Correlations between world statistics

Every indicator on this site is compared with every other. These are the 483 relationships that survived testing — measured across countries, then re-measured with population and national income held constant, so that a pair which only reflects country size is discarded rather than published.

Read these carefully

A correlation shows that two numbers move together across countries. It does not show that one causes the other. Both may follow something else entirely, and with tens of thousands of indicators some pairs will line up by chance. Each page below states how many countries were compared and how much of the relationship survived controlling for size — the smaller that second number, the more sceptical you should be.

GDP per capita inversely linked to male population per unit of GDP.
Population, male, per unit of GDP vs GDP (current US$), per capita

-1.00 across 212 countries · -1.00 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Manure N2O emissions correlate strongly with total N2O emissions from pasture
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure... vs Manure Management — Indirect emissions (N2O)

+1.00 across 178 countries · +0.99 once size is held constant · 2023–2050
High child population per GDP linked to lower per capita GDP
Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP vs GDP (current US$), per capita

-0.99 across 212 countries · -0.99 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Wealthier nations have fewer workers per GDP
GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per capita vs Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), per unit of GDP

-0.99 across 204 countries · -0.99 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
GDP per capita inversely related to female population per GDP
GDP per capita (constant 2015 US$) vs Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, per...

-0.99 across 185 countries · -0.98 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Female primary enrolment linked to youth population
Population aged 15-24 years (thousands), per unit of GDP vs Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per unit of GDP

+0.99 across 190 countries · +0.98 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Young male population linked to female age 9 population
Population ages 0-14, male vs Age population, age 09, female, interpolated

+1.00 across 214 countries · +0.98 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
Young males relate to young populations
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands), per unit of GDP vs Population ages 25-29, male, per unit of GDP

+0.99 across 211 countries · +0.98 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Female population 35-39 links to GDP per capita
GDP per capita vs Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP

-0.98 across 209 countries · -0.97 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Young males per GDP link to GDP per capita
GDP per capita vs Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP

-0.98 across 209 countries · -0.97 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Democracy features linked
Key features of democracy vs Key features of liberal democracy, gaps filled

+0.98 across 173 countries · +0.97 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
Government and household spending linked
Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current... vs General government final consumption expenditure (current...

+0.97 across 184 countries · +0.97 once size is held constant · 2004–2025
Wealthy countries spend less per male per GDP
Population, male, per unit of GDP vs Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure...

-0.98 across 170 countries · -0.96 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
Higher spending per person may be linked to fewer men aged 50-54 relative to GDP.
Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP vs Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current...

-0.98 across 182 countries · -0.96 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Similar economies have similar age distributions
Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP vs Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP

+0.97 across 214 countries · +0.96 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
More young males per GDP unit linked to less consumption
Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita vs Population ages 10-14, male, per unit of GDP

-0.97 across 171 countries · -0.95 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
Government spending and economic output per person are strongly linked.
Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita vs General government final consumption expenditure (current...

+0.97 across 178 countries · +0.95 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Consumption expenditure correlates with GDP per capita
GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita vs Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current...

+0.97 across 180 countries · +0.95 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Pig meat production closely tracks pig fat output across countries.
Meat of pig with the bone, fresh or chilled (indigenous) —... vs Fat of pigs — Production

+0.97 across 150 countries · +0.95 once size is held constant · 1990–2024
GDP relates to industry value added per capita
GDP (current LCU) vs Industry (including construction), value added (current...

+0.84 across 204 countries · +0.94 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Higher gov spending links to fewer women per GDP
Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, per... vs General government final consumption expenditure (current...

-0.97 across 158 countries · -0.94 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Exports and industry value linked
Industry (including construction), value added (constant... vs Exports of goods and services (constant LCU), per unit of GDP

+0.94 across 166 countries · +0.94 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Less consumption per capita in countries with more men aged 30-34 per GDP
Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per... vs Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP

-0.97 across 171 countries · -0.94 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
Population distribution per GDP links strongly with people living in urban/rural areas per GDP.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, per unit of GDP vs Population, total, per unit of GDP

+0.96 across 211 countries · +0.94 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Higher GDP per capita correlates with more mobile subscriptions per GDP.
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP vs Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes,...

+0.96 across 181 countries · +0.93 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
More mobile subscriptions in countries with larger populations per GDP
Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP vs Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes,...

+0.96 across 181 countries · +0.93 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Younger males linked to teenage males
Population ages 0-14, male, per capita vs Population ages 15-19, male, per capita

+0.95 across 213 countries · +0.93 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
Credit and exchange rates are linked
DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) vs Net domestic credit (current LCU), per unit of GDP

+0.93 across 167 countries · +0.92 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
Manufacturing output strongly aligns with national expenditure across countries.
Gross national expenditure (current LCU) vs Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU)

+0.96 across 163 countries · +0.92 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Income linked to export capacity
Gross domestic income (constant LCU) vs Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per capita

+0.72 across 179 countries · +0.92 once size is held constant · 2004–2025
High imports correlate with high investment, even after accounting for country size and wealth.
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita vs Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per capita

+0.94 across 164 countries · +0.92 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
Industry value added correlates with gross value added
Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita vs Industry (including construction), value added (constant...

+0.94 across 193 countries · +0.92 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
High merchandise imports per capita strongly linked to higher GDP per capita.
GDP per capita (current US$) vs Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita

+0.94 across 201 countries · +0.91 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
GNI and imports per capita are linked
GNI (current LCU) vs Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita

+0.71 across 183 countries · +0.91 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Higher national spending aligns strongly with greater agricultural output across countries.
Gross national expenditure (current LCU) vs Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value...

+0.95 across 153 countries · +0.91 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
Higher GDP per capita linked to lower urban/rural population per GDP unit by 2050
GDP per capita (constant 2015 US$) vs Urban and rural population 2050, per unit of GDP

-0.95 across 209 countries · -0.91 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Higher service imports strongly associate with larger economies worldwide.
Service imports (BoP, current US$) vs Gross domestic product (GDP)

+0.95 across 184 countries · +0.91 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
Consumption expenditure linked to exchange rates
Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) vs Final consumption expenditure (constant LCU), per unit of GDP

+0.93 across 168 countries · +0.91 once size is held constant · 2022–2025
Male 40-44 population linked to lower government spending
Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP vs General government final consumption expenditure (constant...

-0.95 across 167 countries · -0.91 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
Imports decrease as male 30-34 population rises per GDP
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita vs Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP

-0.93 across 171 countries · -0.90 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
Fewer young females as elderly females increase
Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) vs Population ages 75-79, female, per capita

-0.92 across 214 countries · -0.90 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
Youthful populations correlate with fewer older men, even accounting for wealth and size.
Population ages 0-14, total, per capita vs Population ages 60-64, male, per capita

-0.92 across 213 countries · -0.90 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
Countries with more young males have lower output per worker.
Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP vs Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP...

-0.94 across 181 countries · -0.90 once size is held constant · 2024–2027
Young males per GDP unit linked to worker output
Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP... vs Population ages 25-29, male, per unit of GDP

-0.94 across 181 countries · -0.90 once size is held constant · 2024–2027
Higher national income strongly linked to greater imports of goods and services.
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$) vs GNI, Atlas method (current US$)

+0.96 across 165 countries · +0.89 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
GDP per capita linked to service exports
GDP per capita (current US$) vs Service exports (BoP, current US$), per capita

+0.91 across 186 countries · +0.89 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
Neonatal deaths link to child deaths
Child deaths (aged 1-4 years), per capita vs Number of neonatal deaths, per unit of GDP

+0.92 across 191 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 2024–2024
Higher individual liberties correlate strongly with effective, democratic governments.
Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index vs Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index

+0.90 across 172 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
Liberal democracies are often free
Free country vs Key features of liberal democracy, gaps filled

+0.90 across 172 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
Government spending linked to currency value
DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) vs General government final consumption expenditure (constant...

+0.90 across 169 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 2020–2025
Countries with higher egalitarian democracy scores also tend to grant women stronger civil liberties.
Egalitarian Democracy Index vs Women's Civil Liberties Index

+0.91 across 173 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
Younger populations correlate with higher birth rates relative to economic output.
Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) vs Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP

+0.91 across 211 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
GDP per capita linked to household spending
GDP per capita (constant LCU) vs Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current...

+0.87 across 182 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Consumption linked to agriculture value
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current... vs Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure...

+0.90 across 169 countries · +0.88 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
Female 55-59 population linked to lower capital formation
Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP vs Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita

-0.92 across 162 countries · -0.87 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
Strong civil society links to features of liberal democracy across 173 countries.
Key features of liberal democracy vs Strong Civil Society Index

+0.88 across 173 countries · +0.87 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
Primary school enrollment linked to youth population size
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands), per capita vs Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per unit of GDP

+0.90 across 188 countries · +0.86 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
Higher domestic credit strongly aligns with greater export capacity across countries.
Net domestic credit (current LCU) vs Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU)

+0.91 across 147 countries · +0.86 once size is held constant · 2014–2025
Young female population linked to GDP-normalized youth population
Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP vs Population ages 05-09, female, per capita

+0.89 across 209 countries · +0.86 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
GDP relates to imports per unit of GDP
GDP (constant LCU) vs Imports of goods and services (constant LCU), per unit of GDP

+0.67 across 174 countries · +0.86 once size is held constant · 2011–2025