Percent vs. Percentage Points
Report rate changes without exaggeration. Read a concrete example, examine the trade-offs, and try a small exercise to see whether the principle applies to your situation.
The core rule or calculation
- Start here. Moving from 5% to 7% is an increase of 2 percentage points.
- Add context. The relative increase from 5% to 7% is 40%.
- Keep in mind. Always name the baseline for relative comparisons.
Work through an example
If a survey result moves from 20% to 25%, the change is five percentage points but a 25% relative increase. News reports can sound much more dramatic when these two descriptions are blurred.
Always name the unit of change; saying “increased by five percent” is ambiguous when you really mean five points.
Where calculations go wrong
Points compare rates on the same scale; relative percent describes proportional change. Neither is universally more honest—each answers a different question.
Try the method
Find a headline about a rate, write the previous and current values, then calculate both point change and relative change. Decide which measure matches the claim.
Further reading and verification
Read the linked reference for additional background on time & numbers. Review the applicable rules and update dates before using any example in a consequential decision.
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Published October 9, 2026 · BlogJD Editorial Desk · How we prepare and correct content · Report a correction.