How Not to Visualize Data

According to the Wall Street Journal, the US spends a great deal of healthcare. See for yourself:

Interesting stuff, but this is an absolutely terrible way to visualize data. The word morass comes to mind. Can you tell how Mexico has changed over time? I sure can’t. I can only make out a few of the countries here. What’s more, Ireland and Mexico share the same color. Which is which?

I could go on all day.

Simon Says

Visual Organizations understand that less is often more. Increase the y-axis and decrease the number of countries. People might actually be able to read this.

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