Worldmapper is a site that uses Cartograms (maps that have been distorted to show non-geographical data in interesting ways. Public Health Spending, as an example, shows how much of the world's health care dollars are spent in the US. Compare that with Population, and you get an idea how distorted spending is relative to population. It's an interesting way to view information, using maps as a reference point instead of an accurate rendition, like so much of online mapping.

There are some 227 cartograms and they can be looked at online or downloaded in PDF form. Further, they provide extensive access to the data behind the maps as they're shown.

The site is an academic project with representatives from the University of Sheffield and the University of Michigan.

Thanks to Ed Parsons for the pointer.