A 1:5 million scale global soil regions map is presented. The map identifies the dominant soil suborders and was originally published in the 2nd Edition of Soil Taxonomy, in 1999. It has subsequently been published in a number of textbooks and encyclopedias. The latest version includes changes that reflect updates to Soil Taxonomy. The introduction of the Gel- suborders required significant changes that resulted in a substantial increase in the area of these suborders, particularly Inceptisols. Other modifications were made based on new information from larger scale soil maps from select countries. Additional changes are anticipated and will be included in the global map to be presented at the World Congress of Soil Science in July 2006. With the introduction of the suborder of Gelepts, Inceptisols are the most extensive soils, followed by the Entisols. Estimates of the ice-free land area occupied by the orders are listed as follows by area in km² and %. Gelisols 11,869,000 km², 9.1%; Histosols 1,526,000 km², 1.2%; Spodosols 4,596,000 km², 3.5%; Andisols, 975,000 km², 0.7%; Oxisols 9,811,000 km², 7.5%; Vertisols 3,160,000 km², 2.4%; Aridisols 15,629,000 km², 11.9%; Ultisols 11,053,000 km², 8.4%; Mollisols 9,161,000 km², 7.0%; Alfisols 12,621,000 km², 9.6%; Inceptisols 21,805,000 km², 16.7%; Entisols 21,467,000 km², 16.4%; Rocky land 1,801,000 km², 1.4%; Shifting sands 5,322,000 km², 4.1%.