How to Create a Geographical Map Chart in Microsoft Excel


Map Chart in Microsoft Excel

Charts are beneficial for visual shows of your knowledge. They can make viewing and examining knowledge simpler, primarily for your audience. So for geographical details, why not use the map chart form in Microsoft Excel?

No matter if you want to show populations in numerous nations around the world for your gross sales crew or abbreviations for the United States for your elementary university class, you can generate a map chart conveniently in Microsoft Excel. You can then structure it with labels, a legend, and an proper color scheme.

Get Your Knowledge Prepared

Like with other chart styles in Microsoft Excel, it’s very best to begin with populated knowledge. This enables you to pick out the cells that contains that details and basically insert the chart for it.

Decide on a single info type for the map. Like the illustrations detailed over, this can be the populace or abbreviation that you can attain from the developed-in geography information style in Excel. Or, alternately, it may be your revenue amounts, quantity of suppliers, ordinary functioning fees, or other data you have presently well prepared in your spreadsheet.

Although you can use the chart for more compact locations, this sort of as metropolitan areas, the map won’t be as productive. You’ll only see dots representing all those styles of places. The map chart in Excel functions ideal with huge locations like counties, states, locations, international locations, and continents.

Produce the Map Chart

When you are all set to build the map chart, pick out your details by dragging through the cells, open the “Insert” tab, and transfer to the “Charts” portion of the ribbon. Click the fall-down for “Maps” and pick “Filled Map.”

Your newly designed chart will pop proper on to your sheet with your details mapped.

Structure the Map Chart

The upcoming measures incorporate formatting your map to consist of handy factors and a coloration scheme. You can add a title, some labels, a legend, and a design.

Insert a Title

If your map has the default “Chart Title,” you can simply just click on that text box on the map and variety in your own title. If the map does not include things like a title, you can incorporate one particular easily as nicely as modifying its place.

Choose the chart and simply click “Chart Elements” (“+” icon) on the appropriate. Test the box for “Chart Title,” then enter the title in the text box that seems on the map.

Hover your cursor about the arrow to the appropriate of “Chart Title” in the Chart Factors box and choose a various situation for the title if you like.

You can also decide on “More Title Alternatives,” which will display screen a sidebar on the right. In this location, you can decide on the place, use a fill shade, or implement a text outline.

Include things like Information Labels

If the information you’re displaying on the map is little more than enough, you may want to consist of knowledge labels. These will demonstrate the data directly on just about every map area.

Pick out the chart and click on “Chart Elements” on the appropriate. Examine the box for “Data Labels.”

To change the textual content and selections for the labels, select “More Data Label Alternatives.” Like with the chart title, the proper-hand sidebar will open up with formatting capabilities for the labels.

Insert a Legend

One particular additional handy component for nearly any chart is a legend. This practical tool is a vital to the data that displays on the chart.

Find the chart and click on “Chart Elements” on the proper. Test the box for “Legend.”

Hover your cursor around the arrow to the ideal of “Legend” in the Chart Elements box and decide on a placement for the legend.

You can also decide on “More Legend Options” to open the sidebar and format the text and supplemental selections.

Apply a Model

The map chart is quite fundamental in its shade, but you can spruce it up with a theme or color scheme.

Select the chart and simply click “Chart Styles” (observed on the paintbrush) on the right. Click on “Styles” to scroll by means of premade themes or “Color” to decide on a vibrant or monochromatic plan.

Whichever you opt for, you are going to see your map update straight away.

Transfer, Resize, Edit, or Delete the Map

You can easily move the map chart any place you want on your sheet. Just select and drag it to its new location. If you want to avoid variations, you can lock the Microsoft Excel chart in location. And to resize the chart, drag a person of the corners or edges.

To edit the knowledge that displays on the map, for illustration, if you increase far more spots, correct-click on the chart and click “Select Facts.” Alternatively, you can go to the “Chart Design” tab and simply click “Select Data” in the ribbon.

Enter the cells in the “Chart Details Range” box at the best, or drag your cursor by way of the cells. Click on “OK” when you complete.

If you choose that you don’t want to use the map chart soon after all, you can clear away it effortlessly. Choose the chart and strike your Delete critical or ideal-click on and pick “Cut.”


If you want to show geographical facts on your Excel sheet, the map chart is a fantastic visible tool. For other kinds of knowledge, consider a search at how to make a bar chart in Microsoft Excel.

Linked: How to Make a Bar Chart in Microsoft Excel

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