How the facts are checked
Every fact in Atlas links to where it came from. The dataset is rebuilt from pinned versions of its sources, and each update is reviewed before it is published. This dataset is from 5 November 2026.
How strongly each fact is backed
- Published by the source
- Figures that come straight from an authoritative publisher, such as World Bank population estimates or the United Nations list of member states. 816 of 4,012 facts.
- Wikidata, with its own sources
- Facts from Wikidata where the statement cites a source, which is listed under the fact. 1,018 facts.
- Wikidata, no source cited yet
- Facts from Wikidata where the statement does not cite a source. Most are well known, such as many capitals, but they are marked so you can tell. 2,124 facts.
- Written by this project
- Short explanations of political status and disputes, written from the cited sources. They are marked as drafts until a person has checked them. 54 facts.
Borders and disputed places
The map shows borders as they are controlled on the ground. Areas that are claimed by more than one country are hatched, and selecting one explains who administers it and who claims it. Where the available boundary data is out of date, the area is not drawn and the country page explains why.
Sources
- Natural Earth, Natural Earth (naturalearthdata.com).
- Wikidata, Wikimedia Foundation and Wikidata contributors.
- World Development Indicators, World Bank.
- United Nations, United Nations.
- Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation and Wikipedia contributors.
- Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Foundation and Commons contributors.
Map imagery
- Satellite: Blue Marble: land surface, ocean colour and sea ice (NASA Visible Earth).
- Night lights: Earth at Night: Black Marble 2016 colour maps (NASA Earth Observatory).
- Physical: Natural Earth I with Shaded Relief and Water, 1:50m (Natural Earth).
Day, night and lines on the map
Day and night are calculated from the position of the Sun (the NOAA solar calculator), and the dates of equinoxes and solstices from Jean Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms. The Tropics and polar circles are drawn at the Earth's current axial tilt. Time zones are shown as nominal 15° bands; real time zones follow borders. The International Date Line is from Natural Earth.
Dataset history
- 5 November 2026: Initial dataset.
1 changes
- Germany, capitals: Berlin, Berlin to Berlin
Privacy
Atlas has no accounts, adverts or tracking. Your settings stay on this device. Links to Wikipedia and other sources open those websites, which have their own privacy policies.