Statistics of the Year

The Royal Statistical Society has announced its winning statistics for 2020.

UK Statistic of the Year 2020 - 17,750
The number of excess deaths in April in care homes in England and Wales over four weeks (4th April - 1st May). Total deaths in care homes were 200% higher than the five-year average, compared with 85% higher in the home, and 65% higher in hospitals. Source: ONS

International Statistic of the Year 2020 - 332 days
The length of time between scientists publishing the genetic sequence of Covid-19 (11 January 2020) and an effective vaccine being administered (8 December 2020).
Source: World Health Organization, NHS

Read more about this year’s UK and international Statistics of the Year

Criteria

• The nominated statistic should ideally have a public interest dimension to it
• The statistic does not need to have an established media profile – it could be a number that is newsworthy but, in your view, has not previously received the attention it deserves
• The statistic should be accurate, coherent and not misleading
• It should ideally provide an interesting insight into a specific issue
• Examples could include:
  • A statistic that debunks a popular myth
  • A statistic relevant to a key news story or social trend
• The nominated statistic does not necessarily need to have been produced within 2020 but it does need to have become relevant in that time
• The RSS particularly welcomes nominations that reflect a wide breadth, geographic spread and diversity of topics. We particularly encourage nominations covering topics or issues that have been under-represented in previous Statistics of the Year.
• The judges will consider any potential limitations or criticisms of the statistic they select.

Follow the hashtag #StatsoftheYear on social media for updates!