C.V. · Percentage

Coefficient of Variation

Learn how to compare the uniformity of data sets using C.V.

Coefficient of Variation

Standard deviation is an absolute measure of dispersion.

The relative measure of dispersion associated with standard deviation is called the coefficient of variation (C.V.). Since the coefficient of standard deviation is often a very small decimal, it is usually multiplied by 100 and expressed as a percentage. This percentage value is called the coefficient of variation.

The coefficient of variation is a comparative measure and is used to compare the uniformity or dispersion among two or more data sets.

  • If the coefficient of variation is large, the data distribution has greater dispersion.
  • If the coefficient of variation is small, the data distribution has greater uniformity or stability.

The coefficient of variation is denoted by C.V. The formula is:

Coefficient of Variation (C.V.) = σX × 100%

Where: σ = standard deviation and X = mean (average)

Example 1

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