Two sets of columns, side by side

The idea

In a clustered column (or bar) graph, columns for two or more data sets are drawn side by side in each category, in different colours, to compare values across categories and across time.

Six numbers

Electric vehicles registered in Gujarat: 69000, 89000, 78000.

Electric vehicles registered in Delhi: 62000, 74000, 81000.

These are for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.

How should we draw one graph for both states, to compare them year by year?

• Six columns in one colour, in a row
• For each year, two columns side by side, one colour for each state
• Only the Gujarat columns

Build the graph

The graph is empty. The toy tells you one column at a time. Tap the place where the top of that column goes.

Clusters of columns

In each year the two states have their columns side by side, in two colours. Each pair is a cluster.

To compare the states in one year, look inside a cluster. To see how one state changed over time, follow one colour from cluster to cluster.

In a clustered column (or bar) graph, the columns for two or more data sets are drawn side by side in each category, in different colours, to compare values across categories and across time.

• Year | Gujarat | Delhi | More registrations
• 2022 | 69000 | 62000 | Gujarat
• 2023 | 89000 | 74000 | Gujarat
• 2024 | 78000 | 81000 | Delhi

Notes

In a clustered column (or bar) graph, the columns for two or more data sets are drawn side by side in each category, in different colours, to compare values across categories and across time.

Check yourself

Which columns do you compare to find which state registered more vehicles in 2023?

How can you see how Delhi changed from 2022 to 2024?

In 2023, how many more vehicles were registered in Gujarat than in Delhi?

Answer: 15000

89000 − 74000 = 15000 more.

Which state registered more vehicles in 2024?

• The three Gujarat columns. These compare Gujarat with itself in different years, not the two states in one year.
• The first column and the last column. These belong to different years. Use the two columns of the same year.
• The two columns in the 2023 cluster — correct. Yes! The columns for one year stand side by side, so you can compare them at once.
• Follow the orange columns from cluster to cluster — correct. Yes! The same colour in each cluster is the same data set, so you can follow it across the years.
• Compare the two columns inside the 2022 cluster. That compares the two states in 2022. It does not show change over the years.
• Look only at the 2024 cluster. One cluster shows one year. To see change you need all the years.
• Gujarat, because it was ahead in 2022 and 2023. Look at the 2024 cluster only. Gujarat fell to 78000 and Delhi rose to 81000.
• Delhi, with 81000 against 78000 — correct. Yes! In 2024 the orange column is taller than the blue one. In 2022 and 2023 it was the other way round.
• Both are the same. 81000 and 78000 are not equal. The orange column is a little taller.