What type of projection is typically used for world maps?

The Robinson projection is often employed for world maps due to its ability to present a more visually appealing representation of the globe. It is designed to balance the distortion of various properties such as area, shape, distance, and direction. The projection does not preserve any of these properties perfectly; instead, it reduces overall distortion, making it a practical choice for global representation.

The Robinson projection features rounded edges that help create a more aesthetically pleasing map, as it attempts to minimize the visual distortion that comes with projecting a three-dimensional surface onto a two-dimensional plane. This makes it particularly useful for thematic mapping where an accurate portrayal of the entire world is needed without giving undue emphasis to any specific region.

Other projections, like Transverse Mercator, Albers, and Equidistant Conic, while appropriate for various regional applications or for specific purposes, do not provide the same balance of distortions across the globe as the Robinson projection does. The Transverse Mercator is particularly well-suited for areas with a larger north-south extent but distorts shapes and sizes when used globally. Albers is an equal-area projection used primarily for continental or regional maps, and the Equidistant Conic is utilized best for certain regions but lacks global applicability.

Therefore