cirkaangivelser

Cirkaangivelser is a term used primarily in Danish and Norwegian to denote figures or statements that are approximate rather than exact. The word combines cirkа (approximately) with angivelser (indications, statements). In official and statistical contexts it signals that a value is an estimate, not a precise measurement, often due to incomplete data, sampling error, or the use of projections.

Common contexts for cirkaangivelser include population counts, budget figures, economic forecasts, or planning documents where timely data is prioritized over precision. Cirkaangivelser are often presented with rounding, a stated date, and sometimes a range to reflect uncertainty—for example "cirka 2 000" or "cirka 2 000–2 500." The qualifier may also appear as ca. or approximately in the text of a report.

Interpretation and limitations: The use of the term helps set expectations about data reliability and informs risk assessment, but it can hinder precise comparisons if different rounding conventions or timeframes are used. Users should consider the source, date, methodology, and whether a confidence interval or margin of error is available. In practice, cirkaangivelser provide useful information for planning and analysis when exact figures are unavailable or unnecessary for the decision at hand. Related concepts include estimates, rounding, and uncertainty in statistics.