Cookies on ons.gov.uk

Cookies are small files stored on your device when you visit a website. We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We would like to set additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use the site. This helps us to improve our services.

You have accepted all additional cookies. You have rejected all additional cookies. You can change your cookie preferences at any time.

Skip to main content

Percentages and percentage points

Use the percentage symbol (%) with no space between it and the number. This symbol can be used as it is read out by screen readers.

The goalie saved 91% of the penalties.

Use the same number of decimal places for a sequence of percentages.

There were increases of 17.20%, 6.18% and 5.67%.

A percentage point is the difference between percentages. A value of 10% falling by 1 percentage point becomes 9% (10% has 10 percentage points). A fall of 1% would result in a value of 9.9%.

When writing about percentage points, always use "percentage" and never "%age". The word "points" should always be plural, except for when referring to 1 percentage point.

The sector grew by 0.7 percentage points, while the industry grew by 2.6 percentage points.
The sector grew by 1.0 percentage point.