A picture speaks louder than words, but only if it’s the right picture. Here we share 9 examples of infographics that powerfully communicate insightful new understandings about our world.
1) Where we donate vs. diseases that kill us
This simple yet powerful graphic from VOX shows what charities get the most donations, right next to the diseases that kill us most frequently. The motivation behind any donation is highly personal, but compelling graphics like these can steer funds in the most needed direction.
2) Of the top 10 native languages spoken, English doesn’t even come 3rd
While the English language trails behind Mandarin, Hindi and Spanish in total native speakers, English is the world’s most popular language to learn. Worldwide, approximately 1.8 billion people speak the language. (Source: Funders and Founders)
3) Just about everyone thinks CEOs make too much money
Here the Harvard Business School shares how much people think the average unskilled worker should earn compared to a company’s CEO. The results plotted on their chart are clear: everyone thinks CEOs should be earning less (even people in Taiwan, who responded with a high ratio of 20:1).
For a very healthy dose of reality, see their chart showing how these numbers compare to what CEOs actually make.
4) Ben Franklin did rise and sleep early, but that’s not what all geniuses do
Based on the much praised book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey, this graphic by New York magazine charts the sleeping habits of 27 creative geniuses. It just goes to show that not everyone works best on the same schedule.
5) How to hack a drought
With our home California seriously short on water, it’s been important to take steps to conserve what we have left. That doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. Our animated infographic shows 7 simple ways to save water. See just how serious the drought is in our heat maps of the very dry state.
6) What happens one hour after drinking a can of coke?
The answer is “nothing very good.” This graphic details some of the not-so-sweet things that happen to your body after ingesting a simple can of coke (since it went massively viral, this graphic also illustrates the shareable power of a simple graphic and text).
7) Bill Gates simple statement on child mortality
Just days ago Bill Gates surprised the Reddit community by posting a simple graphic in support of his humanitarian work. What his graphic shows is even more surprising: 80% of deaths of children under age five are preventable.
8) It’s never too late to start a new career
Read the inspiring stories of companies like KFC, Zynga and Home Depot and you’ll find a founder who achieved success later in life. As this interactive infographic reveals, many of the Forbes Top 2000 hit their stride well after their 20s.
9) Out of all the humans that have ever lived, a huge proportion are alive today
This hourglass graphic (credited to National Geographic) shows each grain as 10 million people. The world’s population has grown by over 5 billion people since 1900, and now sits somewhere above 7 billion.
Originally posted 2015-09-26 13:00:22.
