Overview
Bubble charts allow for the visualization of three or four dimensions of data in a single 2D plot: X-position, Y-position, Bubble Size, and Bubble Color. They are effective for showing relationships between variables while also highlighting the relative importance or scale of each point.
Best Practices
- Scale bubbles by area, not diameter, to avoid misleading the viewer.
- Use transparency so that overlapping bubbles are still visible.
- Provide a legend for bubble size and color.
Use Cases
- Comparing countries by GDP (X), Life Expectancy (Y), and Population (Size).