Procentpoäng

Procentpoäng, or percentage point, is the unit used to describe the absolute difference between two percentages. One percentage point corresponds to a change of 1 percentage point, which is equal to 0.01 in decimal form. This unit is used to express shifts in rates without implying a specific base or proportional change.

A key distinction is between percentage points and percent change. A change of 2 percentage points is the difference between two percentages (for example, from 40% to 42%), whereas the percent change would be calculated relative to the initial value (in this example, a 5% increase since 2/40 = 0.05). Similarly, a move from 8% to 6% is a decrease of 2 percentage points, not a 25% drop in the rate.

Common usage includes polling, elections, and other statistics where small shifts in public opinion or proportions are important. It is also used in finance and economics to report changes in inflation, interest, or other rates. The term helps avoid confusion that can arise when describing changes in percentages, since a percentage change can be larger or smaller depending on the starting point.

In summary, procentpoäng provides a clear, additive way to report changes in percentages. It is distinct from percent change and is best understood as the straightforward difference between two percentage values.