Visualizing Statistics

Unfortunately, this map is from 2002; however, it provides good visual comparing daily newspaper circulation country to country.

Worldmapper is based on the principle that given a 150-word document, it would take our brains a minute or two to read through the entire text; however, that same information in visual form can be processed at 100ths of a second. Our brains are hard-wired to process visual information at unimaginable rates. This map emcompasses some of these numbers:

• 507 million newspapers distributed daily worldwide
• In Japan, 566 newspapers circulated for every 1000 people
• In China and India, 56.6 newspapers circulated for every 1000 people
• Overall world average daily circulation is 2 newspapers per every 25 people.

These statistics are not applicable today, as newspaper circulation has declined (currently in Germany, 80% of adults subscribe to newspapers, 33% in France and 15% in the U.S.).