Female population 50-54 linked to consumption
Comparing Population ages 50-54, female, per unit of GDP with Final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP across 182 countries, 2011–2025.
- Rank correlation
- +0.66
- Holding size constant
- +0.51
- Countries compared
- 182
- Period
- 2011–2025
What might link these
The relationship between the proportion of females aged 50-54 and final consumption expenditure could be influenced by demographic factors, such as changes in population structure affecting consumer spending patterns. A careful reader should consider the potential impact of urbanization, as it might influence both indicators. Education level could be a likely confounder, affecting both workforce participation and consumption habits.
Why this is not proof of anything
This is a correlation across countries, not an experiment. It cannot show that either indicator causes the other, and both may simply follow a third thing. This correlation could mislead by implying a direct relationship between these indicators, when in fact they might be driven by underlying demographic or socioeconomic factors.
The second figure above repeats the measurement with national population and income held constant. It is the more conservative number: a relationship that largely disappears there was mostly telling you that larger, richer countries have more of most things.
How this was measured
Both indicators were ranked across every country reporting each, and the two rankings compared — ranks rather than raw values, because a handful of very large countries can otherwise manufacture a relationship on their own. The calculation is arithmetic over figures already published on this site; the commentary above is drafted from the two indicator names and the resulting coefficients.