Map of the Month: Countries Not on the Metric System

The map above shows all of the countries in the world not using the metric system. This begs the question, why does the United States not use a system of measure employed by the rest of the globe? I’ll spare you the historical details which include such yawners as the Treaty of Meter in 1875, the veto of the Metric Conversion Act in 1981, and other topics you likely slept through in history class. We just like our system of measure––or do we? Milk is sold by the pint or gallon, but soda is often purchased in two liter bottles. Maybe that’s how it starts.

Christophe Noel is a journalist from Prescott, Arizona. Born into a family of backcountry enthusiasts, Christophe grew up backpacking the mountains and deserts of the American West. An avid cyclist and bikepacker, he also has a passion for motorcycles, travel, food and overlanding.