Composition
100% Stacked Bar
Stacked bar normalized to 100% that compares proportions, not totals.
Survey Responses by Country
Proportion of agreement levels
View data (9 rows)
| Country | Count | Response |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 45 | Agree |
| USA | 30 | Neutral |
| USA | 25 | Disagree |
| UK | 38 | Agree |
| UK | 35 | Neutral |
| UK | 27 | Disagree |
| Germany | 52 | Agree |
| Germany | 28 | Neutral |
| Germany | 20 | Disagree |
Use a 100% stacked bar when…
- Comparing proportions across groups
- Survey results
- When totals differ and only shares matter
Avoid when…
- When absolute values matter
- When only 2 groups (use simple %)
Data it needs
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Min Rows | 4 |
| Min Columns | 3 |
| Column Types | stringstringnumber |
Visual anatomy
Marks
rectangle
Channels
length (proportion)color-hue
Axes
x-categoricaly-percentage
Guiding principles
Common mistakes
Parts not summing to 100%
Too many small segments crowding the bar
Reordering categories between bars so the eye loses each band
History
Standardized in Brinton's Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts (1914) and ubiquitous in mid-century survey reporting.
Accessibility notes
Provide percentage values as text. Use patterns alongside color.
Related reading
Got data? Let's see what works.
Drop your CSV. You'll get a 100% Stacked Bar plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.