Data Race

How to Use Data Race

This guide walks you through every feature of the Data Race platform, from finding a dataset to sharing an interesting discovery with friends or colleagues.

Getting Started

Start by visiting the homepage, where you will find datasets organized by category. Each category card shows the number of available datasets. Click any category to see its full list, or use the navigation menu to jump directly to a specific category. Each dataset page features an interactive chart that animates through time periods, showing how rankings and values change.

  • The homepage highlights featured datasets — great starting points for first-time visitors
  • Category pages show dataset counts so you can quickly find areas with the most coverage
  • Every dataset page URL is shareable — bookmark or send it to anyone

Navigating Datasets

Each dataset page has a toolbar above the chart area. The toolbar lets you switch between visualization types, adjust display settings, and filter data. On mobile devices, the toolbar adapts to a compact layout with the most important controls always visible. Use the settings drawer to access advanced options like display count, sort order, and regional filters.

  • Tap the chart type icons (bar, line, pie, map, table) to switch views instantly
  • Use the region dropdown to focus on a specific geographic area
  • The group selector lets you compare political or economic groups like G7, BRICS, or EU

Playback Controls

The timeline bar at the bottom of the chart controls the animation. Press play to watch the data animate through each time period. You can drag the slider to jump to any specific year or month. The playback speed adjusts automatically based on the dataset's time range, but you can pause at any point to examine the data in detail.

  • Click anywhere on the timeline bar to jump to that period
  • Pause the animation to hover over chart elements for detailed tooltips
  • The current period is displayed prominently — useful for presentations

Aggregate by Region or Group

The aggregate feature lets you combine individual country data into regional or political group totals. Open the scope selector and choose 'Aggregate by Region' or 'Aggregate by Group' to select which groups to compare. Each selected group becomes a single entry whose value is the sum of all its member countries. This is perfect for comparing economic blocs like G7 vs BRICS, or seeing how continents stack up against each other.

  • Use 'Select All' to quickly compare all regions or groups at once
  • Enable 'Group others' to combine countries not in any selected group into an 'Others' category
  • Aggregate mode works with bar, line, and pie charts — map view is not available in this mode
  • For political groups with overlapping members (e.g., a country in both G7 and G20), a warning is shown on the pie chart
  • The line chart shows a color legend below the chart to identify each group

Data Table View

Switch to the table view to see all data in a structured format. The table shows rank, entity name, value, share percentage, and year-over-year change for each entry. You can sort by any column to find top performers, biggest changes, or specific countries of interest. The table updates as you move through time periods.

  • Sort by the change column to find the fastest-growing entities
  • The rank column reflects the current period's standings
  • Table data can be downloaded as CSV for further analysis

Sharing & Export

Found an interesting data point? Use the share button to copy a direct link to the current view, including the selected time period and any active filters. You can also download a snapshot of the current chart as an image. Shared links preserve the exact state of the visualization, so recipients see exactly what you saw.

  • The copy-link button creates a URL with your current period and pin selections
  • Chart images are rendered at high resolution for presentations and social media
  • Links work across all 16 supported languages — the recipient sees their preferred language

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is the data updated?

Data is updated periodically as source organizations publish new figures. Most World Bank indicators are updated annually, while some national statistics are updated quarterly or monthly.

Can I use the visualizations in my research or presentations?

Yes. All visualizations are free to use with attribution. Please credit Data Race and the original data source when using charts in publications, presentations, or reports.

Why do some countries have missing data?

Data availability varies by country and indicator. Some nations do not report certain statistics, or may have gaps in specific years. The visualization shows only confirmed data points — no estimates or interpolations are used.

Does Data Race work on mobile devices?

Yes. The platform is fully responsive and optimized for mobile browsers. All chart types, animations, and interactive features work on phones and tablets.