Maps
A Map of the Online World in Incredible Detail
View the giant full-size (20 MB) version of this map.
A Map of the Online World in Incredible Detail
The internet is intangible, and because you can’t see it, it can be hard to comprehend its sheer vastness. As well, it’s difficult to gauge the relative size of different web properties. However, this map of the internet by Halcyon Maps offers a unique solution to these problems.
Inspired by the look and design of historical maps, this graphic provides a snapshot of the current state of the World Wide Web, as of April 2021. Let’s take a closer look!
But First, Methodology
Before diving into an analysis, it’s worth touching on the methodology behind this graphic’s design.
This map highlights thousands of the world’s most popular websites by visualizing them as “countries.” These “countries” are organized into clusters that are grouped by their content type (whether it’s a news website, search engine, e-commerce platform, etc).
Editor’s fun fact: Can you spot Visual Capitalist? We’re right in between TechCrunch and The Guardian above.
The colored borders represent a website’s logo or user interface. In terms of scale, each website’s territory size is based on its average Alexa web traffic ranking. The data is a yearly average, measured from January 2020 to January 2021.
Along the borders of the map, you can find additional information, from ranked lists of social media consumption to a mini-map of average download speeds across the globe.
According to the designer Martin Vargic, this map took about a year to complete.
Top 50 Most Popular Websites
Google and YouTube take up a lot of space, which is unsurprising—they’re the two highest-ranked websites on the list:
Rank | Website | Country |
---|---|---|
1 | Google.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
2 | Youtube.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
3 | Tmall.com | 🇨🇳 China |
4 | Baidu.com | 🇨🇳 China |
5 | QQ.com | 🇨🇳 China |
6 | Sohu.com | 🇨🇳 China |
7 | Facebook.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
8 | Taobao.com | 🇨🇳 China |
9 | Amazon.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
10 | 360.cn | 🇨🇳 China |
11 | Yahoo.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
12 | Jd.com | 🇨🇳 China |
13 | Zoom.us | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
14 | Wikipedia.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
15 | Weibo.com | 🇨🇳 China |
16 | Sina.com.cn | 🇨🇳 China |
17 | Live.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
18 | Xinhuanet.com | 🇨🇳 China |
19 | Microsoft.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
20 | Reddit.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
21 | Office.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
22 | Netflix.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
23 | Microsoftonline.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
24 | Panda.tv | 🇨🇳 China |
25 | Zhanqi.tv | 🇨🇳 China |
26 | Instagram.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
27 | Force.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
28 | Google.com.hk | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong |
29 | VK.com | 🇷🇺 Russia |
30 | Alipay.com | 🇨🇳 China |
31 | Csdn.net | 🇨🇳 China |
32 | Myshopify.com | 🇨🇦 Canada |
33 | Okezone.com | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
34 | Bing.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
35 | Yahoo.co.jp | 🇯🇵 Japan |
36 | Naver.com | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
37 | Adobe.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
38 | Salesforce.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
39 | Ebay.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
40 | Twitch.tv | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
41 | Bongacams.com | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
42 | Twitter.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
43 | Apple.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
44 | Amazon.in | 🇮🇳 India |
45 | Amazon.co.jp | 🇯🇵 Japan |
46 | Aliexpress.com | 🇨🇳 China |
47 | Aparat.com | 🇮🇷 Iran |
48 | Linkedin.com | 🇺🇲 U.S. |
49 | Huanqiu.com | 🇨🇳 China |
50 | YY.com | 🇨🇳 China |
Google has held the title as the internet’s most popular website since 2010. While Google’s popularity is well understood, the company’s dominance might be even more widespread than you’d think—across all Google-owned platforms (including YouTube) the company accounts for 90% of all internet searches.
The third highest ranked website is Tmall. For those who don’t know, Tmall is a Chinese e-commerce platform, owned by Alibaba Group. It focuses on Business-to-Consumer (B2C) transactions, and has established itself as the most popular e-commerce website in China—in Q1 2021, Tmall accounted for more than 50% of China’s B2C online transactions.
A High Level Look
When it comes to the top 50 websites overall, a majority are either social networking platforms, search engines, or online marketplaces—while this may not come as a surprise, it’s still powerful to see visualized. For instance, even a huge, well-known website like the New York Times is just a tiny country on this map.
And of course, a map of the internet isn’t complete without mention of the dark web.
While it’s challenging to determine its true size, research indicates that the dark web accounts for a large portion of the internet’s true size. And apparently, it’s growing steadily, with the help of anonymous cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
For the most part, it’s believed that the dark web is used for unsavory reasons—however, it’s not all bad. Because of its anonymous nature, it can be used as a safe space for whistleblowing or activism.
Overall, this map, and the internet as a whole, has many places for us to explore. When you dive in, what “countries” catch your eye?
Maps
Mapped: Which Countries Recognize Israel or Palestine, or Both?
In this visualization, we look at how international recognition of Israel and Palestine breaks down among the 193 UN member states.

Which Countries Recognize Israel or Palestine, or Both?
The modern-day conflict between Israel and Palestine emerged from the British Mandate for Palestine, which administered the former Ottoman Empire territory after World War I. But even after 75 years—and declarations of independence from each side—universal recognition eludes them.
In this visualization, we look at how Israel and Palestine recognition breaks down among the 193 UN member states as of November 14, 2023, using Wikpedia data for each state.
This post is a companion piece to separate maps showing the recognition of Israel and of Palestine by country.
A Declaration of Independence
The Jewish People’s Council declared the foundation of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948 (the same day that the last British forces left Haifa) on the basis of the 1947 UN Partition Plan, which divided the Mandate territories between Jewish and Arab populations.
U.S. President Truman granted de-facto recognition 11 minutes after the Israeli declaration. Not to be outdone by their Cold War adversary, the U.S.S.R. followed suit three days later with de-jure recognition and was joined by Warsaw Pact allies Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland.
By the end of 1948, 21 countries recognized Israel.
A Second Declaration of Independence
A declaration of independence for the State of Palestine, comprising the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, didn’t happen until 40 years later.
In the midst of the First Intifada, a five-year-long Palestinian uprising that began in 1987, the Palestine Liberation Organization proclaimed the new state in the city of Algiers on November 15, 1988.
A dozen countries, including 10 members of the Arab League along with Malaysia and Yemen, immediately recognized the new state. The Soviet Union, the Eastern Bloc, and most of the Muslim world also joined in recognizing the State of Palestine.
Recognition of Israel and Palestine by Country
As of November 2023, 163 UN member states have recognized Israel, while 138 have recognized Palestine.
UN Member State | Recognize Israel 🇮🇱 | Recognize Palestine 🇵🇸 | |
---|---|---|---|
🇦🇫 | Afghanistan | No | Yes |
🇦🇱 | Albania | Yes | Yes |
🇩🇿 | Algeria | No | Yes |
🇦🇩 | Andorra | Yes | No |
🇦🇴 | Angola | Yes | Yes |
🇦🇬 | Antigua and Barbuda | Yes | Yes |
🇦🇷 | Argentina | Yes | Yes |
🇦🇲 | Armenia | Yes | No |
🇦🇺 | Australia | Yes | No |
🇦🇹 | Austria | Yes | No |
🇦🇿 | Azerbaijan | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇸 | Bahamas | Yes | No |
🇧🇭 | Bahrain | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇩 | Bangladesh | No | Yes |
🇧🇧 | Barbados | Yes | No |
🇧🇾 | Belarus | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇪 | Belgium | Yes | No |
🇧🇿 | Belize | No | Yes |
🇧🇯 | Benin | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇹 | Bhutan | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇴 | Bolivia | No | Yes |
🇧🇦 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇼 | Botswana | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇷 | Brazil | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇳 | Brunei | No | Yes |
🇧🇬 | Bulgaria | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇫 | Burkina Faso | Yes | Yes |
🇧🇮 | Burundi | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇭 | Cambodia | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇲 | Cameroon | Yes | No |
🇨🇦 | Canada | Yes | No |
🇨🇻 | Cape Verde | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇫 | Central African Republic | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇩 | Chad | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇱 | Chile | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇳 | China | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇴 | Colombia | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇲 | Comoros | No | Yes |
🇨🇷 | Costa Rica | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇮 | Côte d'Ivoire | Yes | Yes |
🇭🇷 | Croatia | Yes | No |
🇨🇺 | Cuba | No | Yes |
🇨🇾 | Cyprus | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇿 | Czechia | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇩 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Yes | Yes |
🇩🇰 | Denmark | Yes | No |
🇩🇯 | Djibouti | No | Yes |
🇩🇲 | Dominica | Yes | Yes |
🇩🇴 | Dominican Republic | Yes | Yes |
🇪🇨 | Ecuador | Yes | Yes |
🇪🇬 | Egypt | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇻 | El Salvador | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇶 | Equatorial Guinea | Yes | Yes |
🇪🇷 | Eritrea | Yes | No |
🇪🇪 | Estonia | Yes | No |
🇸🇿 | Eswatini | Yes | Yes |
🇪🇹 | Ethiopia | Yes | Yes |
🇫🇲 | Federated States of Micronesia | Yes | No |
🇫🇯 | Fiji | Yes | No |
🇫🇮 | Finland | Yes | No |
🇫🇷 | France | Yes | No |
🇬🇦 | Gabon | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇪 | Georgia | Yes | Yes |
🇩🇪 | Germany | Yes | No |
🇬🇭 | Ghana | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇷 | Greece | Yes | No |
🇬🇩 | Grenada | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇹 | Guatemala | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇳 | Guinea | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇼 | Guinea-Bissau | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇾 | Guyana | Yes | Yes |
🇭🇹 | Haiti | Yes | Yes |
🇭🇳 | Honduras | Yes | Yes |
🇭🇺 | Hungary | Yes | Yes |
🇮🇸 | Iceland | Yes | Yes |
🇮🇳 | India | Yes | Yes |
🇮🇩 | Indonesia | No | Yes |
🇮🇷 | Iran | No | Yes |
🇮🇶 | Iraq | No | Yes |
🇮🇪 | Ireland | Yes | No |
🇮🇱 | Israel | Yes | No |
🇮🇹 | Italy | Yes | No |
🇯🇲 | Jamaica | Yes | No |
🇯🇵 | Japan | Yes | No |
🇯🇴 | Jordan | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇿 | Kazakhstan | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇪 | Kenya | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇮 | Kiribati | Yes | No |
🇰🇼 | Kuwait | No | Yes |
🇰🇬 | Kyrgyzstan | Yes | Yes |
🇱🇦 | Laos | Yes | Yes |
🇱🇻 | Latvia | Yes | No |
🇱🇧 | Lebanon | No | Yes |
🇱🇸 | Lesotho | Yes | Yes |
🇱🇷 | Liberia | Yes | Yes |
🇱🇾 | Libya | No | Yes |
🇱🇮 | Liechtenstein | Yes | No |
🇱🇹 | Lithuania | Yes | No |
🇱🇺 | Luxembourg | Yes | No |
🇲🇬 | Madagascar | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇼 | Malawi | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇾 | Malaysia | No | Yes |
🇲🇻 | Maldives | No | Yes |
🇲🇱 | Mali | No | Yes |
🇲🇹 | Malta | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇭 | Marshall Islands | Yes | No |
🇲🇷 | Mauritania | No | Yes |
🇲🇺 | Mauritius | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇽 | Mexico | Yes | No |
🇲🇩 | Moldova | Yes | No |
🇲🇨 | Monaco | Yes | No |
🇲🇳 | Mongolia | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇪 | Montenegro | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇦 | Morocco | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇿 | Mozambique | Yes | Yes |
🇲🇲 | Myanmar | Yes | No |
🇳🇦 | Namibia | Yes | Yes |
🇳🇷 | Nauru | Yes | No |
🇳🇵 | Nepal | Yes | Yes |
🇳🇱 | Netherlands | Yes | No |
🇳🇿 | New Zealand | Yes | No |
🇳🇮 | Nicaragua | Yes | Yes |
🇳🇪 | Niger | No | Yes |
🇳🇬 | Nigeria | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇵 | North Korea | No | Yes |
🇲🇰 | North Macedonia | Yes | No |
🇳🇴 | Norway | Yes | No |
🇴🇲 | Oman | No | Yes |
🇵🇰 | Pakistan | No | Yes |
🇵🇼 | Palau | Yes | No |
🇵🇦 | Panama | Yes | No |
🇵🇬 | Papua New Guinea | Yes | Yes |
🇵🇾 | Paraguay | Yes | Yes |
🇵🇪 | Peru | Yes | Yes |
🇵🇭 | Philippines | Yes | Yes |
🇵🇱 | Poland | Yes | Yes |
🇵🇹 | Portugal | Yes | No |
🇶🇦 | Qatar | No | Yes |
🇨🇬 | Republic of the Congo | Yes | Yes |
🇷🇴 | Romania | Yes | Yes |
🇷🇺 | Russia | Yes | Yes |
🇷🇼 | Rwanda | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇳 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Yes | Yes |
🇱🇨 | Saint Lucia | Yes | Yes |
🇻🇨 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Yes | Yes |
🇼🇸 | Samoa | Yes | No |
🇸🇲 | San Marino | Yes | No |
🇸🇹 | São Tomé and Príncipe | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇦 | Saudi Arabia | No | Yes |
🇸🇳 | Senegal | Yes | Yes |
🇷🇸 | Serbia | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇨 | Seychelles | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇱 | Sierra Leone | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇬 | Singapore | Yes | No |
🇸🇰 | Slovakia | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇮 | Slovenia | Yes | No |
🇸🇧 | Solomon Islands | Yes | No |
🇸🇴 | Somalia | No | Yes |
🇿🇦 | South Africa | Yes | Yes |
🇰🇷 | South Korea | Yes | No |
🇸🇸 | South Sudan | Yes | Yes |
🇪🇸 | Spain | Yes | No |
🇱🇰 | Sri Lanka | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇩 | Sudan | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇷 | Suriname | Yes | Yes |
🇸🇪 | Sweden | Yes | Yes |
🇨🇭 | Switzerland | Yes | No |
🇸🇾 | Syria | No | Yes |
🇹🇯 | Tajikistan | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇿 | Tanzania | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇭 | Thailand | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇲 | The Gambia | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇱 | Timor-Leste | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇬 | Togo | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇴 | Tonga | Yes | No |
🇹🇹 | Trinidad and Tobago | Yes | No |
🇹🇳 | Tunisia | No | Yes |
🇹🇷 | Türkiye | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇲 | Turkmenistan | Yes | Yes |
🇹🇻 | Tuvalu | Yes | No |
🇺🇬 | Uganda | Yes | Yes |
🇺🇦 | Ukraine | Yes | Yes |
🇦🇪 | United Arab Emirates | Yes | Yes |
🇬🇧 | United Kingdom | Yes | No |
🇺🇸 | United States | Yes | No |
🇺🇾 | Uruguay | Yes | Yes |
🇺🇿 | Uzbekistan | Yes | Yes |
🇻🇺 | Vanuatu | Yes | Yes |
🇻🇪 | Venezuela | No | Yes |
🇻🇳 | Vietnam | Yes | Yes |
🇾🇪 | Yemen | No | Yes |
🇿🇲 | Zambia | Yes | Yes |
🇿🇼 | Zimbabwe | Yes | Yes |
Most of the countries that do not currently recognize Israel are Muslim-majority countries. However, some Muslim-majority countries have recognized Israel, such as Egypt and Jordan, who specifically agreed to do so under peace treaties signed in 1979 and 1994 respectively.
Several conflicts have also resulted in some countries suspending relations with Israel. The 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli Wars (also called the Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War, respectively) all saw countries suspend diplomatic relations, including Mali and the Maldives. In the case of Eastern Bloc countries that did so in 1967 and 1973, many resumed relations after the fall of the Soviet Union.
On the other side, despite more countries recognizing the State of Palestine over time, none of the G7 and only nine of the G20 have recognized the state. Similarly, only a minority of the EU has endorsed the declaration.
Present-Day
Israel and Palestine continue to vie for recognition in the international arena, with the former gaining recognition from a few countries including Bhutan and the UAE in 2020, and the latter from Colombia in 2018 and Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2019.
But universal recognition continues to elude both sides, with many countries awaiting a formal resolution to the conflict from the two sides.
It’s worth noting that both Israel and Palestine took steps towards recognition under the Oslo Accords, signed on September 13, 1993. The agreement saw Palestine recognize the State of Israel, put an end to the First Intifada, and allowed for limited self-government under a new Palestinian National Authority in Gaza and the West Bank. It promised to lay the groundwork for a two-state solution; a promise of peace that has yet to be realized.
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