Making and Evaluating a Pie Chart

I chose a dataset showing the distribution of internet users worldwide as of February 2024, by age group. This dataset is a strong fit for a pie chart because it represents a part-to-whole relationship, the percentages of total internet users across age groups sum to 100%. Additionally, the dataset has a limited number of categories, which keeps the chart simple and ensures that the differences among slices are visually distinguishable.

(Figure 1). Pie chart depicting internet users worldwide by age group.

Each slice is labeled with the percentage, and the title clearly describes the data being visualized. There are no 3D effects or exploded slices because these can distort perception and make it harder for viewers to accurately compare segments. Instead, distinct colors are used for each age group and arranged the slices from youngest to oldest clockwise, starting at the 12 o’clock position, which makes it easier for the audience to interpret the proportions intuitively. It does go over the limit of 5 slices, but it doesn't add much visual clutter and is beneficial to the purpose of the visualization.

While a pie chart works well in this case, I do believe a horizontal bar chart can excel at allowing viewers to compare exact values across categories because of the consistent baseline, but in this scenario, the part-to-whole relationship is the main story, not precise comparisons. Each age group is a part of the total people using the internet regardless of age. The pie chart communicates the relative contributions of each age group to total internet users immediately and visually, making it more effective for my intended purpose.

I reinforced several key design tips for pie charts: keep the number of slices low, label clearly, use consistent colors, and avoid unnecessary embellishments. I also realized that thoughtful ordering of slices can help guide the viewer’s attention to the largest categories first, enhancing comprehension. By following these guidelines, the pie chart becomes a clear, engaging, and accurate visual representation of the data.

References:

My Data Set: https://www.statista.com/statistics/272365/age-distribution-of-internet-users-worldwide/