{"id":27372,"date":"2025-11-10T20:43:54","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/?post_type=chartchooser&#038;p=27372"},"modified":"2026-03-02T09:51:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T09:51:35","slug":"sankey-categorical-flow","status":"publish","type":"chartchooser","link":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/chartchooser\/sankey-categorical-flow\/","title":{"rendered":"Sankey Diagram"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-highsoft-section neutral-50-light transparent title-and-intro page-section\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-container is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ed5ff923 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-button\"><a href=\"\/chartchooser\" class=\"hc-button hc-button--neutral hc-button--size-300\" data-link-template=\"\/chartchooser\" aria-label=\"Back to charts\">Back to charts<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Sankey Diagram<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Sankey diagrams are suitable to illustrate the data flow of categorical data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The demo below visualizes the flow of the estimated US energy consumption in 2017.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-highsoft-section neutral-50-light transparent example-1 page-section\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bdcbbb17 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-box hs-box transparent\" style=\"padding:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--hs-box-width:auto;--hs-box-min-width:auto;--hs-box-max-width:100%;--hs-box-height:auto;--hs-box-min-height:auto;--hs-box-max-height:auto;--hs-box-border-width:0;--hs-box-border-style:none;--border-color-light:transparent;--border-color-dark:transparent;--hs-box-border-radius:0;--hs-box-overflow:hidden\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-iframe hs-iframe\" style=\"height:550px\"><div class=\"hs-iframe__container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/assets.highcharts.com\/demos\/samples\/embed\/highcharts\/chartchooser\/categorical-flow-sankey\" class=\"hs-iframe__main\" title=\"Estimated US Energi Consumption in 2017\" loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-box hs-box neutral-0-light transparent\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);--hs-box-width:auto;--hs-box-min-width:100%;--hs-box-max-width:100%;--hs-box-height:auto;--hs-box-min-height:auto;--hs-box-max-height:auto;--hs-box-border-width:1px;--hs-box-border-style:solid;--border-color-light:var(--primitives-neutral-100);--border-color-dark:var(--primitives-neutral-700);--hs-box-border-radius:8px;--hs-box-overflow:hidden\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group hs-blank-box-group is-vertical is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f067733e wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fc054d2d wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-icon icon-display\"><span class=\"hc-icon hc-icon--size-l\" style=\"color:var(--icon-color-blue)\"><span class=\"hc-icon-light\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-label=\"Lightbulb04\" role=\"img\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9.5 22h5M10 10h4m-2 0v6m3-.674a7 7 0 1 0-6 0V16c0 .932 0 1.398.152 1.765a2 2 0 0 0 1.083 1.083C10.602 19 11.068 19 12 19s1.398 0 1.765-.152a2 2 0 0 0 1.083-1.083C15 17.398 15 16.932 15 16z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"hc-icon-dark\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-label=\"Lightbulb04\" role=\"img\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9.5 22h5M10 10h4m-2 0v6m3-.674a7 7 0 1 0-6 0V16c0 .932 0 1.398.152 1.765a2 2 0 0 0 1.083 1.083C10.602 19 11.068 19 12 19s1.398 0 1.765-.152a2 2 0 0 0 1.083-1.083C15 17.398 15 16.932 15 16z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-font-size-400-font-size\">Nice to know<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-tag\"><div class=\"hc-tag hc-tag--Success no-icon\"><span class=\"hc-tag__text\">Pros:<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-list hs-list-block\" data-bullet-type=\"dot\" style=\"--icon-width:24px;--icon-height:24px;--item-spacing:auto\"><ol class=\"hs-list\"><li class=\"hs-list__item\"><span class=\"hs-list__prefix\">\u2022<\/span><p class=\"hs-list__text \">A sankey diagram is an appealing and stylish chart.<\/p><\/li><li class=\"hs-list__item\"><span class=\"hs-list__prefix\">\u2022<\/span><p class=\"hs-list__text \">A sankey diagram offers a quick overview of the dataset.<\/p><\/li><li class=\"hs-list__item\"><span class=\"hs-list__prefix\">\u2022<\/span><p class=\"hs-list__text \">A sankey diagram\u00b4s compact shape makes it an effective chart to leverage in dashboards and small screens.<\/p><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-tag\"><div class=\"hc-tag hc-tag--Danger no-icon\"><span class=\"hc-tag__text\">Cons:<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-list hs-list-block\" data-bullet-type=\"dot\" style=\"--icon-width:24px;--icon-height:24px;--item-spacing:auto\"><ol class=\"hs-list\"><li class=\"hs-list__item\"><span class=\"hs-list__prefix\">\u2022<\/span><p class=\"hs-list__text \">A sankey diagram can be complex to understand, particularly for a non-dataviz savvy audience.<\/p><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-highsoft-section neutral-50-light transparent separator page-section\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bdcbbb17 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-highsoft-section neutral-50-light transparent example-2 page-section\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bdcbbb17 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-box hs-box transparent\" style=\"padding:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--hs-box-width:auto;--hs-box-min-width:auto;--hs-box-max-width:100%;--hs-box-height:auto;--hs-box-min-height:auto;--hs-box-max-height:auto;--hs-box-border-width:0;--hs-box-border-style:none;--border-color-light:transparent;--border-color-dark:transparent;--hs-box-border-radius:0;--hs-box-overflow:hidden\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-iframe hs-iframe\" style=\"height:550px\"><div class=\"hs-iframe__container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/assets.highcharts.com\/demos\/samples\/embed\/highcharts\/chartchooser\/categorical-flow-sankey-monochrome\" class=\"hs-iframe__main\" title=\"Estimated US Energi Consumption in 2017\" loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-box hs-box neutral-0-light transparent\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);--hs-box-width:auto;--hs-box-min-width:100%;--hs-box-max-width:100%;--hs-box-height:auto;--hs-box-min-height:auto;--hs-box-max-height:auto;--hs-box-border-width:1px;--hs-box-border-style:solid;--border-color-light:var(--primitives-neutral-100);--border-color-dark:var(--primitives-neutral-700);--hs-box-border-radius:8px;--hs-box-overflow:hidden\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group hs-blank-box-group is-vertical is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f067733e wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fc054d2d wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-icon icon-display\"><span class=\"hc-icon hc-icon--size-l\" style=\"color:var(--icon-color-blue)\"><span class=\"hc-icon-light\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-label=\"Lightbulb04\" role=\"img\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9.5 22h5M10 10h4m-2 0v6m3-.674a7 7 0 1 0-6 0V16c0 .932 0 1.398.152 1.765a2 2 0 0 0 1.083 1.083C10.602 19 11.068 19 12 19s1.398 0 1.765-.152a2 2 0 0 0 1.083-1.083C15 17.398 15 16.932 15 16z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"hc-icon-dark\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-label=\"Lightbulb04\" role=\"img\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9.5 22h5M10 10h4m-2 0v6m3-.674a7 7 0 1 0-6 0V16c0 .932 0 1.398.152 1.765a2 2 0 0 0 1.083 1.083C10.602 19 11.068 19 12 19s1.398 0 1.765-.152a2 2 0 0 0 1.083-1.083C15 17.398 15 16.932 15 16z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-font-size-400-font-size\">Accessibility<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A Sankey diagram can be accessible to suit visually impaired users. By using common sense to select the right colors and options to highlight nodes and links.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-highsoft-section neutral-50-light transparent separator page-section\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bdcbbb17 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-highsoft-section neutral-50-light transparent extra-info page-section\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bdcbbb17 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-highsoft-hs-box hs-box neutral-0-light transparent\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);--hs-box-width:auto;--hs-box-min-width:auto;--hs-box-max-width:100%;--hs-box-height:auto;--hs-box-min-height:auto;--hs-box-max-height:auto;--hs-box-border-width:1px;--hs-box-border-style:solid;--border-color-light:var(--primitives-neutral-100);--border-color-dark:var(--primitives-neutral-700);--hs-box-border-radius:8px;--hs-box-overflow:hidden\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group hs-blank-box-group is-vertical is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f067733e wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-font-size-400-font-size\">Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/docs\/chart-and-series-types\/sankey-diagram\">how to create a Sankey diagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Use a sankey chart to display categorical data flow. Explore Chart Chooser to learn more about sankeys and other data visualization charts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_chartchooser_svg":"sankey"},"objective":[905],"data_type":[901],"chart_type":[915],"license_type":[970],"class_list":["post-27372","chartchooser","type-chartchooser","status-publish","hentry","objective-flow","data_type-categorical","chart_type-sankey-diagram","license_type-highcharts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chartchooser\/27372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chartchooser"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chartchooser"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"objective","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/objective?post=27372"},{"taxonomy":"data_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/data_type?post=27372"},{"taxonomy":"chart_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chart_type?post=27372"},{"taxonomy":"license_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license_type?post=27372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}