diff --git a/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx b/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx
index e102790..b5ad730 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx
@@ -208,10 +208,16 @@ export function WorldMap({
     [onSelectCountry, selectedCountry],
   );
 
+  /** SVG-level click handler — paths never receive click when pointer capture
+   *  is active on the SVG, so we resolve the target via the data-cc attribute. */
+  const handleSvgClick = useCallback((event: React.MouseEvent<SVGSVGElement>) => {
+    const target = (event.target as Element).closest('[data-cc]');
+    const cc = target?.getAttribute('data-cc') ?? null;
+    if (cc) handleCountrySelect(cc);
+  }, [handleCountrySelect]);
+
   const handlePointerDown = useCallback((event: React.PointerEvent<SVGSVGElement>) => {
     if (event.button !== 0) return;
-
-    event.currentTarget.setPointerCapture(event.pointerId);
     dragStateRef.current = {
       active: true,
       startX: event.clientX,
@@ -231,6 +237,7 @@ export function WorldMap({
     if (!drag.moved && Math.hypot(dx, dy) > PAN_THRESHOLD) {
       drag.moved = true;
       clickSuppressedRef.current = true;
+      event.currentTarget.setPointerCapture(event.pointerId);
     }
 
     setCenter([drag.startCenter[0] + dx, drag.startCenter[1] + dy]);
@@ -332,6 +339,7 @@ export function WorldMap({
         onPointerUp={handlePointerUp}
         onPointerLeave={handlePointerUp}
         onWheel={handleWheel}
+        onClick={handleSvgClick}
       >
         <g transform={`translate(${center[0]} ${center[1]}) scale(${zoom})`}>
           {countryFeatures.map((featureItem) => {
@@ -350,6 +358,7 @@ export function WorldMap({
               <g key={String(rawId)}>
                 <path
                   d={pathString}
+                  data-cc={cc ?? undefined}
                   role={cc ? "button" : undefined}
                   tabIndex={cc ? 0 : undefined}
                   aria-label={
@@ -373,9 +382,7 @@ export function WorldMap({
                     } as React.CSSProperties
                   }
                   onClick={(): void => {
-                    if (cc) {
-                      handleCountrySelect(cc);
-                    }
+                    if (cc) handleCountrySelect(cc);
                   }}
                   onKeyDown={(event): void => {
                     if (cc && (event.key === "Enter" || event.key === " ")) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/MapPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
index 4cf0c2e..b243a11 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ export function MapPage(): React.JSX.Element {
   const { countries, countryNames, bans, total, loading, error, refresh } =
     useMapData(range, originFilter, source, selectedCountry ?? undefined);
 
+  // True after the first successful data load — keeps the map mounted
+  // during subsequent re-fetches so country selection gives instant feedback.
+  const [hasLoadedOnce, setHasLoadedOnce] = useState(false);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!loading && !error) setHasLoadedOnce(true);
+  }, [loading, error]);
+
   const {
     thresholds: mapThresholds,
     error: mapThresholdError,
@@ -195,7 +202,8 @@ export function MapPage(): React.JSX.Element {
         </MessageBar>
       )}
 
-      {loading && !error && (
+      {/* Initial load spinner — only shown before the first data arrives. */}
+      {loading && !error && !hasLoadedOnce && (
         <div style={{ display: "flex", justifyContent: "center", padding: tokens.spacingVerticalXL }}>
           <Spinner label="Loading map data…" />
         </div>
@@ -203,8 +211,10 @@ export function MapPage(): React.JSX.Element {
 
       {/* ---------------------------------------------------------------- */}
       {/* World map                                                         */}
+      {/* Keep the map mounted after first load so clicking a country gives */}
+      {/* immediate visual feedback before the filtered data arrives.       */}
       {/* ---------------------------------------------------------------- */}
-      {!loading && !error && (
+      {!error && hasLoadedOnce && (
         <WorldMap
           countries={countries}
           countryNames={countryNames}
@@ -242,19 +252,22 @@ export function MapPage(): React.JSX.Element {
       {/* ---------------------------------------------------------------- */}
       {/* Summary line                                                      */}
       {/* ---------------------------------------------------------------- */}
-      {!loading && !error && (
-        <Text size={300} style={{ color: tokens.colorNeutralForeground3 }}>
-          {String(total)} total ban{total !== 1 ? "s" : ""} in the selected period
-          {" · "}
-          {String(Object.keys(countries).length)} countr{Object.keys(countries).length !== 1 ? "ies" : "y"} affected
-        </Text>
+      {!error && hasLoadedOnce && (
+        <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: tokens.spacingHorizontalS }}>
+          <Text size={300} style={{ color: tokens.colorNeutralForeground3 }}>
+            {String(total)} total ban{total !== 1 ? "s" : ""} in the selected period
+            {" · "}
+            {String(Object.keys(countries).length)} countr{Object.keys(countries).length !== 1 ? "ies" : "y"} affected
+          </Text>
+          {loading && <Spinner size="tiny" />}
+        </div>
       )}
 
       {/* ---------------------------------------------------------------- */}
       {/* Companion bans table                                              */}
       {/* ---------------------------------------------------------------- */}
-      {!loading && !error && (
-        <div className={styles.tableWrapper}>
+      {!error && hasLoadedOnce && (
+        <div className={styles.tableWrapper} style={{ opacity: loading ? 0.5 : 1, transition: "opacity 150ms" }}>
           <Table size="small" aria-label="Bans list">
             <TableHeader>
               <TableRow>