higherthanaverage

Higher than average is a descriptive term used in statistics and everyday language to indicate that a value, measurement, or performance exceeds the average of a defined group or population. It is often used to convey relative position rather than a specific amount above the mean.

In statistical usage, the average commonly refers to the arithmetic mean. A data point is higher than average if it is greater than the mean (x > μ). The proportion of observations above the mean depends on the distribution of the data; in a symmetric distribution such as the normal distribution, about half are above the mean, while in skewed distributions the share can be more or less than 50%.

Examples include test scores higher than the class average, incomes above the national average, or daily temperatures above the historical average. The phrase also appears in business and sports to describe performance metrics that exceed a defined benchmark for a given period or group.

Caution is advised when using the term because the mean can be influenced by extreme values. In some cases, the median or other benchmarks may provide a more robust reference for what constitutes “above average.” It is important to specify the reference group and the method used to compute the average to avoid misinterpretation.

See also: mean, median, distribution, percentile, outlier.