What is Gapminder?
Gapminder is a Swedish educational foundation that works against common misconceptions about global trends. Its site mixes short quizzes on topics such as extreme poverty, migration and electricity access with data tools that show how the world has changed. You can see how your answers compare with what the data says.
Its best-known tool is the animated bubble chart, which plots countries against measures like income and life expectancy over time. The site also has Dollar Street, which shows everyday life in homes at different income levels, plus age pyramids, maps, income mountains, videos and teaching materials. The material is free to reuse under a Creative Commons licence.
Main Features
- Animated bubble chart for comparing countries over time
- Line charts, age pyramids, maps and income mountains
- Quizzes that test what you believe about global trends
- Dollar Street photos of daily life at different income levels
- Free teaching materials for classrooms
- Videos and talks explaining the data
- Creative Commons licence on its free material
How to Get Started with Gapminder
- Open gapminder.org in your browser.
- Try a quiz from the home page to see where your assumptions are off.
- Open Resources and choose Tools.
- Start the bubble chart and press play to watch the years change.
- Use the teaching materials or Dollar Street if you are preparing a lesson.
Gapminder Pricing
Gapminder is completely free. The foundation states that its tools and teaching materials are free and always will be, and it is supported by donations.
Who Should Use It?
- Teachers explaining global development
- Students learning to read data
- Presenters who want a clear animated chart
- Anyone who wants to test their picture of the world
Gapminder Alternatives
- The Climb turns wealth inequality into an interactive story.
- Parable of the Polygons explains how small biases add up to segregation, through a playable model.
- The Pudding publishes visual essays built around data and culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gapminder free?
Yes. Its tools and teaching materials are free, and the foundation says they always will be. There is an optional donation.
Who runs Gapminder?
An independent Swedish foundation with no political, religious or economic affiliations.
Can I use Gapminder material in my own work?
Yes. Its free material is under a Creative Commons Attribution licence, so you can reuse it with the required credit.
What is Dollar Street?
A Gapminder tool that shows everyday life in homes on all income levels around the world, to give a fuller picture than news images alone.