A cartography of the van der Waals territories has been analyzed by examining the distribution of distances between atoms of a particular element E and a probe atom X (typically oxygen), both in bonded and non-bonded contacts. The distribution is characterized by a peak at short E…X distances corresponding to chemical bonds, followed by a van der Waals gap, and a second peak at longer distances corresponding to van der Waals interactions. Analysis of over five million interatomic distances has led to the proposal of consistent van der Waals radii for most naturally occurring elements, tested against over three million data points. The study highlights the importance of van der Waals radii in understanding molecular and crystal structures, as well as in predicting physical properties like melting points and electrical conductivity. Previous attempts to determine van der Waals radii have been limited in scope and consistency, with Bondi's radii available for only 38 elements and showing no clear periodic trends. Recent studies by Batsanov and Truhlar have expanded the range of elements covered, but the current work aims to establish a comprehensive set of van der Waals radii for as many elements as possible using data from the Cambridge Structural Database. The methodology involves analyzing intermolecular distances to oxygen atoms, with special attention to hydrogen bonding and other intermolecular interactions. The van der Waals radii were determined by fitting distance distributions to a mathematical model that accounts for both van der Waals interactions and random distributions. The results show that van der Waals radii are generally larger than covalent radii, with differences ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 Å. The radii for transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides were determined using alternative probe atoms when necessary. The study reveals periodic trends in van der Waals radii, with some elements showing clear gaps between bonded and non-bonded distances, while others exhibit pseudo-gaps or no gaps at all. The proposed van der Waals radii are compared with those of Bondi and Batsanov, showing good agreement for main group elements but inconsistencies for transition metals. The results provide a more accurate and consistent set of van der Waals radii for most elements, with some uncertainties for heavy elements and actinides. The study underscores the importance of van der Waals radii in understanding intermolecular interactions and their role in chemical and physical properties.A cartography of the van der Waals territories has been analyzed by examining the distribution of distances between atoms of a particular element E and a probe atom X (typically oxygen), both in bonded and non-bonded contacts. The distribution is characterized by a peak at short E…X distances corresponding to chemical bonds, followed by a van der Waals gap, and a second peak at longer distances corresponding to van der Waals interactions. Analysis of over five million interatomic distances has led to the proposal of consistent van der Waals radii for most naturally occurring elements, tested against over three million data points. The study highlights the importance of van der Waals radii in understanding molecular and crystal structures, as well as in predicting physical properties like melting points and electrical conductivity. Previous attempts to determine van der Waals radii have been limited in scope and consistency, with Bondi's radii available for only 38 elements and showing no clear periodic trends. Recent studies by Batsanov and Truhlar have expanded the range of elements covered, but the current work aims to establish a comprehensive set of van der Waals radii for as many elements as possible using data from the Cambridge Structural Database. The methodology involves analyzing intermolecular distances to oxygen atoms, with special attention to hydrogen bonding and other intermolecular interactions. The van der Waals radii were determined by fitting distance distributions to a mathematical model that accounts for both van der Waals interactions and random distributions. The results show that van der Waals radii are generally larger than covalent radii, with differences ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 Å. The radii for transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides were determined using alternative probe atoms when necessary. The study reveals periodic trends in van der Waals radii, with some elements showing clear gaps between bonded and non-bonded distances, while others exhibit pseudo-gaps or no gaps at all. The proposed van der Waals radii are compared with those of Bondi and Batsanov, showing good agreement for main group elements but inconsistencies for transition metals. The results provide a more accurate and consistent set of van der Waals radii for most elements, with some uncertainties for heavy elements and actinides. The study underscores the importance of van der Waals radii in understanding intermolecular interactions and their role in chemical and physical properties.