Percentage Points Calculator
Find the difference between two percentages expressed in percentage points (pp). This calculator also shows the relative percentage change so you can see both measures side by side.
How It Works
A percentage point is the arithmetic difference between two percentage values. If a tax rate rises from 20% to 25%, it has increased by 5 percentage points. This is different from saying it increased by 25% — that would be the relative percentage change.
The Formula
Percentage points = Second % - First %
Relative change = (Difference / First %) x 100
Percentage Points vs Percentage Change
These two measures tell you very different things. If interest rates go from 2% to 3%, that is a 1 percentage point increase but a 50% relative increase. Politicians and journalists often use whichever number sounds more dramatic, so knowing both is important for interpreting figures accurately.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Approval rating rises from 30% to 45%
Percentage points: 45 - 30 = +15 pp. Relative change: (15 / 30) x 100 = +50%
Example 2: Tax rate falls from 40% to 35%
Percentage points: 35 - 40 = -5 pp. Relative change: (-5 / 40) x 100 = -12.5%
Example 3: Conversion rate improves from 2% to 3%
Percentage points: 3 - 2 = +1 pp. Relative change: (1 / 2) x 100 = +50%
Example 4: Interest rate moves from 0.5% to 1.25%
Percentage points: 1.25 - 0.5 = +0.75 pp. Relative change: (0.75 / 0.5) x 100 = +150%
Example 5: Pass rate drops from 85% to 72%
Percentage points: 72 - 85 = -13 pp. Relative change: (-13 / 85) x 100 = -15.3%
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