world map, graphical representation, using projection, that depicts Earth ’s exterior on a flat surface. World maps usually show political features, such as country borders, and physical features. World maps can also be used to present data on average temperature, soil type, rainfall distribution, and much else.

A world map is a map of most or all of the surface of Earth. World maps, because of their scale, must deal with the problem of projection. Maps rendered in two dimensions by necessity distort the display of the three-dimensional surface of the earth. While this is true of any map, these distortions reach extremes in a world map.