Ordinal data has a distinct order or natural sequence. An example is survey data collected in response to the question like this:

How old are you?

  • Under 18
  • 19-25
  • 26-40
  • 41-60
  • 60+

The chart above shows how the data can be plotted in an Excel column chart that follows the natural order.

Another example of ordinal data is data collected with a rating scale like:

How satisfied are you with your internet provider?

1 - Very unsatisfied
2 - Mostly unsatisfied
3 - Indifferent
4 - Usually satisfied
5 - Very satisfied