diff --git a/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx b/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx
index 1b3b9f7..5cd4c59 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/WorldMap.tsx
@@ -83,6 +83,12 @@ function GeoLayer({
     [selectedCountry, onSelectCountry],
   );
 
+  // react-simple-maps types declare `path` as always defined, but it is
+  // undefined during early renders before the MapProvider context initialises.
+  // Cast through unknown to reflect the true runtime type and guard safely.
+  const safePath = path as unknown as typeof path | null;
+  if (safePath == null) return <></>;
+
   return (
     <>
       {(geographies as { rsmKey: string; id: string | number }[]).map(