Embark on a captivating journey through the intricate world of Excel map creation. This step-by-step guide will escort you from the initial concept to the dazzling final map. We will equip you with sample data, demonstrate the seamless integration into Excel, and unveil the art of crafting visually striking maps.
Are you ready? Let’s dive in!
Data Preparation
Before delving into the world of Excel maps, it’s essential to prepare your data optimally for the mapping adventure. Take a moment to consider the following:
Excel exhibits a remarkable capability to recognize geographic data in various forms, such as countries, states, or counties. As long as you possess a column with a geography data type, Excel can bring it to life on your map. However, do keep in mind that there might be some limitations on what you can represent.
In our illustrative example, we are working with data on countries and their respective GDP, each residing in separate columns. To follow along, simply highlight the table below. Afterward, effortlessly copy and paste it into your Excel spreadsheet to initiate the data import.
Creating Your Choropleth Masterpiece
Now that you have your sample data neatly arranged in Excel, it’s time to set your artistic inclinations free and create your very own choropleth map. Here’s how:
Begin by selecting both the country and GDP columns. This forms the foundation of your map.
With the data selected, navigate to the “Insert” tab and click on the “Filled map” option. Your map will take shape, utilizing the data you’ve thoughtfully chosen.
If you’ve followed these steps diligently, your map should closely resemble the choropleth map displayed below.
Personalizing Your Map
Having crafted your choropleth map, it’s time to infuse your unique style into it. The “Chart Design” tab is your playground for customization, offering a myriad of options:
- Color Palette: If the default color scheme doesn’t resonate with your vision, take advantage of the “Change Colors” feature to select a palette that speaks to you.
- Quick Layouts: Modify the map’s appearance swiftly by repositioning the legend to the right or left or adding labels. Please note that in our example, some labels may be challenging to discern due to lengthy values.
- Chart Styles: Adjust the map’s background and overall style to your liking through the “chart styles” functionality. In the map below, we’ve chosen a dark gray background and a blue color palette for a unique aesthetic.
In Summary: Excel Maps
Excel maps provide an accessible and powerful means of visualizing geographical data. In this visual medium, different areas of a map are represented by varying shades, each signifying a specific value—such as GDP by country in our case.
Creating Excel maps is a simpler endeavor than you might imagine. With a few fundamental steps, you’ve acquired the skills to craft a map in Excel that elegantly portrays GDP by country. The outcomes are not only effective but also offer readers a visual narrative.
For further insights, explore Microsoft’s comprehensive guide on crafting map charts in Excel. Additionally, we offer a sample worksheet featuring map chart examples for your reference.
Sample Data
Would you like to replicate the Excel map showcased here? Utilize our sample data to embark on your own choropleth map adventure: Download Excel
| Rank | Country | GDP |
| 1 | United States | $19,485,394,000,000 |
| 2 | China | $12,237,700,000,000 |
| 3 | Japan | $4,872,415,000,000 |
| 4 | Germany | $3,693,204,000,000 |
| 5 | India | $2,650,725,000,000 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | $2,637,866,000,000 |
| 7 | France | $2,582,501,000,000 |
| 8 | Brazil | $2,053,595,000,000 |
| 9 | Italy | $1,943,835,000,000 |
| 10 | Canada | $1,647,120,000,000 |
| 11 | Russia | $1,578,417,000,000 |
| 12 | South Korea | $1,530,751,000,000 |
| 13 | Australia | $1,323,421,000,000 |
| 14 | Spain | $1,314,314,000,000 |
| 15 | Mexico | $1,150,888,000,000 |
| 16 | Indonesia | $1,015,421,000,000 |
| 17 | Turkey | $851,549,000,000 |
| 18 | Netherlands | $830,573,000,000 |
| 19 | Saudi Arabia | $686,738,000,000 |
| 20 | Switzerland | $678,965,000,000 |
| 21 | Argentina | $637,430,000,000 |
| 22 | Sweden | $535,607,000,000 |
| 23 | Poland | $526,466,000,000 |
| 24 | Belgium | $494,764,000,000 |
| 25 | Thailand | $455,303,000,000 |
| 26 | Iran | $454,013,000,000 |
| 27 | Austria | $416,836,000,000 |
| 28 | Norway | $399,489,000,000 |
| 29 | United Arab Emirates | $382,575,000,000 |
| 30 | Nigeria | $375,745,000,000 |
| 31 | Israel | $353,268,000,000 |
| 32 | South Africa | $348,872,000,000 |
| 33 | Hong Kong | $341,449,000,000 |
| 34 | Ireland | $331,430,000,000 |
| 35 | Denmark | $329,866,000,000 |
| 36 | Singapore | $323,907,000,000 |
| 37 | Malaysia | $314,710,000,000 |
| 38 | Colombia | $314,458,000,000 |
| 39 | Philippines | $313,595,000,000 |
| 40 | Pakistan | $304,952,000,000 |
| 41 | Chile | $277,076,000,000 |
| 42 | Finland | $252,302,000,000 |
| 43 | Bangladesh | $249,724,000,000 |
| 44 | Egypt | $235,369,000,000 |
| 45 | Vietnam | $223,780,000,000 |
| 46 | Portugal | $219,308,000,000 |
| 47 | Czech Republic (Czechia) | $215,914,000,000 |
| 48 | Romania | $211,884,000,000 |
| 49 | Peru | $211,389,000,000 |
| 50 | New Zealand | $204,139,000,000 |
| 51 | Greece | $203,086,000,000 |
| 52 | Iraq | $192,061,000,000 |
| 53 | Algeria | $167,555,000,000 |
| 54 | Qatar | $166,929,000,000 |
| 55 | Kazakhstan | $162,887,000,000 |
| 56 | Hungary | $139,761,000,000 |
| 57 | Angola | $122,124,000,000 |
| 58 | Kuwait | $120,126,000,000 |
| 59 | Sudan | $117,488,000,000 |
| 60 | Ukraine | $112,154,000,000 |
| 61 | Morocco | $109,709,000,000 |
| 62 | Ecuador | $104,296,000,000 |
| 63 | Cuba | $96,851,000,000 |
| 64 | Slovakia | $95,618,000,000 |
| 65 | Sri Lanka | $87,357,000,000 |
| 66 | Ethiopia | $80,561,000,000 |
| 67 | Kenya | $79,263,000,000 |
| 68 | Dominican Republic | $75,932,000,000 |
| 69 | Guatemala | $75,620,000,000 |
| 70 | Oman | $70,784,000,000 |
| 71 | Myanmar | $67,069,000,000 |
| 72 | Luxembourg | $62,316,000,000 |
| 73 | Panama | $62,284,000,000 |
| 74 | Ghana | $58,997,000,000 |
| 75 | Bulgaria | $58,221,000,000 |
| 76 | Costa Rica | $57,286,000,000 |
| 77 | Uruguay | $56,157,000,000 |
| 78 | Croatia | $55,213,000,000 |
| 79 | Belarus | $54,456,000,000 |
| 80 | Lebanon | $53,577,000,000 |
| 81 | Tanzania | $53,321,000,000 |
| 82 | Macao | $50,361,000,000 |
| 83 | Uzbekistan | $49,677,000,000 |
| 84 | Slovenia | $48,770,000,000 |
| 85 | Lithuania | $47,544,000,000 |
| 86 | Serbia | $41,432,000,000 |
| 87 | Azerbaijan | $40,748,000,000 |
| 88 | Jordan | $40,068,000,000 |
| 89 | Tunisia | $39,952,000,000 |
| 90 | Paraguay | $39,667,000,000 |
| 91 | Libya | $38,108,000,000 |
| 92 | Turkmenistan | $37,926,000,000 |
| 93 | DR Congo | $37,642,000,000 |
| 94 | Bolivia | $37,509,000,000 |
| 95 | Côte d’Ivoire | $37,353,000,000 |
| 96 | Bahrain | $35,433,000,000 |
| 97 | Cameroon | $34,923,000,000 |
| 98 | Yemen | $31,268,000,000 |
| 99 | Latvia | $30,463,000,000 |
| 100 | Estonia | $26,612,000,000 |
| 101 | Uganda | $25,995,000,000 |
| 102 | Zambia | $25,868,000,000 |
| 103 | Nepal | $24,880,000,000 |
| 104 | El Salvador | $24,805,000,000 |
| 105 | Iceland | $24,488,000,000 |
| 106 | Honduras | $22,979,000,000 |
| 107 | Cambodia | $22,158,000,000 |
| 108 | Trinidad and Tobago | $22,079,000,000 |
| 109 | Cyprus | $22,054,000,000 |
| 110 | Zimbabwe | $22,041,000,000 |
| 111 | Senegal | $21,070,000,000 |
| 112 | Papua New Guinea | $20,536,000,000 |
| 113 | Afghanistan | $19,544,000,000 |
| 114 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $18,055,000,000 |
| 115 | Botswana | $17,407,000,000 |
| 116 | Laos | $16,853,000,000 |
| 117 | Mali | $15,334,000,000 |
| 118 | Georgia | $15,081,000,000 |
| 119 | Gabon | $15,014,000,000 |
| 120 | Jamaica | $14,781,000,000 |
| 121 | State of Palestine | $14,498,000,000 |
| 122 | Nicaragua | $13,814,000,000 |
| 123 | Mauritius | $13,266,000,000 |
| 124 | Namibia | $13,254,000,000 |
| 125 | Albania | $13,039,000,000 |
| 126 | Mozambique | $12,646,000,000 |
| 127 | Malta | $12,518,000,000 |
| 128 | Burkina Faso | $12,323,000,000 |
| 129 | Equatorial Guinea | $12,294,000,000 |
| 130 | Bahamas | $12,162,000,000 |
| 131 | Brunei | $12,128,000,000 |
| 132 | Armenia | $11,537,000,000 |
| 133 | Madagascar | $11,500,000,000 |
| 134 | Mongolia | $11,434,000,000 |
| 135 | North Macedonia | $11,280,000,000 |
| 136 | Guinea | $10,473,000,000 |
| 137 | Chad | $9,871,000,000 |
| 138 | Benin | $9,247,000,000 |
| 139 | Rwanda | $9,135,000,000 |
| 140 | Congo | $8,701,000,000 |
| 141 | Haiti | $8,408,000,000 |
| 142 | Moldova | $8,128,000,000 |
| 143 | Niger | $8,120,000,000 |
| 144 | Kyrgyzstan | $7,565,000,000 |
| 145 | Tajikistan | $7,146,000,000 |
| 146 | Malawi | $6,303,000,000 |
| 147 | Guam | $5,859,000,000 |
| 148 | Fiji | $5,061,000,000 |
| 149 | Mauritania | $5,025,000,000 |
| 150 | Maldives | $4,866,000,000 |
| 151 | Montenegro | $4,845,000,000 |
| 152 | Togo | $4,758,000,000 |
| 153 | Barbados | $4,674,000,000 |
| 154 | Eswatini | $4,434,000,000 |
| 155 | Sierra Leone | $3,775,000,000 |
| 156 | Guyana | $3,621,000,000 |
| 157 | Liberia | $3,285,000,000 |
| 158 | Burundi | $3,172,000,000 |
| 159 | Andorra | $3,013,000,000 |
| 160 | Suriname | $2,996,000,000 |
| 161 | Timor-Leste | $2,955,000,000 |
| 162 | Aruba | $2,701,000,000 |
| 163 | Lesotho | $2,578,000,000 |
| 164 | Bhutan | $2,528,000,000 |
| 165 | Central African Republic | $1,949,000,000 |
| 166 | Belize | $1,863,000,000 |
| 167 | Cabo Verde | $1,773,000,000 |
| 168 | Saint Lucia | $1,738,000,000 |
| 169 | San Marino | $1,633,000,000 |
| 170 | Northern Mariana Islands | $1,593,000,000 |
| 171 | Antigua and Barbuda | $1,510,000,000 |
| 172 | Seychelles | $1,498,000,000 |
| 173 | Gambia | $1,489,000,000 |
| 174 | Guinea-Bissau | $1,347,000,000 |
| 175 | Solomon Islands | $1,303,000,000 |
| 176 | Grenada | $1,127,000,000 |
| 177 | Comoros | $1,068,000,000 |
| 178 | Saint Kitts & Nevis | $992,000,000 |
| 179 | Vanuatu | $863,000,000 |
| 180 | Samoa | $841,000,000 |
| 181 | St. Vincent & Grenadines | $785,000,000 |
| 182 | American Samoa | $634,000,000 |
| 183 | Dominica | $497,000,000 |
| 184 | Tonga | $428,000,000 |
| 185 | Sao Tome & Principe | $393,000,000 |
| 186 | Micronesia | $336,000,000 |
| 187 | Palau | $290,000,000 |
| 188 | Marshall Islands | $204,000,000 |
| 189 | Kiribati | $186,000,000 |
| 190 | Tuvalu | $40,000,000 |
