Robinson vs Winkel Tripel: which compromise map wins?
Robinson and Winkel Tripel are the two maps that try to be fair to everything at once instead of picking one thing to protect. Neither is exactly right about size, shape, or distance, but neither is wildly wrong about any of them either, which is why both have hung on classroom and magazine walls for decades.
What 'compromise' actually means here
A compromise map doesn't promise perfect size or perfect shape or perfect distance — it just tries to make sure nothing looks absurd anywhere. That's different from Equal Earth or Mercator, which each protect one specific thing perfectly and let something else go.
How they were built, and how they differ
Robinson, made in 1963 by Arthur Robinson, was designed by eye — its curves were adjusted by hand until it just looked right, using tables of coordinates rather than a single formula. Winkel Tripel, made in 1921 by Oswald Winkel, works differently: it's the average of two other projections blended together, aiming to balance three kinds of distortion at once, which is where its name ('tripel' means triple) comes from.
Why National Geographic switched in 1998
National Geographic used Robinson on its world maps from 1988 to 1998, then switched to Winkel Tripel and has used it ever since. The main reason was that Winkel Tripel handles the poles a little better and balances the different kinds of distortion slightly more evenly across the whole map.
Verdict
Either map is a fine choice for a general poster or classroom wall map where nothing needs to be measured exactly. If you want the exact map National Geographic uses today, that's Winkel Tripel. Robinson still looks great and was the standard for a full decade before that.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the Robinson and Winkel Tripel projections?
Both are compromise projections that balance area, shape and distance distortion rather than preserving any one perfectly. Robinson was built by adjusting coordinates by eye in 1963, while Winkel Tripel, from 1921, is a mathematical average of two other projections.
Why did National Geographic switch from Robinson to Winkel Tripel?
National Geographic used Robinson from 1988 to 1998, then switched to Winkel Tripel for a somewhat better overall balance of area, shape and distance distortion, including less severe stretching near the poles. It has used Winkel Tripel ever since.
Are Robinson and Winkel Tripel equal-area projections?
No. Both are compromise projections, meaning they don't preserve area, shape or distance exactly anywhere. They aim to keep the error in all three reasonably small everywhere instead, which is different from an equal-area projection like Equal Earth.
Which is better for a classroom wall map, Robinson or Winkel Tripel?
Either works well for a general-purpose display map since neither claims precise measurement. Winkel Tripel is the current National Geographic standard and balances distortion slightly better near the poles; Robinson is an equally valid, longstanding classroom choice.