How to Cite Charts and Graphs

Learn how to properly cite charts, graphs, diagrams, and other visual data representations in APA format.

Basic Format

Creator, C. C. (Year). Title of chart [Chart]. In Source title. Publisher. URL

Organization. (Year). Title of graph [Graph]. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Examples

Published Chart

World Health Organization. (2023). Global vaccination rates by region [Chart]. In World Health Statistics 2023. WHO Press.

Online Graph

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Unemployment rate by state [Interactive graph]. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/charts

Data Visualization

Smith, J. (2023). Climate change impact on global temperatures [Data visualization]. Nature Climate Change, 13(2), 45-67.

Key Elements

Creator Information

  • Author's name
  • Organization
  • Publisher
  • Data source

Visual Details

  • Title of visual
  • Type of visualization
  • Data range
  • Version/Edition

Publication Information

  • Publication date
  • Source document
  • Access date
  • URL if online

Visual Types

Charts

  • Bar charts
  • Pie charts
  • Line charts
  • Flow charts

Graphs

  • Scatter plots
  • Histograms
  • Area graphs
  • Network graphs

Special Cases

Additional Guidelines

  • Interactive visualizations
  • Dynamic data
  • Multiple datasets
  • Custom visualizations

In-Text Citations

First Citation

Use the creator's name and year:

According to WHO's (2023) vaccination chart...

Subsequent Citations

Use parenthetical citation:

The data visualization (WHO, 2023) indicates...

Copyright and Data Usage

  • Visual copyright
  • Data usage rights
  • Reproduction permissions
  • Attribution requirements
  • Data licenses

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't omit data source
  • Don't forget visualization type
  • Don't ignore access date for online visuals
  • Don't mix citation styles
  • Don't neglect data attribution