In this publication, a MS Excel workbook was used as a tool of presenting statistical data, which contain information in the form of absolute and relative numbers (indicators).
Statistics most often and most commonly uses figures to describe the population or phenomena surveyed. The description may be aimed at presenting the size, structure or dynamics of the populations or phenomena.
The collective numerical characteristics of the statistical population are indicators.
The indicator is the quotient of two quantities corresponding to the constituent parts of a given population or representing the features of two different populations, or concerning the same population, but at different times or periods.
We distinguish three main types of indicators:
- indicators of structure,
- intensity indicators,
- indicators of dynamics.
Indicators of structure, also called structural numbers, determine the ratio of a certain size of a part of the statistical population to that of the total population.
The indicator or measure of intensity determines the ratio of the values characterizing two different populations or statistical phenomena related to each other in a certain causal or logical manner.
Indicators of dynamics express the ratio between numbers characterizing a certain size in two different periods or moments of time. They are used to study dynamic series, and so changes that occur in statistical populations over a period of time.
There are two basic measures of the dynamics of statistical population: absolute increase and relative increase.
The absolute increase is the difference between the values of the variable in consecutive periods (e.g. in consecutive years, months or days).
The relative increase is the ratio of the absolute increase to the value of the variable from the previous period. If this relative increase is multiplied by 100, we will get a percentage increase.
The absolute increase and relative increase may be positive, negative or may be equal to zero.
Indexes are the most commonly used measure of dynamics. The index is the ratio of the variable value from different periods to the value of the same variable from the determined comparative period.
Indices are the most commonly used measure of dynamics. The index is the ratio of the variable value from different periods to the value of the same variable from the determined comparative period.
Relative numbers were usually calculated based on absolute data expressed with greater accuracy than those given in the spreadsheets.
When calculating data per capita (1000 population, etc.) as of the end of the year (e.g. employment, public library collection), the population was assumed as of 31 XII, and when calculating data characterizing the size of the phenomenon during the year (e.g. vital statistics, dwellings completed) - as of 30 VI.
Automatic rounding of numbers in some cases could cause minor differences in sums of data at higher level of aggregation.
Methods for calculating the indicators included in the publication.