TerraScopeAbout the project · Method & making
“I wanted to build something that makes the world feel explorable—not another Wikipedia clone you open, skim and forget.”
— Favour Imegu, creator of TerraScope
I built a country-by-country encyclopaedia that connects geography, people, sport, culture, travel and rankings without making each profile feel like a copy of the last one. The goal was simple: let someone arrive for a number and stay because the place feels worth knowing.
Working across 195 countries taught me that even basic facts arrive in different formats, years and definitions. I learned to normalise country codes, names, currencies, languages and units, then keep editorial writing separate from structured statistics so both can grow without breaking the site.
The hardest part was sourcing comparable information. Population estimates move, borders can be politically sensitive, leaders change and rankings use different dates. I had to decide what counted, keep the source and year visible, and leave room for context instead of presenting every figure as permanent truth.
How the atlas stays honest
Source editions & coverage
Data refresh: 2026-11-13. A retrieval date is different from the year measured. Geographic coverage is complete; editorial depth and venue verification vary.
| Record | Coverage / edition | Source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 195 countries · refreshed 2026-11-13 | World Bank SP.POP.TOTL; Vatican City’s 2024 resident count. Every profile shows the observation year. Dashboard world total is the World Bank WLD observation. |
| Economy, health & connectivity | 194 countries have at least one metric | NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · publisher updated 2026-11-11 · 193 country records NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · publisher updated 2026-11-11 · 193 country records SP.DYN.LE00.IN · publisher updated 2026-11-11 · 194 country records IT.NET.USER.ZS · publisher updated 2026-11-11 · 194 country records GDP uses current US dollars; internet use is a share of population. Missing records are not filled with estimates. |
| Geography | 195 sovereign states · world-countries / IANA-linked time zones | Reference dataset. Area is total area, not land-only area. Countries can span multiple time zones. Territorial definitions differ across publishers. |
| Country facts & people | 10 curated fact files; 10 editorial people files | Other profiles use 10 structured atlas facts. A country without a curated person or football record displays a missing-record notice. |
| Travel & Fun | 195 country travel files · 20 detailed city guides · 30 fun activity types | Country planning starters offer ideas without asserting local venue availability. Sip and Paint NG and Genesis Cinemas provider lists checked 2026-09-30. All planner costs are user-editable assumptions. Confirm quotes, opening times, age rules and transport. |
| Football | Men’s ranking: 20 July 2026; World Cup titles through 2026 | FIFA official release. Other country dossiers and biographies are selected historical highlights, not complete squads, transfer lists or honours databases. |
| Other ranking snapshots | Tourism: 2024 · IQ-test dataset: 2025 · CPI: 2025 | These retain their original editions. Tourism counts overnight international arrivals. Online IQ-test respondents are self-selected and do not establish national intelligence. CPI measures perceived public-sector corruption. |
| Leadership | 10 featured official references · review dates on profiles | Each featured profile links its official reference. These are dated snapshots; other countries do not receive an unverified office-holder. |
| Current reference corrections | Reviewed 2026-09-30 | Bulgaria’s euro adoption; South Africa’s 12th official language; US language executive order. |
| Free virtual escapes | 12 escapes · four 360° tours · checked 2026-10-17 | Recorded panoramas and guided photo journeys are labelled separately. Image credits and licenses. Passport stamps and favourites are browser-local; synthetic wind starts only on request. |
| World Heritage | 1,273 active properties · checked 2026-10-17 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Names, official categories, shared-property and in-danger flags are a dated metadata snapshot. Delisted properties are excluded. Countries without an inscribed property retain their existing travel guide. |
| Election watch | 11 national records · checked 2026-10-17 | Each card links its official authority. Nine exact dates receive countdowns; two expected windows do not. Timers target reference-zone calendar midnight, not the opening of polling stations. The register is reviewed editorially, not a live electoral feed. |
| All-time football | 30 selected clubs · five domestic leagues · 20 global picks | Method and source register. These are subjective men's football lists. Club service, domestic-league work and whole playing careers are separate scopes; source links do not endorse the editorial ranking. Personal top-five picks remain local. |