Country Map with Bubbles

A world map may use bubbles to show relative measurement values for countries.

The following steps demonstrate how to create a new map visual on the dataset World Life Expectancy [data source samples.world_life_expectancy]. It produces bubbles with area that corresponds to the relative population in each country.

  1. Start a new visual based on dataset World Life Expectancy [data source samples.world_life_expectancy]; see Creating Visuals.
  2. In the visuals menu, find and click map, the sixth choice on the third row.

  3. Note that the shelves of the visual changed. They are now X, Y, Geo, Measures, Tooltips, and Filters.

    The only mandatory shelf for map visuals is Geo.

    shelves of map visual type

  4. Populate the shelves from the available fields (Dimensions, Measures, and so on) in the Data menu.

    • Under Dimensions, select country and drag it over the Geo shelf on the main part of the screen. Drop to add it to the shelf.
    • Under Measures, select population and drag it over the Measures shelf on the main part of the screen. Drop to add it to the shelf.
  5. On the shelf, on sum(population) field, click the icon (down arrow), select Aggregates, and then select Remove Aggregate.

  6. Note that the shelf now contains the modified field population.

  7. Click Refresh Visual.

    The map visual graph appears.

  8. [Optional] On the Tooltips shelf, add several fields from Dimensions and Measures.

    This enables you to see specific descriptive information in your visuals, such as input values, segment affiliation, and calculations.

    For example,

    • From Dimensions, drag un_subregion, un_region, and year onto the Tooltips shelf.
    • For all items on the Tooltips shelf, click the icon (down arrow), select Aggregates, and then select Remove Aggregate.
  9. Alias these fields: country as Country, un_subregion as UN Subregion, un_region as UN Region, and year as Year. Use these steps to assign each alias:

    • On the shelf of the visual, click the icon to the right of the field.

    • In the Field Properties menu, click the icon next to Alias.

    • In the text box below Alias, enter the alias name of column, as it should appear in the visual.

    • Click icon at the top of the Field Properties menu to close it.

    • Note that the shelf now shows the column with its alias name.

  10. For Population, click the icon (down arrow), select Display Format, and enter ,.
  11. [Optional] Enable panning and zooming option, as described in Customizing Zoom.
  12. [Optional] Change the color palette to blue, as described in Change Color Palette.
  13. Change the map from choropleth to bubble marks, as described in Displaying Bubbles on Maps.
  14. Click Refresh Visual.

    The map visual appears. You can move the visual (pan), zoom in and out, and see the details in the Tooltips text.

    Notice that the bubbles are very large, and it is difficult to see which bubble represents each country.

  15. Change the size of the bubbles to the range 1-30, as described in Changing the Mark Size Range.
  16. Click Refresh Visual.

    Notice that the relative size of bubbles is smaller, and there is less overlap.

  17. Click (pencil icon) next to the title of the visualization to edit it, and enter the new name.

  18. Change the title to World Population - Map with Bubbles.
  19. At the top left corner of the Visual Designer, click Save.