A pie chart divides a circle into proportional slices to show how parts make up a whole. Each slice's arc length corresponds to its share of the total, making it ideal for displaying percentage breakdowns at a glance.
What the Universe Is Made Of (Spoiler: Mostly Mystery)
Best for
- Showing parts of a whole with a small number of categories
- Communicating simple percentage breakdowns
- Highlighting one dominant category versus others
Avoid when
- You have more than 6–7 categories — use a bar chart instead
- Values are very similar in size — differences are hard to perceive
- You need to compare values across multiple groups over time