A bar chart is one of Excel’s primary chart types and a good choice for categorical data.

Also, because of the horizontal layout, bar charts have room to accommodate longer category names.

Bar charts are also versatile.

Example bar chart - top 15 countries by life expectancy

Excel clustered bar chart example

Excel stacked bar chart example

Excel 100% stacked column bar example

Excel column chart example

Excel clustered column chart example

Excel stacked column chart example

Excel 100% stacked column chart example