Human Progress contains close to 3,000 distinct datasets, most of which can be visualized as a Line Chart, Map, Bar Chart, Scatterplot and Connected Scatterplot. You can also compare one country with another using the Calculation Table or analyze the raw data in our Data Table. All our datasets can be downloaded as static images, GIFs, and CSV files. They can also be shared on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Reddit, or sent via email.
Note that most of our datasets deal with long-term global trends. For example, this dataset of infant mortality rates covers the period between 1960 and 2020 in almost 200 countries. You can interact with these datasets in many ways. Using our workspace, you can choose from a variety of visualizations, pick different countries and regions, select specific time periods, and so on. However, some datasets are less comprehensive (e.g., the price of U.S. airline tickets). These datasets are still useful in documenting human progress, but they do not allow for much user interactivity.
Below you can find a few short videos showing our data interface’s most basic features.
You can begin by interacting with the “Toolbar” to select your visualization parameters. Click the “Primary Dataset” option to explore close to 3,000 of our distinct datasets. You can find specific datasets by browsing our topic structure or using the search bar.
Use the “Countries & Region” dropdown menu to select specific countries or regions.
The “Format” option allows you to choose between various chart types, including our heatmap, which can switch between multiple color settings.
Most of the visualization types include the “Play” feature that allows you to see how indicators change over time.
Our new data interface allows you to compare datasets by visualizing them on a scatterplot or a connected scatterplot. Use the “Secondary Dataset” option to see how two variables correlate with one another. Yes, you can also view the indicators’ correlation over time by pressing the play button.
Our “Advanced Settings” allow you to further modify the visualization, such as changing whether it shows all countries or only the ones you selected.
You can also adjust the start and end of either chart axis.
By clicking the download icon, you can easily export social media-ready images of the visualization you created, or even an embeddable version for your blog or website. The “Download GIF” option converts your chart into an animated GIF.
You can also “Share” your visualization on social media or by simply copying the URL.