# Pareto chart

Operations · `Pareto chart` · verification: source checked

A Pareto chart displays data to prioritize problem-solving. It combines a bar chart showing the frequency of occurrence of a series of causes with a line chart showing the cumulative percentage of the same causes.

## Specification

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Kind | methodology |
| Origin | Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923) |

## Study notes

- The term comes from Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923), who coined the 80/20 rule.
- Pareto’s first statement of the rule was based on the discovery that 80% of wealth in societies was controlled by 20% of the population.
- Joseph Juran later extended the 80/20 rule to quality problems in 1941, finding that 80% of a problem is typically caused by 20% of the possible causes.
- The document states that the 80/20 rule seems to find application in practically every activity.

## Sources

1. [Pareto Chart - Lean Enterprise Institute](https://www.lean.org/lexicon-terms/pareto-chart/) (accessed 2026-10-25)

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