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Learn Pie and Doughnut Charts | Core Chart Types in Practice
Excel Charts and Data Visualization

Pie and Doughnut Charts

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Pie and doughnut charts display proportions. They show how categories contribute to a total. Use them when the goal is to show part-to-whole relationships, not comparison between many categories.

A pie chart displays one circular data series. A doughnut chart displays the same structure with a hollow center and can support multiple series.

Creating a Pie Chart

  1. Select categorical data and corresponding values;
  2. Go to Insert;
  3. Choose Pie Chart;
  4. Select a basic 2-D Pie option.

Each slice represents a percentage of the total.

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Switching to Doughnut

  1. Select the chart;
  2. Click Change Chart Type;
  3. Choose Doughnut Chart.

The underlying data remains the same. Only the visual structure changes.

carousel-imgcarousel-img

Important Limitation

Pie and doughnut charts show proportion, not ranking clarity. If the viewer needs to compare slices precisely, a column chart may be more effective.

Using the provided dataset:

  • Insert a 2-D Pie Chart;
  • Change the chart type to a Doughnut Chart;
  • Observe how proportions are displayed in both formats.

Goal: visualize how categories contribute to the total.

Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 3

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Pie and Doughnut Charts

Pie and doughnut charts display proportions. They show how categories contribute to a total. Use them when the goal is to show part-to-whole relationships, not comparison between many categories.

A pie chart displays one circular data series. A doughnut chart displays the same structure with a hollow center and can support multiple series.

Creating a Pie Chart

  1. Select categorical data and corresponding values;
  2. Go to Insert;
  3. Choose Pie Chart;
  4. Select a basic 2-D Pie option.

Each slice represents a percentage of the total.

carousel-imgcarousel-imgcarousel-imgcarousel-imgcarousel-img

Switching to Doughnut

  1. Select the chart;
  2. Click Change Chart Type;
  3. Choose Doughnut Chart.

The underlying data remains the same. Only the visual structure changes.

carousel-imgcarousel-img

Important Limitation

Pie and doughnut charts show proportion, not ranking clarity. If the viewer needs to compare slices precisely, a column chart may be more effective.

Using the provided dataset:

  • Insert a 2-D Pie Chart;
  • Change the chart type to a Doughnut Chart;
  • Observe how proportions are displayed in both formats.

Goal: visualize how categories contribute to the total.

Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 3
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