALIZING THE TRUE SIZE OF AFRICA
Published
6 days ago
on
February 19, 2020
By
Jeff Desjardins
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MAPPED: THE TRUE SIZE OF AFRICA
Take a look at any map, and it’s clear that the African continent is a big
place.
However, despite the common perception that Africa is a large landmass, it’s
still one that is vastly underestimated by most casual map viewers.
The reason for this is that the familiar Mercator map projection tends to
distort our geographical view of the world in a crucial way — one that often
leads to misconceptions about the relative sizes of both countries and
continents.
A GEOGRAPHICAL JIGSAW
Today’s infographic comes from Kai Krause and it shows the true size of Africa,
as revealed by the borders of the countries that can fit within the continent’s
shape.
The African continent has a land area of 30.37 million sq km (11.7 million sq
mi) — enough to fit in the U.S., China, India, Japan, Mexico, and many European
nations, combined.
CountryLand Area (sq. km)Land Area (sq. mi)% of Africa Total30.33 million sq.
km11.71 million sq. mi99.9% United States9.83 million3.80 million32.4% China9.60
million3.71 million31.6% India3.29 million1.27 million10.8% Mexico1.96
million0.76 million6.5% Peru1.29 million0.50 million4.2% France0.64 million0.25
million2.1% Spain0.51 million0.20 million1.7% Papua New Guinea0.46 million0.18
million1.5% Sweden0.45 million0.17 million1.5% Japan0.38 million0.15 million1.3%
Germany0.36 million0.14 million1.2% Norway0.32 million0.13 million1.1% Italy0.30
million0.12 million1.0% New Zealand0.27 million0.10 million0.9% United
Kingdom0.24 million0.09 million0.8% Nepal0.15 million0.06 million0.5%
Bangladesh0.15 million0.06 million0.5% Greece0.13 million0.05 million0.4%
You could add together all of the landmasses above and they would not equate to
the geographical footprint of Africa, which itself is home to 54 countries and
1.2 billion people.
Editor’s note: The above table is slightly different from the countries shown in
the visualization, which focuses more on fitting recognizable country shapes
into the geographical shape of Africa.
WHY THE MISCONCEPTION?
Interestingly, the problem with maps is not that Africa is sized incorrectly.
Using the animation below, you’ll see that Africa is actually the most
accurately sized continent using the common Mercator map projection:
The Mercator projection attempts to place the spherical shape of the world onto
a cylinder, causing areas closest to the poles to be “stretched”.
Africa, which straddles the Equator, barely changes in size — meanwhile, the
countries furthest from the Equator become inflated from their true sizes on
this type of map.
For those of us living in Western countries, this is an interesting dilemma to
consider.
This means that the sizes of European and North American countries are
distorted, giving us an inaccurate mental “measuring stick” for judging the
relative sizes of other countries.
This has implications not only for Africa, but for the whole Southern
Hemisphere: South America, India, the Middle East, and even Australia are
“bigger” than they may initially appear on a map.
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Related Topics:africageographymapmercator
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BUSINESS
WHERE ARE THE OLDEST COMPANIES IN EXISTENCE?
Which companies have stood the test of time? This detailed map highlights the
oldest company in every country that is still in business.
Published
3 days ago
on
February 22, 2020
By
Iman Ghosh
WHERE ARE THE OLDEST COMPANIES IN EXISTENCE?
View the high resolution version of this infographic by clicking here.
In just a few decades, it’s possible that some of today’s most recognized
companies may no longer be household names.
Corporate longevity, or the average lifespan of a company, has been shrinking
dramatically.
In the 1960s, a typical S&P 500 company was projected to last for more than 60
years. However, with the rapidly transforming business landscape today, it’s
down to just 18 years.
THE COMPANIES WITH THE STRONGEST STAYING POWER
Even with companies skewing younger, there are always exceptions to the rule.
Luckily, many companies around the world have stood the test of time, and
today’s detailed map from Business Financing highlights the oldest company in
existence in each country.
For centuries, here are the world’s oldest corporations which have made their
mark:
YearCompany NameCountryIndustry 578Kongō Gumi Co., Ltd.JapanConstruction 803St.
Peter Stifts KulinariumAustriaService Industry (Restaurant) 862Staffelter
HofGermanyDistillers, Vintners, & Breweries (Winery) 864Monnaie de
ParisFranceManufacturing & Production (Mint) 886The Royal
MintEnglandManufacturing & Production (Mint) 900Sean’s BarIrelandService
Industry (Pub) 1040Pontificia Fonderia MarinelliItalyManufacturing & Production
(Bell foundry) 1074Affligem BreweryBelgiumDistillers, Vintners, & Breweries
1135Munke MølleDenmarkManufacturing & Production (Flour Mill) 1153Ma Yu Ching’s
Bucket Chicken HouseChinaService Industry (Restaurant)
Whether they were born out of necessity to support a rapidly growing
population—requiring new infrastructure and more money circulation—or simply to
satisfy peoples’ thirst for alcohol or hunger for fried chicken, these companies
continue to play a lasting role.
THE OLDEST COMPANY IN EVERY COUNTRY, BY REGION
Let’s dive into the regional maps, which paint a different picture for each
continent.
In the following maps, countries are color-coded based on the major industry
that the oldest company falls under:
* Primary: Natural resources
* Secondary: Manufacturing and processing
* Tertiary: Services and distribution
* Quaternary: Knowledge and information
Notes on Methodology:
This research considers both state-run and independent businesses in their
definitions. For countries where data was hard to pin down, they have been
grayed out.
As well, since many countries have a relatively new inception, present-day names
and borders have been used. The map does not factor in older companies that are
no longer in operation, or if it was unclear whether they were still open.
Click here to explore the full research methodology.
NORTH AMERICA
Mexico’s La Casa de Moneda de México (founded 1534) is the oldest company across
North America, and the first mint of America. Owned by the Spanish conquistador
Hernán Cortés, it was where the famous ‘pieces of eight’, or Spanish dollars
were created.
In the U.S., the Shirley Plantation in Virginia is an ongoing reminder of the
history of slavery. First founded in 1613, business actually began in 1638—and
as many as 90 slaves were under indentured labor on the estate growing tobacco.
Further north, Canada’s Hudson’s Bay (founded 1670) was at the helm of the fur
trade between European settlers and First Nations tribes—the two parties agreed
on beaver pelts as a common, valuable trade standard.
SOUTH AMERICA
Three of the five oldest companies in South America are mints—specifically in
Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
The oldest of these mints, Casa Nacional de Moneda in Peru, was built on order
from Spain and established in 1565. After the great influx of newly-mined silver
from America to Europe, the Spanish crown outlined to King Felipe II that
building a mint would give the colony economic benefits and more control.
EUROPE
In total, 15 of Europe’s oldest companies are related to the food and beverage
industries, from distilleries, vintners (winemaking), and breweries alongside
restaurants and pubs. Austria’s St. Peter Stifts Kulinarium (founded in 803) is
Europe’s oldest restaurant, located inside the St. Peter’s Abbey monastery.
Although Germany is famously known for its beer culture, its oldest company is
in fact the Staffelter Hof Winery (founded in 862). Today, Germany is still a
top wine country, with the industry generating up to $17 billion in revenue per
year.
ASIA
Asia has six oldest companies in the banking and finance category, as well as
another six in the aviation and transport sector. The continent is also home to
two of the world’s oldest companies, located in Japan and China.
The Japanese temple and shrine construction company, Kongō Gumi Co., Ltd.
(founded in 578) has weathered a few storms over the millennia, from nuclear
bombs to financial crises. In 2006, it was bought by the construction
conglomerate, Takamatsu Construction Group Co., and continues to operate today.
In neighboring China, Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House has endured dynasties
of change as well. The company’s simple premise has come a long way, and it was
named a cultural heritage in the country’s Henan Province.
AFRICA
Africa’s oldest companies are another vestige of the colonial legacy, with 11
transport companies—airlines, ports and shipping, and railways—and 9 postal
services.
In fact, Cape Verde’s Correios de Cabo Verde (postal service, founded in 1849)
and the DRC’s Société nationale des Chemins de fer du Congo (national railway
company, founded in 1889) still go by their Portuguese and French names
respectively.
Banking is another one of the oldest industries, with 17 companies across
Africa. Zimbabwe’s Standard Chartered branch has been around since 1892, a
subsidiary of its London-based parent company.
OCEANIA
Australia officially became a country on January 1st, 1901—but its oldest
company, the Australia Post (founded in 1809) precedes this by almost a century.
Interestingly, just one more old company could be located for this region, which
is the Bank of New Zealand—one of the country’s Big Four banks.
All in all, these oldest companies paint a historical picture of the major
industries which have shaped entire regions.
Did you recognize any on the list?
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Continue Reading
AGRICULTURE
MAPPED: THE ANATOMY OF LAND USE IN AMERICA
The U.S. covers an immense 3.8 million square miles—what is all this land
currently used for, and what does that mean for the future?
Published
1 month ago
on
January 14, 2020
By
Iman Ghosh
MAPPED: THE ANATOMY OF LAND USE IN AMERICA
The United States is not just an economic and political giant on the global
stage—the country also has one of the largest land masses at its disposal.
Altogether, the country spans 3.8 million square miles (9.8 million km²)—making
it the third largest country in the world. Even without factoring Alaska and
Hawaii into the calculations, the contiguous U.S. land mass can fit up to 30
European countries within it.
With this much ground to work with, it raises the natural question of how land
actually gets used by America’s economy. For example, what percentage of land is
taken up by urban areas, and how much farmland and forests exist in comparison?
Today’s maps from the McHarg Center put America’s wide variety of land uses into
perspective.
THE COMPONENTS OF U.S. LAND USE
As the U.S. prepares to add 100 million more people this century, the “2100
Project: An Atlas for the Green New Deal” provides a snapshot of U.S. land use
(as of 2017), aimed at managing resources to support this future.
According to this data, here is a snapshot of land use in the Lower 48 States:
Land typeLand use (%)Land area Total100%3,120,000 mi² Forests27%842,400 mi²
Shrubland24%748,800 mi² Agriculture17%530,400 mi² Grasslands and
Pasture17%530,400 mi² Wetlands5%156,000 mi² Other5%156,000 mi² Open
Space3%93,600 mi² Urban Areas2%63,400 mi²
Let’s dive into the specifics of three types of land: urban areas, forests, and
agriculture.
Editor’s note: click on any map below to see a large, high-resolution version,
which will open in a new window.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY: U.S. URBAN AREAS
It’s clear that even a little space goes a long way. Although urban areas take
up only 2% of land, an overwhelming majority of Americans call cities their
home. As of 2018, urbanites made up over 82% of the U.S. population.
Where people go, productivity often follows. In 2018, it’s estimated that 31
county economies made up a whopping 32% of national GDP. Most of these counties
were located in and around major cities, such as Los Angeles or New York.
Although urban areas are a small part of the overall land they’re built on,
they’re integral to the nation’s continued growth. According to research by the
McKinsey Global Institute, it’s estimated that by 2030, 60% of job growth could
come from just 25 hubs.
SEEING GREEN: AMERICA’S VAST FORESTS
On the flipside, forests account for over a quarter of land in the U.S., divided
almost evenly between deciduous and evergreen trees. Many protected national and
state parks can also be found in and around forests.
On the mainland, California and Oregon are the states with the most forested
land—unfortunately, they have also been plagued by wildfires in recent, dry
summer months.
Wetlands are also included in the map above, particularly around the southern
tip of Florida, where Everglades National Park is located. Over the years, many
wetlands were drained to make way for agriculture, particularly in the Great
Lakes megaregion. As a result, it’s estimated that their area today is only half
of what they once used to be.
HOME GROWN: AGRICULTURE IN THE U.S.
Last but not least, the final set of maps show where America grows its food.
Agricultural, food, and related industries contributed $1.05 trillion (5.4%) to
U.S. GDP in 2017.
Wheat, corn, and soybeans are the major crops grown in the U.S.—and cotton also
makes the cut as a profitable non-food crop. Much of these crops feed not only
Americans, but other parts of the world too. Soybeans, corn, and wheat are
exported across the Pacific mainly to China and Japan.
Corn, in particular, is a unique crop with a myriad of uses, from food to fuels.
Up to 40% of U.S. corn is turned into livestock feed, with cows consuming over
half (56%) of this amount.
At present, the U.S. is the world’s largest beef producer, followed by Brazil.
In fact, beef production takes up 40% of total livestock-related land use
domestically.
Although fewer American consumers are opting for meat in their diets, production
has remained at high rates. Further, as incomes continues to increase worldwide,
the global appetite for meat is set to rise along with it.
FUTURE LAND USE
The U.S. population is set to grow by 100 million more people over the coming
decades, raising the pressure on limited U.S. land and natural resources. This
pressure will be felt everywhere, from dense urban land to agricultural
farmland.
How the land gets utilized will shape the country’s future for years to come.
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