Average Percentage Calculation Guide
Calculating the average of multiple percentages requires care. While percentages can simply be averaged arithmetically when sample sizes are identical, datasets with varying sample sizes require weighted averaging.
Mathematical Formulas
1. Simple Average (Arithmetic Mean)
When all percentages represent equal sample sizes or weights:
Simple Average (%) = (P₁ + P₂ + ... + Pₙ) / n
2. Weighted Average
When each percentage (Pᵢ) is based on a distinct sample size or weight (Wᵢ):
Weighted Average (%) = Σ (Pᵢ × Wᵢ) / Σ Wᵢ = [(P₁ × W₁) + (P₂ × W₂) + ...] / (W₁ + W₂ + ...)
Practical Example
Suppose a school gives exams to two classes:
- Class A: 20 students with an average score of 80%
- Class B: 80 students with an average score of 90%
The simple average would be (80 + 90) / 2 = 85%.
However, the weighted average correctly accounts for the larger class size:
Weighted Average = [(80 × 20) + (90 × 80)] / (20 + 80) = (1,600 + 7,200) / 100 = 88%