Thematic maps can cover a variety of characteristics from soil types to population density.
It is the cartographers responsibility to make sure that the map shows the correct distribution or the relationship between the various attributes. Thematic maps can show not onl y the distribution of a single attribute, such as the result of a presidential election by state, but they can also show the relationship between several different attributes. For instance, a thematic map could show the results of that same presidential election with the number of votes divided according to the gender or age group of the voters. Some maps that deal with a single attribute such as population, may not necessarily be thematic maps. If the map shows the actual location where the people live, it would be a general reference map.