Gallery: Distorted map (cartogram) + Choropleth map + Distorted map (cartogram)

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.

Proportion of people claiming benefits in English cities, 2003.

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.