Chart Pattern · Reference

Map (Geographic)

Choropleth or scatter geo · spatial distribution

Revenue by country · global view

Bubble size = revenue · color = growth · projection: natural earth

✓ When to use

  • Geographic distribution matters (sales by region, outage locations)
  • Showing spatial patterns like clustering or coverage
  • A non-geo audience needs the spatial mental model

✗ Avoid when

  • Fewer than 5 locations — a sorted bar chart is clearer
  • Population-density or economic-base distortion isn't corrected (small dense countries shrink visually)
  • You don't care about the geography — the table will read better

★ Best practice

  • Use bubble size for magnitude, color for a second dimension (growth, status)
  • Pick the right projection (Natural Earth for global, Mercator only for navigation)
  • Always include a legend with scale
  • Provide a sortable table beneath the map for precise reads