Correlations between world statistics
Every indicator on this site is compared with every other. These are the 488 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.
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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
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Higher GNI per capita linked to a greater share of imports relative to GDP.
GNI per capita (current LCU) vs Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP
+0.83 across 183 countries · +0.86 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Older populations per unit of GDP are linked to lower GDP per capita.
GDP per capita in international and market dollars vs Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP
-0.90 across 209 countries · -0.85 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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GDP per capita linked to elderly population ratio
GDP per capita vs Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP
-0.90 across 209 countries · -0.85 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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GNI and expenditure linked
GNI (current LCU) vs Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP
+0.74 across 178 countries · +0.85 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Labour force growth linked to youth population
Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate vs Population ages 0-14, total, per capita
+0.89 across 185 countries · +0.85 once size is held constant · 2025–2027
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Industry and agriculture values correlate
Industry (including construction), value added (current... vs Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant...
+0.87 across 195 countries · +0.85 once size is held constant · 2009–2025
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Older men linked to slower workforce growth
Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate vs Population ages 65-69, male, per capita
-0.88 across 211 countries · -0.85 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Consumption expenditure linked to service exports
Service exports (BoP, current US$) vs Final consumption expenditure (current US$)
+0.86 across 164 countries · +0.85 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
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Agriculture value linked to currency conversion
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU) vs DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$)
+0.82 across 193 countries · +0.85 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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More oil consumption links to less female primary education
Oil consumption, per capita vs Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per unit of GDP
-0.89 across 183 countries · -0.84 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Countries with higher merchandise exports tend to have higher GNI.
GNI (current US$) vs Merchandise exports (current US$)
+0.95 across 197 countries · +0.84 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Democracy linked to freedom
Deliberative Democracy Index vs Free country
+0.87 across 172 countries · +0.84 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Countries with more young dependents export fewer commercial services per GDP unit.
Commercial service exports (current US$) vs Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP
-0.65 across 185 countries · -0.84 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
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Expenditure linked to agriculture value
Gross national expenditure (current LCU) vs Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant...
+0.73 across 170 countries · +0.84 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Female primary enrollment linked to exports
Exports of goods, services and primary income (BoP, current US$) vs Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per unit of GDP
-0.56 across 177 countries · -0.84 once size is held constant · 2016–2025
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Energy use linked to government spending
Primary energy use, per capita vs General government final consumption expenditure (constant...
+0.90 across 162 countries · +0.84 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Energy use rises with expenditure
Primary energy use, per capita vs Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita
+0.90 across 171 countries · +0.84 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Manufacturing value linked to fewer infant deaths
Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita vs Number of infant deaths, male, per unit of GDP
-0.86 across 177 countries · -0.83 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
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Higher service exports may relate to lower female primary enrolment per GDP unit.
Service exports (BoP, current US$) vs Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per unit of GDP
-0.66 across 177 countries · -0.83 once size is held constant · 2016–2025
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Fewer under-five deaths linked to more exports
Exports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) vs Number of under-five deaths, male, per unit of GDP
-0.57 across 179 countries · -0.83 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
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Countries with younger populations consume less oil per person
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands), per unit of GDP vs Oil consumption, per capita
-0.88 across 200 countries · -0.83 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Wealthier countries use more energy per person
GDP (current US$), per capita vs Primary energy use, per capita
+0.88 across 200 countries · +0.82 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Service exports rise with total goods and services exports per capita.
Service exports (BoP, current US$) vs Exports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per capita
+0.58 across 200 countries · +0.82 once size is held constant · 1994–2025
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Manure and fermentation emissions linked
Enteric Fermentation — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) vs Manure left on Pasture — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5)
+0.95 across 181 countries · +0.82 once size is held constant · 2023–2050
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Democracy linked to freedom of expression
Democracy vs Freedom of Expression Index
+0.85 across 173 countries · +0.82 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
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Older and middle-aged male populations show a strong link, even after accounting for country size.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per unit of GDP vs Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP
+0.89 across 211 countries · +0.82 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Countries with higher exports tend to import more wood and paper products.
Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$) vs Primary wood and paper products (export/import) — Import value
+0.93 across 146 countries · +0.82 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Higher GDP countries tend to have lower manufacturing share of GDP.
Gross domestic product (GDP) vs Manufacturing value added to gdp, per unit of GDP
-0.93 across 193 countries · -0.82 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Freedom of association strongly correlates with electoral democracy across 173 countries.
Freedom of Association Index vs Electoral democracy
+0.84 across 173 countries · +0.81 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
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Countries with higher per‑person investment also tend to export more commercial services per person.
Commercial service exports (current US$), per capita vs Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita
+0.87 across 149 countries · +0.81 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
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Public admin score linked to liberal democracy
Rigorous and Impartial Public Administration Score vs Key features of liberal democracy, gaps filled
+0.85 across 173 countries · +0.81 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
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Female population 70-74 linked to slower growth
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate vs Population ages 70-74, female, per capita
-0.83 across 211 countries · -0.80 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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GNI and GDP per unit correlate
GNI (current LCU) vs GDP (constant LCU), per unit of GDP
+0.70 across 205 countries · +0.80 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Older women linked to lower imports
Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP vs Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita
-0.88 across 171 countries · -0.80 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
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Young females relate to agriculture value
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current... vs Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP
+0.87 across 201 countries · +0.80 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Younger males per GDP linked to fewer elderly males
Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita vs Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP
-0.84 across 211 countries · -0.80 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Countries with higher imports tend to have more domestic credit per unit of GDP.
Imports of goods and services (constant LCU) vs Net domestic credit (current LCU), per unit of GDP
+0.78 across 148 countries · +0.80 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Wealthier countries have fewer young males
GDP per capita (current US$) vs Population ages 15-19, male, per capita
-0.85 across 211 countries · -0.80 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Higher GNI per capita is strongly linked to higher GDP per unit.
GNI (current LCU), per capita vs GDP (constant LCU), per unit of GDP
+0.80 across 205 countries · +0.80 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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GNI per capita relates to GDP per unit
GNI per capita (current LCU) vs GDP (constant LCU), per unit of GDP
+0.80 across 205 countries · +0.80 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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More young males linked to less consumption
Population ages 10-14, male, per capita vs Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current...
-0.86 across 179 countries · -0.80 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Oil and gas production correlate
Gas production, per capita vs Oil production, per capita
+0.84 across 202 countries · +0.80 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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GNI linked to household spending
GNI (current LCU) vs Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure...
+0.69 across 169 countries · +0.79 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Countries with more equal access to power tend to have higher tax revenue relative to electoral democracy.
Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index vs Equal Access to Power Index
+0.83 across 173 countries · +0.79 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
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Fewer women 30-34, more exports
Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$) vs Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP
-0.55 across 171 countries · -0.79 once size is held constant · 2015–2025
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Female 70-74 and 05-09 populations correlate
Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP vs Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP
+0.87 across 212 countries · +0.79 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Female 20-24 population linked to agricultural GDP share
Share of GDP from agriculture vs Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP
+0.86 across 200 countries · +0.79 once size is held constant · 2011–2025
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Countries with higher per‑person investment also tend to export more goods per person, even after adjusting for size and overall wealth.
Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita vs Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per capita
+0.87 across 166 countries · +0.79 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Wealthier countries have fewer young people
Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) vs GDP (current US$), per capita
-0.85 across 209 countries · -0.79 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Service exports decrease as young female population increases
Service exports (BoP, current US$) vs Population ages 0-14, female, per capita
-0.66 across 185 countries · -0.78 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Countries with more young girls per capita tend to have lower economic output per person.
Population ages 0-14, female, per capita vs Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita
-0.85 across 200 countries · -0.78 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Countries with higher total emissions tend to have more manure left on pasture.
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture vs Manure left on Pasture — Emissions (N2O)
+0.94 across 167 countries · +0.78 once size is held constant · 2023–2050
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Young male population linked to population per GDP
Total population (thousands), per unit of GDP vs Population ages 05-09, male, per capita
+0.84 across 208 countries · +0.78 once size is held constant · 2025–2025
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Higher manure emissions strongly linked to total emissions across countries
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture vs Manure left on Pasture — Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5)
+0.94 across 167 countries · +0.77 once size is held constant · 2023–2050
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Exports linked to energy use
Primary energy use, per capita vs Goods exports (BoP, current US$), per capita
+0.85 across 178 countries · +0.77 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Nations with higher energy use per person tend to hold more gold reserves per person.
Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita vs Primary energy use, per capita
+0.84 across 171 countries · +0.77 once size is held constant · 2024–2025
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Countries with a larger share of elderly people relative to GDP tend to import less per person.
Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP vs Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per capita
-0.85 across 185 countries · -0.77 once size is held constant · 2018–2025
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Countries with engaged societies tend to score higher on democracy and human rights.
Human Rights Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index vs Engaged Society Score
+0.78 across 173 countries · +0.77 once size is held constant · 1948–2025
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Young population linked to fewer exports
Commercial service exports (current US$), per capita vs Population aged 15-24 years (thousands), per capita
-0.80 across 183 countries · -0.76 once size is held constant · 2025–2025