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Percentage Points vs Percent

The difference between a change in percentage points and a percent change, with concrete examples.

By Gampangin· Published · Updated · Reviewed by Gampangin· 1 min read· Calculators

AI-assisted draft. Editorial responsibility: Gampangin.

A percentage is a dimensionless ratio expressed per hundred. A percentage point is the unit for the arithmetic difference between two percentages. A rate that moves from 10% to 15% rises by 5 percentage points, which is a 50 percent increase.

01When each is correct

  • Use percentage points for the gap between two percentages.
  • Use percent for the relative change between them.
  • State the unit so a reader cannot misread the two.

02Limitations

Percentage points have no meaning without the percentages they refer to, and values above 100 or below 0 need care in interpretation.

Sources

  1. NIST Special Publication 811: Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI) — NIST (accessed 2026-09-27)
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