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