When to use a pie chart

A pie chart can be visually appealing and engaging, making it easier for viewers to understand the information being presented. Pie charts are often easy to create, saving time and resources in data analysis.

A pie chart is useful for organizing and displaying data by proportion of the total. A pie chart is often used to visualize categorical data.

If you are not familiar with categorical data, feel free to check the following blog: categorical data type 101

• A composition of categorical data
• A comparison of categorical data

Remark
It is important to keep in mind that pie charts have some limitations, and in some cases, a different type of chart may be more appropriate. For example, if you want to show changes in data over time, a line chart may be a better choice.

• Learn when to use a line chart with Highcharts
• Learn when to use a bar chart with Highcharts

When a pie chart is used

Composition

The demo below visualizes the nutrient composition of an egg yolk. Water constitutes the major part of an egg yolk, followed by fats than proteins.

Comparison

The demo below visualizes the earth’s water supply by comparing salt water, ice, and freshwater.

Overall, the benefits of using a pie chart make it a valuable tool for data visualization in a wide range of applications.