Is a quantile color scale similar to a log scale?
They solve different problems.
- Log scale transforms the numeric axis to handle wide ranges or exponential patterns.
- Quantile scale transforms how data is grouped or colored by putting equal numbers of data points into each bin.
So:
Log = mathematical transformation of values
Quantile = statistical grouping by distribution
They are conceptually different, but both help when raw data is extreme outliers, skewed or unevenly distributed.
A quantile is a way of dividing your data into equally sized groups.
If you split data into 4 groups, those are quartiles.
Into 10 groups → deciles.
Into 100 groups → percentiles.
Each group contains the same number of data points, even if the numeric ranges differ.
This does:
Start at the last index in the group (latest year).
Look up the value of interest (income, population, etc.).
If it is not null/undefined, return it.
Otherwise, move backward.
Because time-series data often has gaps:
Latest year might be missing income.
Or population missing for 2020, but available for 2019.
Or life expectancy missing for the last few years.