How to read a pie chart
A pie chart shows how a few parts make up a whole. It answers composition questions: What share does each category have?
What is a pie chart?
A pie chart is a circle split into slices. Each slice is a category; slice size (angle and area) represents its share of the total. It’s a common but limited way to show part-to-whole.
When to use it
Use a pie chart when you have a small number of categories (about 2–5) and the main message is proportion or share of a whole—e.g. budget breakdown, market share. Avoid it when you have many categories, need precise comparison, or when a bar chart would make differences clearer.
How to read it
Match each slice to the legend for the category name and often the value or percent. Compare slice sizes to see relative share; large slices dominate the circle. For exact numbers, rely on labels or the legend, not angle.
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