Stacked density curves over time periods. Shows distribution evolution.
A free, animated ridgeline plot you can read here or embed on any website, from Scrollchart.
Ridgeline Plot
A ridgeline plot stacks kernel density estimates for multiple groups or time periods into a single panel. Each row is one distribution; rows are offset vertically and allowed to overlap slightly, creating a layered ridge effect. The X axis is shared across all rows so shapes can be compared directly.
The format answers two questions at once: where is the center of each distribution, and how is that center shifting across groups or over time? A peak migrating rightward across successive rows signals a rising trend; a widening curve signals growing variance. The name "joyplot" references the Unknown Pleasures album artwork by Joy Division, which uses the same stacked-waveform layout.
Read each row as a separate distribution. The height of the curve at any X value represents the relative density of observations at that value. A tall, narrow peak means observations cluster tightly; a flat, wide curve means they spread broadly.
Compare peaks across rows to track location shifts over time or across groups. Compare widths to track spread changes. Where rows overlap, the front row occludes the one behind: look for protruding tails above the overlap zone to gauge whether adjacent distributions are close or far apart. Row labels on the left identify the group or time period for each ridge.
Editorial pages where a quick visual replaces a wall of text
Content-marketing posts that need a clean, branded illustration
Source & accuracy
This ridgeline plot is an editorial illustration built to represent the concept accurately. Where it shows figures, they are typical or representative values chosen to make the relationship clear, not a single underlying dataset. The diagram and its explainer are reviewed and maintained centrally, and updated over time as understanding improves.
Stacking density curves to show evolution
A ridgeline plot (or joyplot) stacks density curves for sequential time periods, creating a mountain-range visual. Each ridge is a probability distribution for one time period. Reading left to right shows how the shape of the distribution shifts over time: it might become more symmetric, spread wider, or develop new peaks. This format compresses a large dataset of distributions into one readable visualization.
Pattern detection across time
Ridgeline plots reveal whether variability is increasing (ridges getting wider), decreasing (ridges narrowing), or shifting (peaks moving left or right). A distribution that develops two peaks might indicate a subpopulation emerging. Comparing ridgeline plots across regions or demographic groups shows whether patterns are universal or group-specific. This is particularly useful in climate science (temperature distributions by year), economics (income distributions by decade), or epidemiology.
Visual clarity vs. data density trade-offs
Ridgeline plots work well with 10-20 time periods but become cluttered beyond that. Each additional curve adds visual complexity. Overlapping or near-overlapping ridges become hard to distinguish. Semi-transparent fills help, but colors still compete for attention. When time periods exceed 20, heatmaps or faceted small multiples often communicate distribution change more clearly.
Embed this diagram
Add this animated ridgeline plot to your own site. Copy one line of HTML, or use the embed builder for theme and sizing options.
Reference
What this is
A free, embeddable, animated ridgeline plot for any website.
Who uses it
Data journalists, Researchers & academics, Content marketers, News organizations.
How to embed
Copy one line of HTML. No signup. No watermark. Works in WordPress, Webflow, Ghost, Substack, plain HTML.
File size
iframe embed, ~80 KB gzipped (loads on demand, does not block your page paint).
License
Free forever. Editorial explainer text included; updated centrally over time.
Copy the universal HTML snippet, the WordPress shortcode, or an iframe fallback -
see the WordPress plugin page for details. Any format keeps
the same Core Web Vitals profile and the same explainer text.
By embedding, you acknowledge the diagram and explainer text are served from scrollchart.com and may be updated from time to time to reflect new research or to link to relevant sources within the explainer.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a free animated "Ridgeline Plot" for my website?
Scrollchart provides "Ridgeline Plot" as a free, embeddable animated diagram you can add to any website with one line of HTML. No signup is required and there is no watermark. The diagram and its explainer text are served from scrollchart.com, so the embed stays current without any maintenance on your end.
How do I embed a ridgeline plot in a blog post or article?
Paste the one-line HTML snippet from the Scrollchart diagram page into your post editor. It works in WordPress, Webflow, Ghost, and plain HTML with no plugin required. The animated diagram and its explainer text load from scrollchart.com and render directly in your page DOM.