Bar Graphs A Bar Graph compares categorical variables

Bar Graphs

A Bar Graph compares categorical variable(s) with a quantitative variable. The categorical variable goes on the X axis, and the quantitative goes on the Y axis.

For example… Area Name New York City Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island % of Hispanics (Dominican) 18. 8% 20. 6% 13. 5% 32. 6% 12. 6% 3. 5% Categorical Variable: Borough Quantitative Variable: Percent of Hispanics (Dominican)

A bar graph can also compare two categorical variables with a quantitative variable: Area Name New York City Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island % of Hispanics (Dominican) 18. 8% 20. 6% 13. 5% 32. 6% 12. 6% 3. 5% % of Hispanics (Puerto Rican) 36. 5% 49. 5% 43. 7% 28. 7% 19. 5% 53. 3% Categorical Variables: Borough Hispanic Nation of Origin Quantitative Variables: Percent of total Hispanics, by NOO

Option 1: Categorical Variable 1 together

Option 1: Categorical Variable 2 together

You can/should change the scale on the Y axis based on the range of your data

If you have two or more sets of quantitative data that combined equal 100%, you can also make a Segmented Bar Graph New York City Percent White 44. 7% Percent Non-White 55. 3% 100% Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island 29. 9% 41. 2% 54. 3% 44. 1% 77. 7% 70. 1% 58. 8% 45. 7% 55. 9% 22. 3% 100% 100% Total