In thematic cartography, map, cartogram and diacartogram are distinguished.
The map is a planarized, proportionally downscaled, simplified and described depiction
of the geospace or of one of its components at a specific point in time.
Cartogram is a term for maps, which basically communicate results
of statistical countings and measurements within a geospatial context.
A diacartogram is a cartogram for which the graphical depiction is realized by using charts of
amounts and numbers or groups, intervals and relations, respectively.
The cartographer decides depending on the intended statement if a map or a cartogram is more suitable.
The following interaction shows this difference with two examples in a graphical way.