Education and Learning
Types of infographics
Most infographics fall into a handful of types. Knowing which one fits your data makes the design easier to plan and easier to read. Here are the six you will see most often, each with real examples from our site.
Map infographics
Data laid over a map, so you can compare places at a glance: countries, states, cities or routes.
When to use one
Use a map when the place is the point of the story, for example how prices, laws, habits or languages change from one country to the next.
Environment and Energy
Largest Oil Reserves by Country, the Top 10 Ranked
Finance and Economy
Turkey GDP Per Capita by Province, 2004 to 2023
Health and Fitness
Circumcision Rates by Country, Map of the World
Timeline infographics
Events or changes set out in date order, so you can see how something developed over years or centuries.
When to use one
Use a timeline when the order of events matters: the history of a product, a sport, a city or an idea.
Comparison infographics
Two or more things side by side, so the differences and similarities stand out.
When to use one
Use a comparison when your reader is choosing between options or wants to know how two things differ.
People and Society
China Population Pyramid 2023 Compared With India
Finance and Economy
US Stock Market Cap Leaders vs Global Stock Markets, August 2024
Statistical infographics
Rankings, shares and totals drawn as charts, so the biggest and smallest are easy to spot.
When to use one
Use a statistical layout when the numbers are the story and your reader needs to see their size at a glance.
Internet and Social Media
Top 20 Most Liked Instagram Posts, Led by Messi and the Egg
People and Society
Color Last Names Ranked, From Brown and White to Yellow
Entertainment
Best Selling Album of All Time and the Top 50 by EAS
Process and how-to infographics
Steps in order, with what to do at each one.
When to use one
Use a process layout when you are explaining how to do something or how something works.
List infographics
A set of facts, tips or examples on one subject, each with a short explanation.
When to use one
Use a list when you have several separate points that do not need a chart, such as facts, tips or inventions.
Entertainment
Types of Dragons in Myth and Fantasy
Fashion and Lifestyle
25 Types of Dresses, Named and Described
Education and Learning
12 Logical Fallacies in Debate, Each With a Robot Example
Health and Fitness
Sperm Nutrition Facts, Checked Against Medical Sources
Which type should you choose?
Start from your data. If it is about places, use a map. If it is about change over time, use a timeline. If it compares options, put them side by side. If the numbers are the story, chart them. If it explains how to do something, set out the steps. If it is a set of separate points, make a list.
More articles
What Is An Infographic?
What an infographic is, where the word comes from and what makes one work, with a short history of the format.
How To Cite An Infographic – Straightforward Instructions
How to cite an infographic in your own work, and how to credit the sources behind an infographic you make.
How To Make An Infographic In Word
A step-by-step guide to making an infographic in Microsoft Word when it is the only tool you have.
Made an infographic?
Give it a permanent page where people looking for your subject find it, with your name and a link to your site. Content marketers, agencies, designers and researchers all list here.