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Map projections determine how the spherical surface of Earth is transformed into a flat 2D representation. amCharts 5 supports multiple projection types through the D3-geo library.

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Available Projections

amCharts 5 exports the following projection functions from D3-geo:
  • geoMercator - The standard Mercator projection
  • geoOrthographic - Globe-style orthographic projection
  • geoEquirectangular - Simple equirectangular projection
  • geoAlbersUsa - Composite projection for US maps
  • geoEqualEarth - Equal-area pseudocylindrical projection
  • geoNaturalEarth1 - Compromise projection for world maps

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Setting a Projection

Set the projection when creating a MapChart using the projection setting: 
import * as am5map from "@amcharts/amcharts5/map";

const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoMercator()
  })
);

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Mercator Projection

The Mercator projection is the most common projection for web maps. It preserves angles but distorts size, especially near the poles. 
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoMercator(),
    panX: "translateX",
    panY: "translateY"
  })
);
Use Cases:
  • General-purpose world maps
  • Regional maps
  • Navigation and route planning

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Orthographic Projection

The orthographic projection creates a globe-like appearance, showing the Earth as it would appear from space. 
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoOrthographic(),
    panX: "rotateX",
    panY: "rotateY"
  })
);

// Create background series for globe appearance
const backgroundSeries = chart.series.push(
  am5map.MapPolygonSeries.new(root, {})
);

backgroundSeries.mapPolygons.template.setAll({
  fill: root.interfaceColors.get("alternativeBackground"),
  fillOpacity: 0.1,
  strokeOpacity: 0
});

backgroundSeries.data.push({
  geometry: am5map.getGeoRectangle(90, 180, -90, -180)
});
Use Cases:
  • Interactive globe visualizations
  • Showing global data from a specific viewpoint
  • Geographic data with rotation controls
With orthographic projection, use panX: "rotateX" and panY: "rotateY" for proper globe rotation behavior.

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Equirectangular Projection

A simple projection that maps longitude and latitude directly to x and y coordinates. 
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoEquirectangular()
  })
);
Use Cases:
  • Simple world maps
  • Heat maps and data overlays
  • When minimal distortion in the tropics is desired

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Equal Earth Projection

An equal-area projection that maintains accurate relative sizes of countries and regions. 
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoEqualEarth()
  })
);
Use Cases:
  • Thematic maps comparing countries by area
  • Population or resource distribution maps
  • When accurate size representation is important

​
Natural Earth Projection

A compromise projection balancing shape and area distortion. 
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoNaturalEarth1()
  })
);
Use Cases:
  • World maps for general reference
  • Physical and political maps
  • When both shape and area need to be reasonably accurate

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Albers USA Projection

A composite projection specifically designed for United States maps, with Alaska and Hawaii repositioned. 
import am5geodata_usaLow from "@amcharts/amcharts5-geodata/usaLow";

const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoAlbersUsa()
  })
);

const polygonSeries = chart.series.push(
  am5map.MapPolygonSeries.new(root, {
    geoJSON: am5geodata_usaLow
  })
);
Use Cases:
  • United States maps
  • State-level data visualization
  • US demographic or economic data

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Animating Projection Changes

Available since version 5.16.0
You can smoothly animate transitions between projections using the animateProjection() method: 
import { geoMercator, geoOrthographic, geoMercatorRaw, geoOrthographicRaw } from "d3-geo";

// Initial projection
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: geoMercator()
  })
);

// Later, animate to orthographic
button.events.on("click", () => {
  chart.animateProjection(
    geoOrthographic(),
    geoOrthographicRaw,
    1000, // duration in ms
    am5.ease.inOut(am5.ease.cubic),
    geoMercatorRaw // source projection (only needed on first call)
  );
});

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Projection Settings

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Rotation

Control the center point and rotation of the map: 
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoOrthographic(),
    rotationX: -100, // Horizontal rotation
    rotationY: -40,  // Vertical rotation
    rotationZ: 0     // Depth rotation
  })
);
See MapChart.ts:59-73

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Pan Behavior

Configure how dragging affects the map: 
const chart = root.container.children.push(
  am5map.MapChart.new(root, {
    projection: am5map.geoOrthographic(),
    panX: "rotateX",    // Horizontal drag rotates
    panY: "rotateY"     // Vertical drag rotates
  })
);
Available options:
  • "none" - No panning
  • "translateX" / "translateY" - Move the map (for flat projections)
  • "rotateX" / "rotateY" - Rotate the globe (for spherical projections)
See MapChart.ts:98-111