thumb|350px|right|Robinson projection of the world
thumb|350px|The Robinson projection with [[Tissot's indicatrix of deformation]]
thumb|right|350px|Map of the world created by the [[Central Intelligence Agency, with standard parallels 38°N and 38°S]]
thumb|right|350px|Map of the world with all [[Member states of the United Nations|recognized jurisdictions]]
The Robinson projection is a map projection of a world map that shows the entire world at once. It was created in an attempt to find a good compromise to the problem of readily showing the whole globe as a flat image.
The Robinson projection was devised by Arthur H. Robinson in 1963 in response to an appeal from the Rand McNally company, which has used the projection in general-purpose world maps since that time. Robinson published details of the projection's construction in 1974. The National Geographic Society (NGS) began using the Robinson projection for general-purpose, full world maps in 1988, replacing the Van der Grinten projection. In 1998, the NGS abandoned the Robinson projection for that use in favor of the Winkel tripel projection, as the latter "reduces the distortion of land masses as they near the poles".
Strengths and weaknesses
The Robinson projection is neither equal-area nor conformal, abandoning both for a compromise. The creator felt that this produced a better overall view than could be achieved by adhering to either. The meridians curve gently, avoiding extremes, but thereby stretch the poles into long lines instead of leaving them as points.