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New: Chartory 1.0. 100 charts free in React, MIT licensed

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Charts / Glossary

Cumulative

A chart word, with the charts that use it.

Definition

Cumulative means a running total: each point adds everything before it. A cumulative line only rises, so it shows how fast a total builds up.

Updated Nov 2, 2026

Churn model liftShare of churners found against the share of customers contacted, ranked by the churn model: the top 20% reach 61% of churners, against 20% at random.100%75%50%25%0TOP 20% → 61% OF CHURNERS025%50%75%100%
Churn model lift
Customers contactedChurners found (model)Churners found (random)
10%36%10%
20%61%20%
30%78%30%
40%88%40%
50%95%50%
60%98%60%
70%99%70%
80%100%80%
90%100%90%
100%100%100%
Churn model liftShare of churners found against the share of customers contacted, ranked by the churn model: the top 20% reach 61% of churners, against 20% at random.100%75%50%25%0TOP 20% → 61% OF CHURNERS025%50%75%100%
Churn model lift
Customers contactedChurners found (model)Churners found (random)
10%36%10%
20%61%20%
30%78%30%
40%88%40%
50%95%50%
60%98%60%
70%99%70%
80%100%80%
90%100%90%
100%100%100%
  1. 01The cumulative curveEach point is the share found so far.
  2. 02The straight lineWhat picking at random would give, for comparison.

Where you see it

  • Churn model liftShare of churners found against the share of customers contacted, ranked by the churn model: the top 20% reach 61% of churners, against 20% at random.100%75%50%25%0TOP 20% → 61% OF CHURNERS025%50%75%100%MODELRANDOM
    Churn model lift
    Customers contactedChurners found (model)Churners found (random)
    10%36%10%
    20%61%20%
    30%78%30%
    40%88%40%
    50%95%50%
    60%98%60%
    70%99%70%
    80%100%80%
    90%100%90%
    100%100%100%
    Churn model liftShare of churners found against the share of customers contacted, ranked by the churn model: the top 20% reach 61% of churners, against 20% at random.100%75%50%25%0TOP 20% → 61% OF CHURNERS025%50%75%100%MODELRANDOM
    Churn model lift
    Customers contactedChurners found (model)Churners found (random)
    10%36%10%
    20%61%20%
    30%78%30%
    40%88%40%
    50%95%50%
    60%98%60%
    70%99%70%
    80%100%80%
    90%100%90%
    100%100%100%

    060 · Gains curveDistribution · SaaS data

  • Stake concentrationCumulative share of stake against the share of holders, smallest first: the bottom 90% hold 70%, so the top 10% hold 30%.100%75%50%25%0TOP 10% HOLD 30%025%50%75%100%STAKE CURVEEQUAL STAKE
    Stake concentration
    Holders (smallest first)Stake heldEqual stake
    10%0%10%
    20%0%20%
    30%2%30%
    40%4%40%
    50%9%50%
    60%18%60%
    70%30%70%
    80%47%80%
    90%70%90%
    100%100%100%
    Stake concentrationCumulative share of stake against the share of holders, smallest first: the bottom 90% hold 70%, so the top 10% hold 30%.100%75%50%25%0TOP 10% HOLD 30%025%50%75%100%STAKE CURVEEQUAL STAKE
    Stake concentration
    Holders (smallest first)Stake heldEqual stake
    10%0%10%
    20%0%20%
    30%2%30%
    40%4%40%
    50%9%50%
    60%18%60%
    70%30%70%
    80%47%80%
    90%70%90%
    100%100%100%

    077 · Lorenz curveDistribution · Crypto data

Common mistakes

Reading a cumulative line as a trend

It always rises. Read its slope: steep means fast, flat means slow.

Mixing per-period and cumulative values

Pick one per chart and say which in the title.

Questions

Why does a cumulative line never go down?

Each point adds the next value to the total so far. With no negative values, the total only grows.

Where are cumulative charts used?

Gains curves, Lorenz curves, burn-up charts and running totals.

In the kit

Gains curve, Lorenz curve and the other types.

In Figma and React, in four sizes, light and dark. Pay once, every update.

See plans

Every chart word, A to Z.

Open the glossary