Presenting gender statistics

SOME IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS

• As with tables, graphs also need a number and a title describing the subject and coverage. Depending on the context, you might consider a title that spells out the purpose of the graph.
• Charts must be labelled accurately, clearly, and completely. The scale of each axis, units, categories, and the reference years should always be indicated.
• Scale: each axis should always start at zero. When there is reason to start at a higher value, a break in the axis should indicate the missing part. The same scale must be kept when comparing charts, and should figure throughout the publication for the same variables or units. There should never be two scales used on the same axis for different categories. In the event of outliers, the gap should be clearly indicated (e.g. in a bar chart with a broken bar).
• Units: labels of axes should be as small as possible in magnitude. For example, when expressing 'millions', the labels should read 1, 2, 3, …, and the unit indicator "million". Digits with too many decimal places are also to be avoided.
• Reference years should be written out with four digits, e.g. 1985.
• Categories should be labelled inside the graph, and legends should be avoided as they decrease legibility.
• The same symbols/lines/colours should indicate the same characteristics or units throughout the publication as this helps the reader identify the data. For instance, if men are indicated with a continuous line and women with a dotted line, the same distinction should figure on all charts;
• Colours are ideal in helping to distinguish bars and lines on charts with many categories. If only black and white are being used, shades of grey can help distinguishing between the two. When using shades of grey, the intensity of the different greys should allow for a clear distinction