Observed arrival · 2026-09-23

Actual Scale makes population density visible

actualscale.com Visit website

Editorial interest 82/100 Selection signal · not a rating of the site

An interactive map lets you move a place’s outline around the world and resizes it to represent the same population at each location.

Landing page captured for the 2026-09-23 issue.

For: People comparing cities, regions, and population density
Worth noticing: The page cites the 2025 GHS-POP population grid at 100 m resolution and notes that small-place counts are model estimates.

Field notes

The page says the map sums a global population grid beneath an outline while it is dragged, then rescales the outline to preserve the source place’s population. Its stated inputs include GHS-POP for 2025 at 100 m resolution and place boundaries from OpenStreetMap, with US Census and GHS sources for urban areas. It cautions that small-place counts are estimates.

Observed signals

Read the marks

Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.

○OpenPublic substance visible

✦PrettyNotable craft visible

●ProPolished or operationally mature

◎NicheUnusually specific use

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