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World Explorer is an authoritative and continuously maintained digital vector map of the world which is suitable for use at scales up to 1:3,000,000. Designed by the same professional cartographers who create the Times Comprehensive World Atlas, its rich content and easy-to-use structure will enable you to perform both simple and complex geographic analysis and visualise geography at a global level.
Additional information Our dedicated team of geographical experts continuously monitor and authenticate the changes happening in our world to ensure the integrity and accuracy of World Explorer is maintained. Each week they make approximately 950 changes, amounting to an average of nearly 50,000 a year. Policy changes (e.g. international boundary changes, new country depiction, name changes) are informed by external experts

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Key Features
  • Covers all countries, territories and sovereign states around the world
  • Boundaries rigorously checked and verified to give an accurate picture of World political geography
  • Includes international boundaries and disputed territories for all countries
  • Includes 1st order internal administrative boundaries for all countries
  • Towns coded by their status (administrative capital, national to 4th order) and by population band
  • Includes ISO code attribution for all countries
  • Available in ESRI Shape file or MapInfo TAB format (other formats may be available on request)
  • Easy to use - ESRI Shape files include a .MXD project for ‘a map out of the box’ product
  • Updated quarterly

Contacts If you would like to discuss World Explorer or any other product requirements you may have please contact us. Our team will be pleased to deal with your enquiries.

Product versions We understand that our customers have their own unique requirements. Consequently we have developed a choice of 2 core vector products that both offer the same level of authority, accuracy and integrity, but with different levels of structure and feature content.

  • World Explorer Premium Our flagship digital vector map database for sophisticated geographic analysis, map design and display.


  • World Explorer Regular Offering all the key features and data structure necessary to get you started.
What our partners say

"Vizrt has been using the World map database from Collins Bartholomew as part of its Viz Curious Maps product since 2000, and later as part of the Viz World template maps system. We find the World map database a perfect match for a global mapping system, allowing our customers to produce high quality animated maps branded for their TV news programming. We know we can count on the World map database to be accurate, consistent, and well maintained."

--- Ran Yakir, VizRT


Potential Uses World Explorer’s flexibility and depth of content means its potential uses are diverse and almost unlimited. Some examples include:
  • Academic research
  • Creation of maps for media broadcast and print
  • Defence and strategic planning
  • Production of maps and charts for the aviation industry
  • Global location based querying
  • Global asset tracking
  • Telecommunications and network coverage analysis
  • Insurance and risk mapping
  • Environmental and meteorological R&D