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Mapping Data

Updated May 19, 2024 ·

Geographic Data​

Maps help visualize location-based data, which makes it easier to spot patterns and make informed decisions. Tableau supports different types of geographic visualizations.

Types of Maps​

Filled Maps​

Colors entire geographic regions based on data. For example, different states in a country can be shaded according to population density.

Symbol Maps​

Uses symbols placed at the center of regions to represent data points. For instance, a circle in each state can indicate the number of hospitals.

Recognized Geographic Types​

Tableau automatically assigns coordinates (geocoding) to various geographic data types, including:

  • Countries, states, and provinces worldwide
  • US counties and congressional districts
  • Cities and postal codes
  • US area codes

Creating a Symbol Map​

In this example, we’ll use a dataset from the World Health Organization (WHO) to analyze past global health statistics.

Download the workbook here: 2_1_WHO_health_stats_symbol_map.twbx

We'll start with mapping the lung cancer cases by country.

  1. Add Geographic Data

    • Drag the Country field to the view.

    • Tableau automatically add it to Details card in the Marks shelf.

    • It also generates latitude and longitude.

  2. Filter by Year

    • Add the Year field to the FIlters shelf.

    • Set the filter to 2008 to focus on the latest data.

  3. Size by Measure

    • Drag Lung Cancer Cases to Size on the Marks card.

    • Larger circles indicate more cases.

    • To increase circle size, click Size and adjust slider.

  4. Color by Population Growth

    • Drag Population Growth to Color .
    • Change aggregation to Average.
    • Take note of the following:

      • Positive growth: Blue

      • Negative growth: Orange

  5. Improve Visibility

    • Click Color, add a black border, and remove the halo for clarity.

    • Adjust the map: Open Map Layers, deselect Land Cover, and select Coastline.