Printable World Maps: Discover, Download & Use

Maps have been helping humans understand and navigate the world for thousands of years. We can’t be sure when the first map was developed, but one of the oldest surviving examples of a map is a Babylonian clay tablet from around 600 BCE.

Smaller-scale maps of cities or regions are excellent tools for navigation and helping people get from one location to another. World maps, on the other hand, are powerful for their ability to help us conceptualize the world as a whole and visualize our place in it. 

Maps are more accessible than ever — a quick Google search on a phone or computer will bring up a detailed map of just about anywhere in the world. And for those that prefer a physical map of their own, it’s never been easier to print your own. Printable world maps offer the chance to customize, display, and physically interact with a visual representation of the world. 

A printable world map is also notable for its versatility — you can use it in the classroom, hang it on a wall in your house, or use it for personal study or reference, among other uses.

Available Printable World Maps

The best printable world map for one person may not be the same for another. Fortunately, there are a variety of maps available with varying levels of detail and information. It’s also important to decide whether a color or black-and-white map is the best option.

A. Unlabeled Blank World Map

This printable world map is black and white, and it doesn’t have any text whatsoever. It does display international and maritime borders. This map is nearest to a blank canvas and therefore offers the greatest potential for customization. 

Teachers could use this blank printable map to create quizzes for students or to highlight any specific geographical area or feature. The white background makes it very easy to add color and marks to this map.

B. Printable World Map with Country Names

A white printable world map with ocuntry names.
White world map with country names

This printable world map with country names is similar to the unlabeled map in that it is easy to customize; the only difference is that each country is labeled. No bodies of water are labeled on this map.

This could be the ideal map for anyone interested in learning the location of the world’s countries or in being able to quickly reference the location of a particular country.

Also see: High-Resolution World Map

The above link to our High-Resolution World Map offers a much more in-depth picture of the world. It includes country names, bodies of water, lines of latitude and longitude, and it is colored.

How to Print Your World Map

Printing your world map is a simple, two-step process. It involves downloading the map as a PDF and then choosing the appropriate paper size and format.

A. Downloading the Map as a PDF

The first step in printing your map is to download the PDF from this page. To do this, simply click on the black “Download” button below the image of the map you wish to print. Save the image to your computer.

B. Choosing the Right Paper Size and Format

To get the most out of a printable map, it’s important to take advantage of some printing options involving paper size and format. One of the first considerations to make is what paper size you’ll be using. 

A standard paper size is A4, which is 11.7 x 8.3 inches (210 x 297 mm). A3 is larger, and A5 is smaller. The maps on this page will need to be scaled down to 70% size to fit onto an A4 sheet of paper, and a 99% scale version of the map will fit on an A3 sheet.

Fortunately, the scaling is an automatic process when printing with Adobe Reader. In the below image of the printing dialogue box of Adobe, you can see that the “Fit” circle is selected in the Page Sizing & Handling section. This ensures that the image will be automatically scaled to fit the paper size selected. You can select the correct paper size from the “Page Setup…” button.

Screenshot of the print dialogue box in Adobe Reader.
Screenshot of Adobe Reader print options

Other printing options include printing the image across multiple sheets of paper to achieve a 100% or even larger scale. This is done by selecting “Poster” in the Page Sizing & Handling section. 

The maps on this page are best suited to a landscape orientation when printing.

C. Tips for High-Quality Prints

One way to achieve an even higher-quality print is to use higher-quality paper. Paper that is thicker or textured can provide a more professional or pleasing aesthetic as well as make the map more durable. 

You may also want to consider laminating the map after printing, as this is a good way to preserve its quality. Lamination also makes it possible to make temporary marks on the map by using a wet-erase marker or pen.

Understanding the World Map

The world map contains a lot of information and can be useful for looking at the big picture as well as zooming in on more specific, detailed information. In many cases, it might be more efficient to look at the map of just one specific continent. 

In the following section, we’ll provide a printable map of each of the seven continents. We’ll also list each of the countries in each continent.

The Seven Continents

The world is divided into seven continents, of which Asia is the largest and most populous, and Australia/Oceania is the smallest in size. The seven continents are North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia/Oceania, and Antarctica.

Each of the world’s continents can be divided into multiple countries, except for Antarctica. We didn’t include this continent in our printable continent maps because Antarctica is a desert without any countries or a permanent population. 

There isn’t a universal agreement when it comes to defining the world’s continents. The border between Asia and Europe, for example, is disputed and difficult to define. It’s also true that, while much of the world defines North and South America as two different continents, some people define the singular American continent as containing both landmasses.

Australia and Oceania can also be defined differently. In the English-speaking world, Australia is generally considered a continent and Oceania is considered a geographical region. In the non-English speaking world, Oceania is considered a continent that includes Australia.

EUROPE

A map of the countries in Europe without labels for any countries.
Europe: Blank Continent Map

Europe is the second-smallest continent on the planet, located west of Asia and north of Africa. Although the exact number is up for debate, it is generally agreed that there are 44 countries in Europe. 

Countries like Russia and Turkey are technically both in Europe and Asia, though most of their territories are in Asia. Only 3% of Turkey’s territory is in Europe, and this is why Russia has made this list and Turkey has not. 

Kosovo is on this list, but it isn’t recognized as a sovereign country by every nation. Kosovo is located in Europe, in the Balkans, and declared its independence in 2008. 

Cyprus is another country that could potentially be grouped with Asia or Europe. Geographically speaking, Cyprus is in Asia, as it is part of Anatolia. However, the country has very strong political, cultural, and historical ties to Europe, meaning it is often considered a European country. This is why we’ve included it in this list.

Here are the 46 countries on our map of Europe:

  1. Albania
  2. Andorra
  3. Austria
  4. Belarus
  5. Belgium
  6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  7. Bulgaria
  8. Croatia
  9. Cyprus
  10. Czech Republic
  11. Denmark
  12. Estonia
  13. Finland
  14. France
  15. Germany
  16. Greece
  17. Hungary
  18. Iceland
  19. Ireland
  20. Italy
  21. Kosovo
  22. Latvia
  23. Liechtenstein
  24. Lithuania
  25. Luxembourg
  26. Malta
  27. Moldova
  28. Monaco
  29. Montenegro
  30. Netherlands
  31. North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia)
  32. Norway
  33. Poland
  34. Portugal
  35. Romania
  36. Russia
  37. San Marino
  38. Serbia
  39. Slovakia
  40. Slovenia
  41. Spain
  42. Sweden
  43. Switzerland
  44. Ukraine
  45. United Kingdom
  46. Vatican City (Holy See)

NORTH AMERICA

A blank map of the North American continent with country borders but no names.
North America: Blank Continent Map

According to the UN, the North American continent consists of three regions: Northern America, Central America, and the Caribbean. There are 23 countries and many territories located in these three regions. 

The Northern American mainland consists of just three countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Central America is made up of seven different countries, and the Caribbean Islands are home to thirteen sovereign nations. 

Some of the non-sovereign states in North America are Bermuda, Aruba, the Cayman Islands, Greenland, and Puerto Rico, among others. Although Greenland is an autonomous country, it isn’t considered sovereign because it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Below, we’ve listed the 23 sovereign countries that make up North America:

  1. Antigua and Barbuda
  2. The Bahamas
  3. Barbados
  4. Belize
  5. Canada
  6. Costa Rica
  7. Cuba
  8. Dominica
  9. Dominican Republic
  10. El Salvador
  11. Grenada
  12. Guatemala
  13. Haiti
  14. Honduras
  15. Jamaica
  16. Mexico
  17. Nicaragua
  18. Panama
  19. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  20. Saint Lucia
  21. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  22. Trinidad and Tobago
  23. United States of America

SOUTH AMERICA

This is a blank map of the South American continent with international borders outlines.
South America: Blank Continent Map

The South American continent is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It is generally considered to consist of 12 sovereign states, but there are also territories of countries on different continents that are located in South America. These include the Falkland Islands (United Kingdom), French Guiana (France), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (United Kingdom), and Bouvet Island (Norway).

There are 12 countries in South America:

  1. Argentina
  2. Bolivia
  3. Brazil
  4. Chile
  5. Colombia
  6. Ecuador
  7. Guyana
  8. Paraguay
  9. Peru
  10. Suriname
  11. Uruguay
  12. Venezuela

ASIA

Blank map of Asia with international borders.
Asia: Blank Continent Map

Typically, the Asian continent is thought to contain 48 countries. It is the world’s largest continent and is part of the Eurasian landmass. More than 60% of the Earth’s population lives in Asia

It’s worth noting that the sovereignty status of countries like Taiwan and Palestine is a complex and sensitive issue with international disagreement. They are both included on this list.

This map also contains the transcontinental countries of Russia and Turkey. Both of these countries are located in both Europe and Asia — Russia is also on our Europe map — but the majority of their areas are in Asia.

Below are the 50 countries included on our printable Asia map:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Armenia
  3. Azerbaijan
  4. Bahrain
  5. Bangladesh
  6. Bhutan
  7. Brunei
  8. Cambodia
  9. China
  10. Cyprus
  11. Georgia
  12. India
  13. Indonesia
  14. Iran
  15. Iraq
  16. Israel
  17. Japan
  18. Jordan
  19. Kazakhstan
  20. Kuwait
  21. Kyrgyzstan
  22. Laos
  23. Lebanon
  24. Malaysia
  25. Maldives
  26. Mongolia
  27. Myanmar (Burma)
  28. Nepal
  29. North Korea
  30. Oman
  31. Pakistan
  32. Palestine
  33. Philippines
  34. Qatar
  35. Russia
  36. Saudi Arabia
  37. Singapore
  38. South Korea
  39. Sri Lanka
  40. Syria
  41. Taiwan
  42. Tajikistan
  43. Thailand
  44. Timor-Leste (East Timor)
  45. Turkey
  46. Turkmenistan
  47. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  48. Uzbekistan
  49. Vietnam
  50. Yemen

AFRICA

Blank map of Africa showing international borders.
Africa Blank Map

The African continent is the second-largest in the world and is made up of more countries than any other continent. It’s located in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean.  

There are some regions in Africa, such as Western Sahara, that are not universally recognized as independent countries. We’ve included Western Sahara in the list below and in our printable Africa map.

There are 54 countries in Africa:

  1. Algeria
  2. Angola
  3. Benin
  4. Botswana
  5. Burkina Faso
  6. Burundi
  7. Cape Verde
  8. Central African Republic
  9. Chad
  10. Comoros
  11. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  12. Djibouti
  13. Egypt
  14. Equatorial Guinea
  15. Eritrea
  16. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
  17. Ethiopia
  18. Gabon
  19. Gambia
  20. Ghana
  21. Guinea
  22. Guinea-Bissau
  23. Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire)
  24. Kenya
  25. Lesotho
  26. Liberia
  27. Libya
  28. Madagascar
  29. Malawi
  30. Mali
  31. Mauritania
  32. Mauritius
  33. Morocco
  34. Mozambique
  35. Namibia
  36. Niger
  37. Nigeria
  38. Republic of the Congo
  39. Rwanda
  40. Sao Tome and Principe
  41. Senegal
  42. Seychelles
  43. Sierra Leone
  44. Somalia
  45. South Africa
  46. South Sudan
  47. Sudan
  48. Tanzania
  49. Togo
  50. Tunisia
  51. Uganda
  52. Western Sahara
  53. Zambia
  54. Zimbabwe

Also see: More blank and colored maps of Africa

AUSTRALIA / OCEANIA

Blank map of Australia/Oceania showing international borders.
Australia/Oceania Blank Map

Oceania is a geographical region that includes the continent of Australia as well as thousands of islands in nearby waters; Oceania is also sometimes described as a continent in itself. In either case, Australia/Oceania is the smallest continent in the world. 

There are 14 different countries in Australia/Oceania as well as a number of territories and dependencies of countries located outside of the region. Some of these include French Polynesia (France), Guam (USA), and Norfolk Island (Australia).

Below are the 14 countries on the printable Australia/Oceania map:

  1. Australia
  2. Fiji
  3. Kiribati
  4. Marshall Islands
  5. Micronesia (Federated States of)
  6. Nauru
  7. New Zealand
  8. Palau
  9. Papua New Guinea
  10. Samoa
  11. Solomon Islands
  12. Tonga
  13. Tuvalu
  14. Vanuatu

How to Use Printable World Maps

There are a number of uses for printable world maps, and we’ll take a look at some of the most common uses in this section. The ease with which they can be printed and customized makes these reference tools especially useful for study, personal interest, and even decoration.

A. In Geography Studies

Maps are one of the primary tools used in understanding and talking about geography. They make it possible to visualize specific areas of the world and to quickly reference important information. In the interest of studying geography, a printable world map is an excellent medium for learning the names and locations of countries or geographic features.

Not everyone learns information in the same way. In fact, there are four different main types of learning styles. Two of these, visual and kinesthetic learners, are likely to see major benefits from working with something like a printable world map. 

Maps help visual learners by offering a picture of the material, and they are suited to kinesthetic learners by offering a chance to physically interact. Coloring in different sections of the map or covering up the names of countries you want to memorize are great ways to facilitate kinesthetic learning.

B. In Education

As mentioned in the section on geography studies, printable world maps can be exceptionally useful for providing visual and kinesthetic learning opportunities. This is useful for teachers looking to facilitate better learning in the classroom. 

Printable maps also lend themselves to the creation of worksheets. By printing a map and leaving out information that needs to be filled in, students can test their geography knowledge in an interesting format.

One example of an assignment that could use a printable map is tasking students with adding geographical features like rivers, mountains, volcanoes, forests or deserts. Students could also be asked to color each continent a different shade, to only label the countries on one continent, or to write in as many capital cities as they can.

It’s also possible to make a creative learning environment by encouraging students to customize their printed maps.

C. In Personal Use

In addition to their utility in educational and professional contexts, printable world maps are great for personal use. Some of the most popular personal uses for these maps might be to plan or record travel as well as create wall art.

Maps are great tools for planning travel. Especially when traveling somewhere new, a map is an invaluable resource that can help with decisions regarding accommodation and itineraries.

Maps can also be a fun way to keep track of all the traveling you’ve done so far. One popular way to do this is to print out a large map and then mark the destinations you’ve been to with a pushpin.

It’s also possible to create art with a printable world map. For best results, print the map on quality paper and then frame it.

Customizing Your Own Printable World Map

The possibility of customizing your own printable world map is perhaps the best reason to print your own. The two main ways to customize a printed map are with digital tools and manual customization. We’ll go over both of these in this section.

A. Manual Customization and Adding Personal Points of Interest

This is the most accessible method of customization and involves physical tools. Hand-drawn elements can make great additions to a map and can be achieved with traditional art supplies such as pencils, pens, markers, and paint. 

One way to use this method to make a map your own is to label countries, cities, or landmarks that interest you. You could also add symbols or country flags to the map. Drawing in a compass rose is another option. 

If drawing isn’t a strong suit, you can opt to add stickers or cutouts to represent points of interest on the map. You could also make a collage by including cutout text from relevant magazines or travel brochures.

B. Using Digital Tools for Customization

Digital tools are another method for customizing a printable map, and they offer a wide range of possibilities. Some kind of image editing software is necessary for this type of customization, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). 

With a digital tool, it’s possible to draw geographical features such as rivers or mountains, add colors and shading to different regions of the map, add custom labels, and much more. After editing the image in the software, you’ll need to save and export the image as a printable file such as PDF, JPEG, or PNG.

In Conclusion

We’ve come a long way from the first maps carved into stone thousands of years ago. The ease with which anyone can print their own map today is remarkable. Printable world maps are especially valuable because they are customizable and come in a variety of forms. Whether it’s for education, research, personal study or interest, there’s certainly a printable map that will match your needs.

Additional Resources and References

A. Links to resources for downloading and printing world maps

B. Links to digital tools for customization

C. Links to additional maps