What does "cartogram" represent in maps?

A cartogram is a type of thematic map in which the shapes and sizes of geographic regions are purposely distorted to reflect specific data values rather than their actual physical size or dimensions. This distortion allows the viewer to quickly grasp information represented by the data, such as population, economic factors, or social statistics. For instance, in a population cartogram, a country with a large population might appear much larger than a geographically larger country with a smaller population, providing an immediate visual interpretation of the underlying data.

The other types of maps mentioned serve different purposes: traditional maps focus on accurately depicting physical features like terrain and landmarks, population density maps provide specific data about how people are distributed across an area, and navigational maps are tailored for travel and route planning. These do not involve the distinctive deformation of geographic areas to illustrate data. A cartogram's primary function distinguishes it clearly from these other forms of mapping, making it a unique and valuable tool for data visualization.