[R Course] Data Visualization with R: Custom Colors Maps

A custom map made with custom colors using ggplot2.

This blog will teach you how to create a map with custom colors with ggplot2.

Step 1 : Load the package

# Loading libraries
library(ggplot2)

Step 2 : Retrieve the data

# Loading World data
world <- map_data("world")

# Remove the Antarctica region
world <- subset(world, region != "Antarctica")

# Remove the French Southern and Antarctic Lands region
world <- subset(world, region != "French Southern and Antarctic Lands")

# Select the countries you want to keep
countries <- subset(world, region %in% c("Canada", "USA", "France", "South Africa", "Brazil","China"))

# Assign a code to the countries
southAfrica <- subset(countries, region %in% c("South Africa"))
france <- subset(countries, region %in% c("France"))
brazil <- subset(countries, region %in% c("Brazil"))
canada <- subset(countries, region %in% c("Canada"))
usa <- subset(countries, region %in% c("USA"))
usa <- subset(usa, !(subregion %in% c("Alaska")))
china <- subset(countries, region %in% c("China"))

Step 3: Create your custom map

Step 3.1: Produce a blank World map

map <- ggplot(data = world, aes(x = long, y = lat, group = group)) + 
  geom_polygon(fill = "white", color = "black", size = 0.3)

map

Your blank world map will now be called “map”

Step 3.2: Add your countries

finalmap <- map + 
  geom_polygon(data = southAfrica, fill = "#b491c8", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = france, fill = "#fda4ba", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = brazil, fill = "#228c22", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = canada, fill = "#db0a16", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = usa, fill = "#255293", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = china, fill = "#f8c72d", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6)

finalmap

Your final map will now be called “finalmap”

Step 3.3: Add finishing touches to your map

#Add a theme to your final map
finalmap + 
  theme(legend.position = "none") + 
  theme_void() +
  
# Add titles to your axis (optional)
  xlab("") +
  ylab("") +

# Add a title to your map
  ggtitle("My custom map") +
  
# Choose the size of your map
  coord_fixed(ratio=1.5, xlim = c(-165,175), ylim = c(-50,78))

Colors

Choose your own colors with the help of the link below !

HTML Color codes

You can add as many countries and as many colors as you want.

Here is another example of a custom map

library(ggplot2)
world <- map_data("world")
world <- subset(world, region != "Antarctica")
world <- subset(world, region != "French Southern and Antarctic Lands")

countries <- subset(world, region %in% c("Canada", "USA", "UK", "Australia","New Zealand"))

canada <- subset(countries, region %in% c("Canada"))
usa <- subset(countries, region %in% c("USA"))
uk <- subset(countries, region %in% c("UK"))
australia <- subset(countries, region %in% c("Australia"))
newzealand <- subset(countries, region %in% c("New Zealand"))

ggplot(data = world, aes(x = long, y = lat, group = group)) + 
  geom_polygon(fill = "white", color = "black", size = 0.3) +
  
  geom_polygon(data = canada, fill = "#F7CAC9", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = usa, fill = "#EFC050", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = uk, fill = "#7FCDCD", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = australia, fill = "#BFD641", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  geom_polygon(data = newzealand, fill = "#FFFF00", size = 0.3, alpha = 0.6) +
  
  theme(legend.position = "none") +
  theme_void() +
  
  xlab("") + 
  ylab("") +
  
  ggtitle("My custom map 2") +
  
  coord_fixed(ratio=1.5, xlim = c(-170,175), ylim = c(-50,80))