Africa Population Density — 10-Minute Map

This sprint map shows population density by country across Africa.
Density is computed as POP_EST ÷ area_km², where areas are measured in an equal-area projection (EPSG:6933) to avoid distortion. Colors use a quantile scheme (5 classes) for quick legibility under the 10-minute constraint.

Cartography

• Basemap: country polygons with white borders for separation.
• Fill: choropleth by density (people/km²), legend on quantiles to balance extremes.
• Projection: EPSG:6933 (World Cylindrical Equal Area).
• Labels intentionally minimal to keep the focus on the density field.

Method (fast pipeline)1) Read Natural Earth Admin 0 via ZIP URL; filter CONTINENT == "Africa".
2) Reproject to EPSG:6933; compute area_km².
3) Calculate density = POP_EST / area_km²; map with 5-quantile classes.
4) Export as a compact PNG thumbnail for the challenge page.

Caveats: POP_EST is a national aggregate—great for speed, not for within-country patterns. For subnational detail, swap in gridded population (WorldPop/GHSL) when time allows.