Open map List

Non-contiguous Cartogram

A non-contiguous cartogram is a type of cartogram in which the geographic shapes of regions are resized based on a specific data variable, but the regions are allowed to move apart, breaking their original spatial contiguity. This allows each area to be represented proportionally to the data while maintaining some recognizable features.

Advanced

Introduction

Key Characteristics of a Non-Contiguous Cartogram:

  1. Regions Are Scaled Independently – Each geographic unit (e.g., country, state, or city) is resized proportionally to a data variable (e.g., population, GDP).
  2. Breaks Spatial Adjacency – Unlike contiguous cartograms, the shapes are not forced to remain connected, so regions may shift or float apart.
  3. Preserves Recognizability – The general shape of each region is maintained to some extent, making it easier to identify than abstract cartograms.
  4. Used for Emphasizing Data Relationships – The visual distortion helps highlight key patterns in the dataset.

Examples

Examples of Non-Contiguous Cartograms:

  • Population-Based Cartogram – Countries resized based on population while shifting apart to prevent overlap.
  • Economic Output Cartogram – States resized according to GDP while maintaining recognizable borders.
  • Election Cartogram – Electoral districts resized based on votes but disconnected to ensure accurate representation.

Comparison with Other Cartogram Types:

Cartogram Type Contiguity Shape Distortion Example Use
Contiguous Cartogram Maintains connections Highly distorted shapes Election results, economic activity
Non-Contiguous Cartogram Breaks connections Preserves some shape Population distribution, migration patterns
Dorling Cartogram Replaces regions with circles No original shapes retained Proportional representation of statistics

Outgoing relations

  • Non-contiguous Cartogram is subconcept of Cartogram