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Visualization can be applied to pretty much any field; it helps to tell stories by curating data into a form that's easier to understand, highlighting any trends and outliers. And there's no place on the internet that is as obsessed with it as r/DataIsBeautiful.

The subreddit runs on a simple mission: to collect visualizations that effectively convey information. But the way its 16 million members go about it is anything but. There are no fake numbers, goofball statistics, and trivial analysis—just legitimate facts, portrayed in aesthetically pleasing ways. Such a delicate balance.

We at Bored Panda have already covered it once but when a community is that big, you know it's gonna keep delivering quality content so we just had to make an update. Enjoy!

#2

World Elevation Map, Including Bathymetry (Ocean Floor)

World Elevation Map, Including Bathymetry (Ocean Floor)

JoeWDavies Report

One of the subreddit's moderators, u/PHealthy, took some time out of their day to tell Bored Panda about the latest r/DataIsBeautiful news. "Obviously, these days COVID is a very popular topic, and [our posts] frequently make r/all but really anything topical/trending tends to do well," they explained.

"So for instance, a Nobel prize or school shooting post would probably do well. But a soundly made novel DataViz always tends to do well, e.g. Tyler's recent post. But meta posts can do very well, too. So really it's all about balancing DataViz presentation with the topic being relatable, all the better if it's Reddit-related."

#3

The Massive Decrease In Worldwide Infant Mortality From 1950 To 2020 Is Perhaps One Of Humanity's Greatest Achievements

The Massive Decrease In Worldwide Infant Mortality From 1950 To 2020 Is Perhaps One Of Humanity's Greatest Achievements

abu_doubleu Report

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're white in the U.S., your infant mortality rate is 4.8. If you're Black in the U.S., your infant mortality rate is 10.8. Racism in healthcare is real, and not enough people know that.

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#4

There Are More Cows Than People In The States Colored Blue

There Are More Cows Than People In The States Colored Blue

toddrjones Report

Let's pause and think for a moment. 16 million people is a huge audience. (And I'm not even talking about making it to Reddit's front page). One that many publishers would be proud of. Reaching such a number with just organic growth is proof that people really value r/DataIsBeautiful.

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As my colleague Jonas pointed out in his text, the moderator team is purposefully left as a small group of professionals who focus on data visualization at some part of their lives.

Plus, the subreddit treats its original content creators as "first-class citizens," constantly engaging them and making sure they're credited and acknowledged for their work. As always, we provide a link to each post that we feature as well (you can find it under the pictures), so if you're interested in some particular visualization, follow it to its roots — there's usually an interesting discussion in the comments, too.

"We bring a data-centric view of the world to millions of people every day—from important information about the COVID-19 pandemic all the way to a random dude's daily bowel movements—and our community prides itself in that fact. For example, we had community members posting analyses and projections of COVID-19 trends back in January and February 2020—well before anyone in the U.S. was taking the pandemic seriously. r/DataIsBeautiful is THE place to go when you want to see the signal through the noise of hectic daily life,” one of the moderators explained in the earlier Bored Panda piece.

#5

Countries With A Higher Life Expectancy Than The United States (World Health Organization 2019)

Countries With A Higher Life Expectancy Than The United States (World Health Organization 2019)

TheRedditHike Report

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Anne Mitchell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Notice that the countries with a higher life expectancy all have universal health care and the US does not.

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#6

This Map Shows All Of The Earthquakes With A Magnitude Greater Than 5.0 Over The Last 20 Years

This Map Shows All Of The Earthquakes With A Magnitude Greater Than 5.0 Over The Last 20 Years

symmy546 Report

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Vorknkx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They outline the tectonic plates. This is both beautiful and scary (especilly for people living in the red areas).

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#7

Digital Elevation Model Of Greece

Digital Elevation Model Of Greece

JoeWDavies Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're not just islands and sea! We also have beautiful mountains! It's a quite diverse country :)

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Even with so many members, u/PHealthy believes that r/DataIsBeautiful retains a certain character, "unique to this corner of Reddit in regards to churning out decent DataViz posts. Of course, the creators take center stage with their amazing original content but (not to pat my own back) fairly strict moderation is a big part of keeping the community unique and also keeps the sub from turning into just another garbage re-posting karma farm like a lot of subs on Reddit."

The human brain processes visual information better than it processes text — so the charts, graphs, and other elements found on r/DataIsBeautiful can be very powerful — you understand exactly what they're telling you. Something tells me this isn't the last time we'll feature this awesome subreddit.

#8

The 2020 Election If Only People Under 45 Voted

The 2020 Election If Only People Under 45 Voted

BLAZENIOSZ Report

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Grace Noyes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 60 and a lifelong Democrat. Won't ever vote Republican no matter how many more years I'm here.

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#9

The Highest-Grossing Media Franchises Of All Time

The Highest-Grossing Media Franchises Of All Time

Dremarious Report

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, that Anpanman was a surprise, honestly. Didn't encounter him anywhere outside Korea, to be honest. Not even in Japan itself.

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#10

Each Vertical Band Contains 1% Of The Earth's Population

Each Vertical Band Contains 1% Of The Earth's Population

alexmijowastaken Report

#11

English Alphabet Organised By Each Letter's Note In Abc Song

English Alphabet Organised By Each Letter's Note In Abc Song

william_5 Report

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Jon Steensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find it rather ironic that only the "G" corosponds to its note. The rest of them is sung on a different note than the letter says.

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#12

Average Yearly Sunshine Hours Of Germany

Average Yearly Sunshine Hours Of Germany

mate-g Report

#13

Who Makes More: Teachers Or Cops?

Who Makes More: Teachers Or Cops?

academiaadvice Report

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fascinating! The areas with the better paid teachers (comparatively) have some of the lowest graduation rates... They also have some of the highest police brutality rates.

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#14

Google Searches For Different Emotions During Each Hour Of The Day And Night

Google Searches For Different Emotions During Each Hour Of The Day And Night

desfirsit Report

#15

"What Is One Country That You Will Never Visit Again?" Answers From R/Askreddit

"What Is One Country That You Will Never Visit Again?" Answers From R/Askreddit

stkfig Report

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parmadillo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is somewhat misleading, as the very worst countries are ones no one visited in the first place.

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#17

Comparing Emissions Sources - How To Shrink Your Carbon Footprint More Effectively

Comparing Emissions Sources - How To Shrink Your Carbon Footprint More Effectively

lfg10101 Report

#18

35% Of "Entry-Level" Jobs On Linkedin Require 3+ Years Of Experience

35% Of "Entry-Level" Jobs On Linkedin Require 3+ Years Of Experience

brixu Report

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's fine if your job isn't an entry-level job, but then it shouldn't be paying entry-level wages.

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#19

Where Are The World's Airports? This Map Shows Locations Of The Worlds Airports And Heliports

Where Are The World's Airports? This Map Shows Locations Of The Worlds Airports And Heliports

symmy546 Report

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Josie Bisbano
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This map doesn't check out. There are not this many designated airports in the US, and some countries that aren't very populous are showing dense airport locations. While it's true that many aircraft can land outside airports, the spots on this map is not showing where those places are ample. I don't believe this map, as someone studying US airport directory maps as a student pilot.

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#20

Where Can You Afford To Live On The Minimum Wage In The United States?

Where Can You Afford To Live On The Minimum Wage In The United States?

loveandwars Report

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Cactus McCoy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, there is not one state in which you can afford to live on the minimum wage?

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#21

Knight Moves - A Simple Table I Made Showing The Importance Of Keeping Your Knights Near The Middle Of The Chessboard

Knight Moves - A Simple Table I Made Showing The Importance Of Keeping Your Knights Near The Middle Of The Chessboard

IconicIsotope Report

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Anggi Santika
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not a chess player, but why would you put your knight at the corner? Considering how it moves, corner is the worst place.

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#22

The Top 15 Countries (Apart From Sweden) In Which The People Who Currently Live In Sweden Were Born

The Top 15 Countries (Apart From Sweden) In Which The People Who Currently Live In Sweden Were Born

desfirsit Report

#23

California Is The World's 5th Largest Economy. Here Are The Top 5

California Is The World's 5th Largest Economy. Here Are The Top 5

JPAnalyst Report

#24

Maps Showing Water Shortages During May Have Become Increasingly Extreme In California

Maps Showing Water Shortages During May Have Become Increasingly Extreme In California

sdbernard Report

#25

Yearly Road Deaths Per Million People Across The US And The EU. This Calculation Includes Drivers, Passengers, And Pedestrians Who Died In Car, Motorcycle, Bus, And Bicycle Accidents. 2018-2019 Data

Yearly Road Deaths Per Million People Across The US And The EU. This Calculation Includes Drivers, Passengers, And Pedestrians Who Died In Car, Motorcycle, Bus, And Bicycle Accidents. 2018-2019 Data

maps_us_eu Report

#26

Capitol Insurrection Arrests Per Million People By State

Capitol Insurrection Arrests Per Million People By State

reddit.com Report

#27

Wordcloud Of Angela Merkel From Her Speeches Of Last 4 Years

Wordcloud Of Angela Merkel From Her Speeches Of Last 4 Years

AyyBeeShafi Report

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Kesam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So the German chancellor uses the word Germany a lot. Quelle surprise! 😄

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#28

If All 533 Million Compromised Facebook Accounts Were A Country

If All 533 Million Compromised Facebook Accounts Were A Country

Iwontberedditfamous Report

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Beth Sito
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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#29

What If You Bought $100 Worth Of X A Year Ago?

What If You Bought $100 Worth Of X A Year Ago?

theimpossiblesalad Report

#30

Movies With The Greatest Difference Between Rotten Tomatoes Critic And Audience Ratings

Movies With The Greatest Difference Between Rotten Tomatoes Critic And Audience Ratings

lookatnum Report

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Peppy Piplup
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm pretty sure that Captain Marvel was review bombed before the movie was even released, which explains the audience rating....

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Note: this post originally had 47 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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