To share your travel map on Instagram, make an image of the map, then post it as a feed post or a full-screen Story. In a feed post, Instagram keeps photos between 1.91:1 (wide) and 3:4 (tall), up to 1,080 pixels wide, and crops anything outside that range. A world map is about twice as wide as it is tall, slightly wider than Instagram allows, so either crop it to the parts of the world you've been or place it on a taller card with your count underneath.
Step 1: make the map image
You need a clean picture of your map, not a blurry screenshot of a webpage. Options:
- Color one online. The visited-countries map tool lets you tap the countries you've been to and share the result.
- Use your app's share card, if your travel app makes one.
- Photograph your wall map. If you have a poster or a scratch map, shoot it straight on, in daylight, with no glare. How to make a poster of your countries covers making one.
Aim for an image at least 1,080 pixels wide. According to its help page, Instagram shares photos at up to that width and sizes larger ones down to it, so anything narrower looks soft.
Step 2: pick the shape
| Where | Shape | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Feed post, wide | Up to 1.91:1 | The world map with a little space added above and below, or cropped to the regions you've visited |
| Feed post, tall | Up to 3:4 | The map at the top, your count and a short list below. Bigger on screen than a wide post |
| Story | Full-screen, upright | The map across the middle, a big number above, a sticker or two below |
| Carousel | Several images in one post | Slide 1 the map, then one photo per country or trip |
The tall post is often the better choice: it takes up more of the screen as people scroll, and it leaves room for the number, which is what people actually read.
Step 3: put the right words on it
A map alone makes people squint. Add:
- The number and the list it's from: "38 of 193" means more than "38".
- Your share of the world, if you like. How much of the world have you seen shows three ways to work it out.
- A legend, if you used more than one color (been, lived, want to go).
- The years: "2008 to 2026" makes it a story, not a boast.
If you're not sure which list to count by, 193, 195, 250 or 330 explains them, and how many countries are there has the numbers.
Step 4: write the caption
Answer the questions people would ask, in the order they'd ask them:
38 countries of 193. First: France, age 7. Newest: Japan, this May. Still missing: all of South America. Where should I start?
Ending with a question gets replies. Keep hashtags few and specific to the post.
Step 5: keep it private where it matters
A map of countries tells people nothing dangerous. Some things around it can:
- Photos in a carousel can carry their location. If any were taken at or near home, remove the location before sharing. See how to share a photo without its location.
- Don't pin your home city. A dot on your town on a public profile is more than strangers need.
- Post trips after you're back. A live "we're away for three weeks" is an announcement your home is empty.
Keep it on your profile
A feed post stays on your grid. A Story disappears after 24 hours unless you add it to your profile as a Highlight. A "Countries" Highlight that you update after each trip works like a living map. At the end of the year, the same map is the first slide of a recap: see how to make your year in travel recap.
Globestamp makes share cards for free, and you can compare countries with a friend by sending a link, no account needed.