Demografiaselitteistä

Demografiaselitteistä is a Finnish term used in cartography and data visualization to refer to the legends that explain how demographic information is encoded on maps, charts, or dashboards. The concept covers the explanations, categories, and symbols that link visual elements to demographic attributes such as age, gender, ethnicity, income, education, or household size. The word combines demografia (demographics) with selite (legend or explanation) and is used in discussions of how demographic data is presented visually.

In practice, demografiaselitteistä describes both static map legends and dynamic, interactive legends in digital dashboards, including color ramps for age groups, symbols for gender, and bubble or circle sizes representing population counts. It also encompasses notes on data sources, time periods, and the geographic scope that accompany the legend to ensure clear interpretation.

Design considerations emphasize legibility and accuracy. Recommendations include keeping the number of classes manageable, choosing color schemes accessible to color-blind viewers, providing clear labels and units, and ensuring consistency across maps and visualizations. Legends should be understandable without requiring additional documentation and should adapt to varying display formats and screen sizes.

Applications span urban planning, public health surveillance, market research, and academic studies, where demographic patterns are analyzed and communicated. Limitations include the risk of overgeneralization from aggregated data and the need to address privacy and ethical concerns when displaying demographic information. Related concepts include demography, cartography, data visualization, and geographic information systems.