How to turn CSV data into a map

Use a two-column structure

The first column identifies the map unit and the second contains the number to visualize. A header is useful but not required. Keep all rows at the same administrative level: countries with countries, provinces with provinces, or counties with counties.

Place name,Value
Canada,84
Mexico,62
Brazil,119
Argentina,48

Additional columns may remain in your source file, but the map needs one name field and one numeric field. Remove totals and notes that are not geographic rows.

Check encoding, separators, and numbers

UTF-8 is the safest CSV encoding for multilingual names. Commas are standard, while copied Excel cells usually arrive as tab-separated text. Decimal points, minus signs, and blank values are accepted; thousands separators inside unquoted values can split a CSV row.

Select the map scope before matching

Choose World Map for countries and regions, First-level Divisions for states or provinces, or Detailed Map for supported national detail. Then select the final administrative level. The selected scope narrows possible matches and prevents a short place name from silently matching the wrong country.

Review matched, ambiguous, and unmatched rows

The review table keeps the original CSV text beside the standardized map name. Matched rows can be edited immediately. Ambiguous rows need a fuller name or a narrower scope, and unmatched rows should be checked for spelling, level, and parent region.

• Use the complete official name when a short name appears in more than one place.
• Confirm that every numeric value is attached to the intended row.
• Leave genuine missing values empty instead of converting them to zero.

Choose the map form and export

Use a choropleth for rates, percentages, and standardized indicators. Use proportional bubbles for magnitude, map bars for a small direct comparison, and flow lines for origin-destination data. Set the unit in the legend, check labels at the final size, then export PNG, JPEG, or SVG.