62% of U.S. adults admit little or no statistical knowledge, survey finds
More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic statistical understanding
A Penn State-led study of 1,000 U.S. adults found that 62% report little or no understanding of basic statistics, while only 11% regularly use stats in daily life. Despite this gap, 90% say they'd rely on statistics more if they understood them better. The researchers, who analyzed survey data from the 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings, emphasize that statistical literacy is crucial for evaluating evidence in news, social media, and policy debates. They suggest that basic, intuitive introductions to statistical concepts can help people trust or question data more effectively.
Statistics does not provide certainty; rather, it works with the uncertainty present in nature and society to provide a reasonable approach for making decisions.