Glossary/Strategy & Frameworks/Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
Strategy & Frameworks
Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
The observation, named by Joseph Juran after Vilfredo Pareto's 1890s findings, that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Short answer
The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 rule, is the observation that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. Joseph Juran named it after Vilfredo Pareto's findings on wealth distribution in the 1890s. In marketing, it often appears as a small share of customers, products or channels driving most revenue.