Cartograms are a unique type of map that distorts geographic boundaries in order to represent statistical information such as population, income, or voting patterns. The size or shape of a region on a cartogram is determined by the data being represented, rather than its actual geographic size or shape. This allows for a more visually striking representation of data and can help researchers and policymakers better understand patterns and relationships within a dataset. Cartograms are often used in social sciences, economics, and political science research.