Percent Growth Calculator
Understanding Percent Growth
Percent growth is a mathematical measure used to describe the relative increase of a value over time. It is widely used in economics, population studies, business reporting, and data analysis to provide context to changes that absolute numbers cannot convey on their own.
The Percentage Growth Formula
To calculate the growth percentage between two values, you subtract the initial value from the final value, divide that difference by the initial value, and then multiply by 100.
Growth % = ((Final Value – Initial Value) / Initial Value) × 100
Step-by-Step Calculation Example
Suppose your website traffic was 1,200 visitors last month (Initial Value) and grew to 1,800 visitors this month (Final Value). Here is how you calculate the growth:
- Subtract: 1,800 – 1,200 = 600 (This is the absolute growth).
- Divide: 600 / 1,200 = 0.5.
- Multiply: 0.5 × 100 = 50%.
Your website traffic experienced a 50% growth.
Common Use Cases
| Metric | Initial | Final | Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 10,000 | 15,000 | 50% |
| Population | 250,000 | 262,500 | 5% |
| Stock Price | 120.00 | 138.00 | 15% |
What if the result is negative?
If the final value is lower than the initial value, the calculation will result in a negative number. This represents a percentage decrease or negative growth. For instance, if a company's sales drop from 100 units to 80 units, the growth is -20%.