With the formula version the numbers update automatically if you've used a dynamic data range ( = select a single cell from your data and press Ctrl + T to turn it into a table ). The pivot table solution is super easy but if the values change you're going to have to refresh the pivot table to get the new values. The COUNTIF formula gives you the numeric values. In Excel 365 there's the UNIQUE function as well but with older versions you're going to have to enter the unique values manually. The pivot table is by far the easiest way to get all the unique values. Keep in mind, that a pie chart can only visualize a single data series. The same thing can be done without pivot tables as well but you're going to have to create the two columns yourself. To create a Pie of Pie, click into your chart data and on the Ribbons INSERT tab click on the Pie button in the Charts group. Start with a blank worksheet in Excel and enter your data.

You'll end up with two columns which you can visualize in a chart. This will add all the values we are showing on the. Right-click on the pie and select Add Data Labels. Now, it instantly creates the 3-D pie chart for you. Pivot table puts the text values to the row labels but when you drag the same column to the values field as well the pivot table counts the number of values. Select the data to go to Insert, click on PIE, and select 3-D pie chart. Drag the Sales measure to Columns and drag the Sub-Category dimension to Rows.

That being said you can however create a pivot table from your text column. Build a Pie Chart Connect to the Sample - Superstore data source. I don't think you can create a chart using text values alone.

How to create pie chart in excel