Difference Between Percentile and Percentage

April 2023 · 4 minute read

Main Difference

The main difference between percentile and percentage is that percentile is the value from which percentage values are found below it, whereas percentage is a measurement of the mathematical unit which shows values out of total 100.

Percentile vs. Percentage

Percentile is the mathematical value from which percentage values are found below it, whereas percentage is a measurement of the mathematical unit which shows values out of total 100. Percentile unit is denoted by xth such as 40th, while percentage unit is denoted by %. Percentile cannot be written as in ratio form in mathematics; on the other hand, percentage can be written as in ratio form in mathematics. Percentile also cannot be used in the form of decimals; on the contrary, percentage also can be used in the form of decimals in mathematics. Percentile is usually based on the number ranks; conversely, percentage is not based on number ranks. Percentile has quartiles in its formula, whereas percentage does not have quartiles. Percentile is generally based on a comparison of one case with all other cases in a specific condition, while percentage is normally based on only one case in a situation. Percentile is built on normal distribution; on the other hand, the percentage does not have a normal distribution.

Comparison Chart

PercentilePercentage
Percentile is the mathematical value from which percentage values are found below it.The percentage is a measurement which shows values out of the total 100.
Position
Value from which percentage values are found below itThe mathematical unit which shows values position out of total 100
Unit
Denoted by xth such as 40thDenoted by %
Quartiles
Has quartilesDoes not have quartiles
Rank
Based on the number ranksNot based on number ranks
Decimals
Cannot be used in the form of decimalsCan be used in the form of decimals
Ratio
Cannot be written as in ratio formCan be written as in ratio form
Based on
Based on a comparison of one case with all other cases in a specific conditionBased on only one case in a situation
Distribution
Built on the normal distributionDo not have a normal distribution

What is Percentile?

Percentile is the mathematical value used in statistics from which percentage values are found below it. Percentile is usually denoted by xth such as 40th. Basically, percentile sounds familiar with the percentage, but it is different. Percentile usually gives and express all the observations of a given amount below the exact percentage of that amount. Percentile is relative for instance if a student scored 500th rank, so it means 499 people are ahead of him and 500 are behind him and if someone topped, then his percentile will be 100 and means everyone is behind him. These examples express an indication of how well or not well that person or student is compared to the others. Percentile, in reality, is a rank of actually 60 of an above-average score and usually based on the number ranks. These are the reasons that percentile rankings are more often useful in weighing weight and for interpreting results. But percentile cannot be written as in ratio form in mathematics and also cannot be used as in decimal form, but Percentile has quartiles in its formula. Percentile is built on normal distribution method.

What is the Percentage?

The percentage is a measurement of a mathematical unit which shows values out of total 100. Percentage unit is denoted by %. Percentage gives information of ratios, decimals, and proportions because percentage can be written as in ratio form in mathematics and also in decimal form. It is quite easy to understand mathematical form and to use differences when using percentage with different denominators rather than using fractions. For comparison purposes, by using percentage it becomes quite easy to standardize different quantities. Percentage is, therefore, had many wider applications in daily life than percentile. The percentage also used in areas where calculating interest rates are high such as in the financial world or calculating student’s grades. For example, a student’s grades improve from one test to another and improved by 10%. So it is helpful as it shows change over time with the exact same value.

Key Differences

  • Percentile is the value from which percentage values are found below it, whereas percentage shows values out of total 100.
  • Percentile unit is denoted by xth such as 20th, while percentage unit is denoted by %.
  • Percentile cannot be written in ratio form; on the other hand, and percentage can be written in ratio form.
  • Percentile cannot be used in the form of decimals; on the contrary, percentage can be used in the form of decimals.
  • Percentile is usually based on the number ranks; conversely, the percentage is not based on number ranks.
  • Percentile has quartiles, whereas percentage does not have quartiles.
  • Percentile is generally based on a comparison of one case with all other cases, while the percentage is normally based on only one case in a situation.
  • Percentile is built on normal distribution; on the other hand, the percentage does not have a normal distribution.
  • Conclusion

    Above discussion concludes that percentile has percentage values found below it and have a normal distribution, whereas percentage has total value out of 100 with no normal distribution.

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