Lamar Miller

Here you will find data I used to construct my lollipop chart. The data is based on car makes that owners would rebuy. The source also goes on to show the customers satisfaction scores which was not used for my visualization. I chose this data set because I am a fan of cars and wished to get more data on what models most users prefer. I would recommend using this chart type when you wish to make a lengthy bar chart less visually overwhelming. With this type of chart, we can remove unnecessary marks, ticks and labels that could be seen as distracting. What is also good about this chart is the horizontal line helps the scatter plot relate better to the Y-axis. It draws a viewer’s eyes to the data label without having to search through the visual to determine the relationship.

Lollipop charts offer a unique and visually engaging way to present data, especially when the focus is on comparing specific data points along a single axis, such as categorical or numerical variables. They are often used as an alternative to bar charts when presenting fewer data points because lollipop charts simplify the visual load while emphasizing individual values effectively.

A lollipop chart typically consists of a line extending from the axis to a circular marker at the end, where the marker highlights the exact value, making the comparison across categories straightforward. Unlike bar charts, where the visual weight can become overwhelming due to the solid fill of the bars, lollipop charts use a minimalistic approach that reduces the visual clutter, making them an excellent choice when clarity is prioritized for a dataset.

Lollipop charts are especially useful in scenarios where the audience may have to compare precise values between data points or observe trends without having to process the bulkiness of bars. For example, in the chart below a dataset of percentages of world populations is shown. The data is categorized by country and is shown in ascending order, displaying lower percentages first. Using a lollipop chart for this dataset emphasizes the relative differences in percentages without drawing the viewer’s eye to the “mass” of the data; rather, the data points themselves become the focal points. A lollipop chart is appropriate for complete datasets, but also for one such as this that is a focused subset of a larger amount of data.

Lollipop charts also have the benefit of versatility, as they can be oriented horizontally or vertically depending on the data context and the layout of the presentation. Horizontal lollipop charts are especially helpful when the category names are long, allowing them to be fully displayed without awkward rotations or abbreviated labels, as seen above. Additionally, their form makes lollipop charts adaptable to visual customization. The color and size of the circular markers, for instance, can represent additional variables or highlight specific data points for emphasis.

Ultimately, lollipop charts are well-suited for audiences that require clear, straightforward representations of categorical data with an emphasis on the individual value of each data point. They can be used for complete or partial data sets, and can be customized to best suit the presenter’s or viewer’s needs.

For this data visualization exercise, I created a lollipop chart using the average monthly temperatures in New York City. This chart type, though lesser-known, provides a clean and effective way to present data. It minimizes visual clutter while maintaining accuracy, focusing on the values at the endpoints of each data series, making it an ideal choice for certain data types.

Why Use a Lollipop Chart?

Lollipop charts are a variation of bar charts that simplify the visual representation of data by removing the bars and retaining just the “lollipop” shape, which consists of a dot at the end of a vertical line. This design emphasizes the most crucial part of the data: the endpoint, where the value is represented. By doing so, it eliminates excess “ink” from the chart (i.e., the visual elements that aren’t necessary), creating a minimalist yet effective graph. Lollipop charts are particularly useful when you have many categories to display but don’t want to overwhelm the viewer with dense visuals.

In this example, I used a dataset of New York’s monthly average temperatures for each month of the year. Lollipop charts are ideal for this type of sequential data because they clearly show fluctuations in temperature without the visual bulk of bars filling up the space. Each lollipop (dot) represents the average temperature for that month, while the connecting lines provide a reference for the range, making it easy to compare temperature changes across months.

The Process of Creating the Chart

To create the lollipop chart, I used Excel, which provided a straightforward way to manipulate the data and customize the chart format. I started by inputting the data for New York’s average monthly temperatures. After inserting a simple line chart, I removed the line connecting the points and increased the size of the markers at each data point to resemble lollipops. This method gave the chart a clean and modern look, perfect for drawing attention to the changes in temperature over the year without unnecessary visual noise.

When Should We Use Lollipop Charts?

Lollipop charts are most effective when you need to compare a single variable across categories or time periods, especially when your goal is to highlight the extremes or focus on specific values rather than trends. They are useful for visualizing survey results, ranking data, or time-series information like the monthly temperatures I used in this example. If you’re presenting a lot of data and want to simplify the display, a lollipop chart is a great alternative to the traditional bar chart.

In conclusion, lollipop charts offer a minimalist and efficient way to convey data while maintaining clarity. My visualization of New York’s monthly temperatures shows how this chart type can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, helping viewers focus on the most important data points without distraction.

By Joseph

A lollipop chart is a great way to portray large number values in the form of percentages in a simple and easily understandable way. As you can see by the chart above, the data shows the candy type and the percentage of sales generated by the company. Simply by looking at the chart and using the lollipop visualization, one can tell which values are higher and which ones are lower. Much like a bar graph, a lollipop chart is very straightforward in the data that it is representing, there is not a correlation between data points to be determined nor is there significant distribution between the information given. However, one aspect that can be said to be better than a bar graph would be the fact that a lollipop chart is more efficient when it comes to avoiding a cluttered appearance as a result of many data points. Often times, a data graph can look cluttered as a result of too many data points being represented. Furthermore, a lollipop chart can be somewhat inaccurate without the percentage values being included withing the circles at the tip of the line. As shown by the graph, it is somewhat difficult to tell where the value ends with the circles and what value it represents. With that being said, there will always be pros and cons regardless of what chart one decides to use in order to represent data. A lollipop chart is also a great way to be catch the readers attention with its set of tall columns that are evenly spaced out, but it could also be seen as an inefficient method to portray data trends or comparisons. It is up to the individual to decide what kind of visualization is best for the data that they want to portray.