Pie Charts

Pie charts fail when there are too many slices, when the slices are close in size, or when the point is to compare values precisely. In those cases, a bar chart is strictly better.

Pie charts work when there are two or three slices and the point is to show part-to-whole at a glance. “More than half” is a thing a pie chart communicates instantly. It is not a thing a bar chart communicates as well.

The problem isn’t the chart type. It’s using it outside its competence.