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# How to Create a Pareto Diagram [80/20 Rule] in LibreOffice Calc
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/pareto-chart-libreoffice/
- Published: 2020-07-02T09:29:34.000Z
- Updated: 2023-10-23T04:53:18.000Z
- Description: In this LibreOffice tip, you’ll learn to create the famous Pareto chart in Calc.
- Author: Dimitrios
- Tags: LibreOffice 📄

The [Pareto Principle](https://betterexplained.com/articles/understanding-the-pareto-principle-the-8020-rule/?ref=itsfoss.com), also known as the 80/20 Rule, The Law of the Vital Few and The Principle of Factor Sparsity, illustrates that 80% of effects arise from 20% of the causes – or in layman’s terms – 20% of your actions/activities will account for 80% of your results/outcomes.

Although the original observation is related to [economics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto%5Fprinciple?ref=itsfoss.com#In%5Feconomics), it can be widely adopted and used across all aspects of business, economics, mathematics, and processes. In computer science, the Pareto principle can be used in [software optimization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program%5Foptimization?ref=itsfoss.com#Bottlenecks).

Let me show you how to create a Pareto diagram in [LibreOffice](https://www.libreoffice.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) spreadsheet tool, i.e. Calc.

## Creating Pareto diagram in LibreOffice Calc

![Pareto Libreoffice](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/pareto-libreoffice.png)

To be able to create a Pareto diagram, you need these three basic elements:

- The factors, ranked by the magnitude of their contribution
- The factors expressed numerically
- The cumulative-percent-of-total effect of the ranked factors

First, enter the data in a spreadsheet. Now let’s get started!

### Step 1: Sort the data

Mark all rows from first to the last and at the **Data** tab click on the Sort option. At the **Sort Criteria** tab choose **Sort key 1** and change the entry to **Number of Errors** or whichever name you choose. Make sure to tick **Descending** and finally **OK**.

![sort data in libreoffice spreadsheet](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/1.-sort-the-data.png)

### Step 2: Create the Cumulative Percentage values

To calculate the cumulative percent of a total, you will need one formula for the first cell (C5) and a different formula for cells C6 and below.

**Generic formula for the first cell**

```
=amount/total
```

**In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:** \=B5/$B$15

**Generic formula for the remaining cells**:

```
=(amount/total)+previous cell result
```

**In the example shown, the formula in C6 is:** \=(B6/$B$15)+C5

By dragging the fill handle down, you will get the correct formulas for the remaining cells.

![Get Cumulative Percent in LibreOffice](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/2.-cumulative-percent.png)

### Step 3: Create the Pareto diagram

To create the chart go to **Insert** tab and then click on the **Chart** option.

In the upcoming Chart Wizard choose the chart type **Column and Line** with **Number of lines** set to 1 and click Next.

![Enter chart in LibreOffice spreadsheet Calc](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/3.chart_.png)

Select the correct data range **$A$4:$C$14** by either using your mouse in the data range selector or by entering it manually. Leave the settings **Data series in columns**, **First row as label**, **First column as label** and click Next.

![Enter data range for your chart in LibreOffice](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/5.data-range.png)

The following Data Series window should have everything filled in correctly, click Next.

![Enter data series in the chart in LibreOffice to create Pareto diagram](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/6.data-series.png?fit=800%2C381&ssl=1)

In the last window enter titles and remove the legend:

- Title: Pareto chart
- X axis: Error Type
- Y axis: Number of Errors
- Untick **Display legend**
- click **Finish**.

![Creating Pareto diagrams in LibreOffic](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/7.chart-elements.png?fit=800%2C381&ssl=1)

And this is the result:

![Pareto chart in LibreOffice](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/8.Pareto-chart.png)

If the red line appears without any value, select it, then right click > Format Data Series > Align Data Series to Secondary y-Axis > Click OK.

### Step 4: Fine tune the chart

The range of the secondary y-axis is set to **0 – 120** , it needs to be up to **100**.

Double click on the secondary y-axis . In the **Scale** tab, untick **Automatic** and **enter 100** as the maximum value. Then click ok.

![Fine tune Pareto chart in LibreOffice](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/9.fine-tune.png)

All done!

![Finally, Pareto chart in LibreOffice spreadsheet](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/10.final_.png)

## **Conclusion**

Using a Pareto chart to analyze problems in a business project allows focusing efforts towards the ones offering the most considerable improvement potential.

This is one of the many real-life scenario where I have used LibreOffice instead of other proprietary office software. I hope to share more LibreOffice tutorials on It’s FOSS. Meanwhile, you can [learn these rather hidden LibreOffice tips](https://itsfoss.com/libreoffice-tips/).

[15 LibreOffice Tips to Get More Out of itLibreOffice is an excellent office suite. These LibreOffice tips will enable you to use it more effectively.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSAbhishek Prakash![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2017/12/LibreOffice-logo.jpeg)](https://itsfoss.com/libreoffice-tips/)

Which LibreOffice functionality do you use the most? Let us know at the comments below!