Mapped: What Did the World Look Like in the Last Ice Age?
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Mapped: What Did the World Look Like in the Last Ice Age?

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A map of the Earth 20,000 years ago, at the peak of the last ice age, when colder temperatures transformed the planet 
we know so well.

What Did the World Look Like in the Last Ice Age?

What did the world look like during the last ice age? Was it all endless glaciers and frozen ice? The answer is a partial yes—with some interesting caveats.

The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), colloquially called the last ice age, was a period in Earth’s history that occurred roughly 26,000 to 19,000 years ago.

This map by cartographer Perrin Remonté offers a snapshot of the Earth from that time, using data of past sea levels and glaciers from research published in 2009, 2014, and 2021, alongside modern-day topographical data.

Let’s dive into the differences between the two Earths below.

The Last Ice Age: Low Seas, Exposed Landmasses

During an ice age, sea levels fall as ocean water that evaporates is stored on land on a large scale (ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers) instead of returning to the ocean.

Earth's Ice Cover20,000 Years AgoToday
Surface8%3%
Land25%11%

At the time of the LGM, the climate was cold and dry with temperatures that were 6 °C (11 °F) lower on average. Water levels in the ocean were more than 400 feet below what they are now, exposing large areas of the continental shelf.

In the map above, these areas are represented as the gray, dry land most noticeable in a few big patches in Southeast Asia and between Russia and Alaska. Here are a few examples of regions of dry land from 20,000 years ago that are now under water:

  • A “lost continent” called Sundaland, a southeastern extension of Asia which forms the island regions of Indonesia today. Some scholars see a connection with this location and the mythical site of Atlantis, though there are many other theories.
  • The Bering land bridge, now a strait, connecting Asia and North America. It is central to the theory explaining how ancient humans crossed between the two continents.
  • Another land bridge connected the island of Great Britain with the rest of continental Europe. The island of Ireland is in turn connected to Great Britain by a giant ice sheet.
  • In Japan, the low water level made the Sea of Japan a lake, and a land bridge connected the region to the Asian mainland. The Yellow Sea—famous as a modern-day fishing location—was completely dry.

The cold temperatures also caused the polar parts of continents to be covered by massive ice sheets, with glaciers forming in mountainous areas.

Flora and Fauna in the Last Ice Age

The dry climate during the last ice age brought about the expansion of deserts and the disappearance of rivers, but some areas saw increased precipitation from falling temperatures.

Most of Canada and Northern Europe was covered with large ice sheets. The U.S. was a mix of ice sheets, alpine deserts, snow forests, semi-arid scrubland and temperate grasslands. Areas that are deserts today—like the Mojave—were filled with lakes. The Great Salt Lake in Utah is a remnant from this time.

Africa had a mix of grasslands in its southern half and deserts in the north—the Sahara Desert existed then as well—and Asia was a mix of tropical deserts in the west, alpine deserts in China, and grasslands in the Indian subcontinent.

Several large animals like the woolly mammoth, the mastodon, the giant beaver, and the saber-toothed tiger roamed the world in extremely harsh conditions, but sadly all are extinct today.

However, not all megafauna from the LGM disappeared forever; many species are still alive, including the Bactrian camel, the tapir, the musk ox, and the white rhinoceros—though the latter is now an endangered species.

Will There Be Another Ice Age?

In a technical sense, we’re still in an “ice age” called the Quaternary Glaciation, which began about 2.6 million years ago. That’s because a permanent ice sheet has existed for the entire time, the Antarctic, which makes geologists call this entire period an ice age.

We are currently in a relatively warmer part of that ice age, described as an interglacial period, which began 11,700 years ago. This geological epoch is known as the Holocene.

Over billions of years, the Earth has experienced numerous glacial and interglacial periods and has had five major ice ages:

Major Ice AgesNameTime Period (Years Ago)
1Huronian Glaciation2.4 billion - 2.1 billion
2Cryogenian Glaciation720 million - 635 million
3Andean-Saharan Glaciation450 million - 420 million
4Late Paleozoic ice age335 million - 260 million
5Quaternary Glaciation2.6 million - present

It is predicted that temperatures will fall again in a few thousand years, leading to expansion of ice sheets. However there are a dizzying array of factors that are still not understood well enough to say comprehensively what causes (or ends) ice ages.

A popular explanation says the degree of the Earth’s axial tilt, its wobble, and its orbital shape, are the main factors heralding the start and end of this phenomenon.

The variations in all three lead to a change in how much prolonged sunlight parts of the world receive, which in turn can cause the creation or melting of ice sheets. But these take thousands of years to coincide and cause a significant change in climate.

Furthermore, current industrial activities have warmed the climate considerably and may in fact delay the next ice age by 50,000-100,000 years.

Still on a history kick? Check out Mapped: The Ancient Seven Wonders of the World that captivated people for thousands of years.
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This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.

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Science

Mapped: Life Expectancy by Country in 2025

Using 2025 projections from UN data published last year, we map out life expectancy by country. Regional patterns are apparent.

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This cropped map visualizes the average life expectancy at birth for every country according to 2025 projections from the UN.

Mapped: Life Expectancy by Country in 2025

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

  • Western European countries have an 80+ life expectancy at birth, the highest regionally.
  • However, several African countries have a below-60 life expectancy, a projected lifespan that is a full 20 years shorter.

How long you live depends a lot on where you’re born.

We illustrate this phenomenon in the above map, which uses 2025 life expectancy at birth projections from the UN World Population Prospects published last year.

Life expectancy at birth measures the average number of years that a newborn could expect to live, if they were subject to the age-specific mortality rates of a given period.

ℹ️ This number visualized is an average between men and women. For extra context, women have higher life expectancies than men in nearly every country in the world.

Ranked: Countries Where People Live the Longest

The micronation of Monaco has the highest average life expectancy in the world. A baby born in the country in 2025 can expect to live to 87 years old.

RankCountryISO CodeAverage life
expectancy at birth,
2025 (in years)
1🇲🇨 MonacoMCO87
2🇸🇲 San MarinoSMR86
3🇭🇰 Hong KongHKG86
4🇯🇵 JapanJPN85
5🇰🇷 South KoreaKOR85
6🇧🇱 Saint BarthélemyBLM85
7🇦🇩 AndorraAND84
8🇵🇫 French PolynesiaPYF84
9🇨🇭 SwitzerlandCHE84
10🇦🇺 AustraliaAUS84
11🇮🇹 ItalyITA84
12🇸🇬 SingaporeSGP84
13🇪🇸 SpainESP84
14🇱🇮 LiechtensteinLIE84
15🇷🇪 RéunionREU84
16🇬🇮 GibraltarGIB84
17🇲🇹 MaltaMLT84
18🇳🇴 NorwayNOR84
19🇫🇷 FranceFRA84
20🇸🇪 SwedenSWE84
21🇬🇬 GuernseyGGY84
22🇲🇴 MacaoMAC83
23🇻🇦 Holy SeeVAT83
24🇦🇪 UAEARE83
25🇮🇸 IcelandISL83
26🇲🇶 MartiniqueMTQ83
27🇨🇦 CanadaCAN83
28🇮🇱 IsraelISR83
29🇮🇪 IrelandIRL83
30🇵🇹 PortugalPRT83
31🇶🇦 QatarQAT83
32🇧🇲 BermudaBMU83
33🇱🇺 LuxembourgLUX82
34🇳🇱 NetherlandsNLD82
35🇧🇪 BelgiumBEL82
36🇬🇵 GuadeloupeGLP82
37🇳🇿 New ZealandNZL82
38🇦🇹 AustriaAUT82
39🇩🇰 DenmarkDNK82
40🇫🇮 FinlandFIN82
41🇬🇷 GreeceGRC82
42🇵🇷 Puerto RicoPRI82
43🇨🇾 CyprusCYP82
44🇸🇮 SloveniaSVN82
45🇩🇪 GermanyDEU82
46🇬🇧 UKGBR82
47🇧🇭 BahrainBHR82
48🇨🇱 ChileCHL82
49🇲🇻 MaldivesMDV82
50🇮🇲 Isle of ManIMN81
51🇨🇷 Costa RicaCRI81
52🇹🇼 TaiwanTWN81
53🇰🇼 KuwaitKWT81
54🇰🇾 Cayman IslandsCYM81
55🇲🇫 Saint MartinMAF81
56🇫🇴 Faroe IslandsFRO81
57🇴🇲 OmanOMN80
58🇨🇿 CzechiaCZE80
59🇯🇪 JerseyJEY80
60🇵🇦 PanamaPAN80
61🇦🇱 AlbaniaALB80
62🇦🇮 AnguillaAIA80
63🇺🇸 U.S.USA80
64🇫🇰 Falkland IslandsFLK80
65🇪🇪 EstoniaEST79
66🇸🇦 Saudi ArabiaSAU79
67🇲🇵 Northern Mariana IslandsMNP79
68🇳🇨 New CaledoniaNCL79
69🇵🇱 PolandPOL79
70🇭🇷 CroatiaHRV79
71🇼🇫 Wallis & Futuna IslandsWLF79
72🇸🇰 SlovakiaSVK79
73🇺🇾 UruguayURY78
74🇨🇺 CubaCUB78
75🇽🇰 KosovoXKX78
76🇨🇳 ChinaCHN78
77🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos IslandsTCA78
78🇧🇦 Bosnia & HerzegovinaBIH78
79🇯🇴 JordanJOR78
80🇵🇪 PeruPER78
81🇨🇴 ColombiaCOL78
82🇱🇧 LebanonLBN78
83🇮🇷 IranIRN78
84🇦🇬 Antigua and BarbudaATG78
85🇱🇰 Sri LankaLKA78
86🇹🇷 TürkiyeTUR78
87🇧🇶 BonaireBES78
88🇪🇨 EcuadorECU78
89🇦🇷 ArgentinaARG78
90🇲🇰 North MacedoniaMKD78
91🇬🇺 GuamGUM78
92🇻🇬 British Virgin IslandsVGB78
93🌴 Polynesia (no emoji available)POL78
94🇲🇪 MontenegroMNE77
95🇬🇫 French GuianaGUF77
96🇭🇺 HungaryHUN77
97🇹🇰 TokelauTKL77
98🇨🇼 CuraçaoCUW77
99🇷🇸 SerbiaSRB77
100🇸🇭 Saint HelenaSHN77
101🇵🇲 Saint Pierre & MiquelonSPM77
102🇲🇾 MalaysiaMYS77
103🇹🇳 TunisiaTUN77
104🇹🇭 ThailandTHA77
105🇸🇽 Sint MaartenSXM77
106🇩🇿 AlgeriaDZA77
107🇦🇼 ArubaABW77
108🇧🇧 BarbadosBRB76
109🇲🇸 MontserratMSR76
110🇱🇻 LatviaLVA76
111🇾🇹 MayotteMYT76
112🇨🇻 Cabo VerdeCPV76
113🇱🇹 LithuaniaLTU76
114🇷🇴 RomaniaROU76
115🇧🇷 BrazilBRA76
116🇦🇲 ArmeniaARM76
117🇧🇬 BulgariaBGR76
118🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin IslandsVIR76
119🇲🇦 MoroccoMAR76
120🇧🇳 Brunei DarussalamBRN76
121🇨🇰 Cook IslandsCOK76
122🇬🇩 GrenadaGRD76
123🇲🇽 MexicoMEX75
124🇲🇺 MauritiusMUS75
125🇳🇮 NicaraguaNIC75
126🇧🇩 BangladeshBGD75
127🇻🇳 Viet NamVNM75
128🇺🇦 UkraineUKR75
129🇧🇸 BahamasBHS75
130🇬🇪 GeorgiaGEO75
131🇧🇾 BelarusBLR75
132🇦🇿 AzerbaijanAZE75
133🇰🇿 KazakhstanKAZ75
134🇵🇾 ParaguayPRY74
135🇩🇴 Dominican RepublicDOM74
136🇧🇿 BelizeBLZ74
137🇸🇷 SurinameSUR74
138🇰🇵 North KoreaPRK74
139🇹🇹 Trinidad & TobagoTTO74
140🇧🇹 BhutanBTN74
141🇷🇺 RussiaRUS74
142🇹🇴 TongaTON73
143🇭🇳 HondurasHND73
144🇱🇾 LibyaLBY73
145🇸🇨 SeychellesSYC73
146🇺🇸 American SamoaASM73
147🇵🇸 PalestinePSE73
148🇱🇨 Saint LuciaLCA73
149🇸🇾 SyriaSYR73
150🇬🇹 GuatemalaGTM73
151🇻🇪 VenezuelaVEN73
152🇺🇿 UzbekistanUZB73
153🇮🇶 IraqIRQ73
154🇸🇻 El SalvadorSLV73
155🇮🇳 IndiaIND72
156🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and NevisKNA72
157🇲🇳 MongoliaMNG72
158🇹🇯 TajikistanTJK72
159🇪🇬 EgyptEGY72
160🇰🇬 KyrgyzstanKGZ72
161🇼🇸 SamoaWSM72
162🇻🇺 VanuatuVUT72
163🇪🇭 Western SaharaESH72
164🇯🇲 JamaicaJAM72
165🇻🇨 Saint Vincent & the GrenadinesVCT72
166🇲🇩 MoldovaMDA71
167🇩🇲 DominicaDMA71
168🇮🇩 IndonesiaIDN71
169🇰🇭 CambodiaKHM71
170🇳🇵 NepalNPL71
171🇸🇧 Solomon IslandsSLB71
172🇬🇾 GuyanaGUY70
173🇹🇲 TurkmenistanTKM70
174🇬🇱 GreenlandGRL70
175🇳🇺 NiueNIU70
176🇸🇹 Sao Tome and PrincipeSTP70
177🇵🇭 PhilippinesPHL70
178🇾🇪 YemenYEM70
179🇵🇼 PalauPLW69
180🇱🇦 LaosLAO69
181🇧🇼 BotswanaBWA69
182🇸🇳 SenegalSEN69
183🇪🇷 EritreaERI69
184🇲🇷 MauritaniaMRT69
185🇧🇴 BoliviaBOL69
186🇺🇬 UgandaUGA69
187🇬🇦 GabonGAB69
188🇷🇼 RwandaRWA68
189🇹🇱 Timor-LesteTLS68
190🇵🇰 PakistanPAK68
191🇪🇹 EthiopiaETH68
192🇲🇼 MalawiMWI68
193🇳🇦 NamibiaNAM68
194🇫🇯 FijiFJI68
195🇫🇲 MicronesiaFSM68
196🇹🇿 TanzaniaTZA67
197🇹🇻 TuvaluTUV67
198🇲🇲 MyanmarMMR67
199🇰🇲 ComorosCOM67
200🇲🇭 Marshall IslandsMHL67
201🇰🇮 KiribatiKIR67
202🇸🇩 SudanSDN67
203🇿🇲 ZambiaZMB67
204🇦🇫 AfghanistanAFG67
205🇿🇦 South AfricaZAF66
206🇩🇯 DjiboutiDJI66
207🇵🇬 Papua New GuineaPNG66
208🇬🇲 GambiaGMB66
209🇨🇬 CongoCOG66
210🇬🇭 GhanaGHA66
211🇭🇹 HaitiHTI65
212🇦🇴 AngolaAGO65
213🇬🇼 Guinea-BissauGNB64
214🇸🇿 EswatiniSWZ64
215🇨🇲 CameroonCMR64
216🇬🇶 Equatorial GuineaGNQ64
217🇲🇬 MadagascarMDG64
218🇰🇪 KenyaKEN64
219🇧🇮 BurundiBDI64
220🇲🇿 MozambiqueMOZ64
221🇿🇼 ZimbabweZWE63
222🇹🇬 TogoTGO63
223🇱🇷 LiberiaLBR62
224🇳🇷 NauruNRU62
225🇨🇮 Côte d'IvoireCIV62
226🇨🇩 DRCCOD62
227🇸🇱 Sierra LeoneSLE62
228🇳🇪 NigerNER62
229🇧🇫 Burkina FasoBFA61
230🇧🇯 BeninBEN61
231🇬🇳 GuineaGIN61
232🇲🇱 MaliMLI61
233🇸🇴 SomaliaSOM59
234🇱🇸 LesothoLSO58
235🇨🇫 Central African RepublicCAF58
236🇸🇸 South SudanSSD58
237🇹🇩 ChadTCD55
238🇳🇬 NigeriaNGA55

Note: Figures rounded.

Most of the top 10 countries are similarly small-sized territories or countries.

However, Japan (#4), South Korea (#5), and Australia (#10) are the three top-10 countries with the highest life expectancies (84+) when accounting for a population of more than 20 million people.

Regionally, Western European countries have the highest life expectancies at birth. Their counterparts in Eastern Europe are a shade lower.

And despite Japan and South Korea’s performance, most Asians have life expectancies between 70–80 years. Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Papua New Guinea are below the 70-year threshold.

However, several African countries have a below-60 life expectancy, a projected lifespan that is a full 20 years shorter than Western European residents.

Nigeria has the lowest average life expectancy at birth, at 55 years.

What Life Expectancy Numbers Mean for Individuals

Life expectancies are tricky things to fully comprehend: in that they change throughout a person’s lifespan and are measured for entire cohorts born in a year.

For example, in countries with lower projected expectancies, it doesn’t necessarily mean adults don’t live as long.

A high infant mortality rate for a particular cohort of babies born in a year could reduce the projected lifespan of the entire cohort. However once a baby from that year survives to adulthood, they may very well reach their 70s.

In fact, data shows that the biggest difference between life expectancies of Africa and high-income regions are for those before the age of 5 and after 60.

This is because both babies and older adults have a need for specific medical infrastructure which many Africans don’t have access to.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

There is a strong correlation between wealth and longer lifespans. Check out Countries with the Highest GDP per Capita in 2024 to see similarities.

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