World of Statistics is an extremely successful page. It was initially launched in December 2020, and it has already amassed over 838k followers. The page's bio quotes the late Mark Twain saying, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” But along with the sense of humor the creator sometimes showcases on the page, followers certainly can learn a thing or two. For example, did you know that about 11% of Americans have never left the state that they were born in? If you happen to be one of those people, it might be time to start planning a road trip!
It’s not surprising that this page has grown such a massive following though. Learning more about our world is always fun, and it can be great to have a break from the memes and jokes on Twitter to actually gain some knowledge. There is nothing wrong with discussing comedy content you find online with your friends, but at your next dinner party or work gathering, it might be more fitting to bring up some of the eye-opening stats you’ve learned from World of Statistics.
To gain some insight on the background of the page, we reached out the creator of World of Statistics, Denis. "World of Statistics was launched as an addition to our main account - World of Engineering," Denis told Bored Panda. "On the WoE page, I often posted various statistics on engineering topics and saw that it had a very good response from the audience. People love statistics. And since the topics for statistics are endless, it was decided to make a separate account, which began to develop rapidly."
When asked why people find statistics so fascinating, Denis told us, "Statistics are important because today we live in the information world. Literally in one tweet you see enough information to assess the state of any issue in the world. There are countries often compared with each other, and of course, followers are always happy to see their countries in the top."
We also asked Denis to share the most fascinating stat that he knows, and he told us, with a smile, that 69.420% of statistics are made up. Yeah, I'm going to have to have that one fact-checked...
We also reached out to Tim Macuga for some insight on the topic of statistics, as he was one of the team members behind creating The Random Sample podcast, which provides a unique glimpse into the world of mathematics and statistics, and how these sciences play such a crucial role in so many areas of our lives. "The world is literally swimming in data," Tim told Bored Panda. "More than ever, we need people who understand how to work with data and who have the expertise on how to analyze it and find the hidden stories inside of it that will help governments, businesses and other organisations make better-informed decisions."
Tim also made it clear how fascinating statistics can be. "Statistics are anything but boring," he says. "The skills that statisticians have allow them to work on a variety of problems that involve business, the environment, conservation, health and so on. No matter where your interests are, there’s a problem for you to help tackle with your statistical expertise. It also allows you to get involved in a variety of different problems. That never gets boring!"
We also asked Tim for his thoughts on why it's so important for us to study statistics. "There is only going to be a growing demand for these skills," he told Bored Panda. "Students who take this path will definitely open themselves up to a world of opportunities."
If you'd like to hear more about the magic of statistics and check out The Random Sample podcast, which Tim tells me is preparing to re-launch soon, you can find it right here.
You probably use statistics in your daily life more than you even realize. Even if you are not sitting at a computer analyzing data or crunching numbers, somebody is doing it behind the scenes to make your life easier. According to Michigan Technological University, the importance of applied statistics has increased exponentially over time, so in today’s data-driven world, we rely more heavily than ever on the discipline of statistics.
Michigan Tech notes the census as a prime example of how statistics have become more prevalent over time. The United States conducted its first census in 1790, but since then, the census has become more and more comprehensive. It now covers a diverse range of topics to provide accurate information about the demographics and economic information of the population. The statistics garnered from the census are then used to help governments make decisions affecting the allocation of funds, congressional representation, where school districts lie and much more. In fact, the American federal government now has 13 statistical agencies analyzing information related to labor trends, health, education, and much more.
Every government and organization around the world relies heavily on statistics to get anything done. The United Nations Statistics Division even refers to the role of official statistics as an “indispensable element in the information system of a democratic society” and “one of the cornerstones of good government and public confidence in good government“. Accurate statistics are vital to politicians who need to know where to campaign and what demographics to target and to law enforcement agencies attempting to combat crime and fraud. If there were no records showing how effective, or ineffective, methods have been in stopping crime, agencies would simply be blindly guessing by trial and error, wasting time and resources and allowing for many more victims.
A few of the examples Michigan Tech provides for how governments use statistics every day are for tracking economic numbers, conducting federal science research, and collecting and analyzing educational data. It is crucial that governments keep a close eye on all of this information to better serve their constituents and make decisions in the best interest of the nation.
Imagine if we did not have any accurate statistics available to help us make informed decisions. How many people die climbing this mountain each year? I have no idea, so I’ll just assume there is no risk! What are the chances that it will rain on this particular day in April? I’m not sure, so I’ll plan my wedding to be outdoors with no backup plans whatsoever! Is it healthy to eat red meat three times a day every day of my life? Nothing is telling me otherwise, so I’ll just carry on this way. Okay, you get the point. But can you imagine if we really were running around making decisions with absolutely no information to go off of? Life would be chaotic, dangerous and reckless. I, for one, am extremely thankful for whoever is out there cracking away at a computer and conducting surveys to make my life easier.
Statistics can be comforting as well. If you have a phobia of sharks or plane crashes, it might actually be nice to learn the exact numbers on how often these freak incidents occur. In the entire year of 2021, worldwide, there were only 137 shark attacks reported. And of those attacks that were unprovoked, only 9 ended up being fatal. Considering how massive the planet is and how many people go swimming, surfing and poking around in the oceans each year, your chances of avoiding sharks are pretty good. And when it comes to plane crashes? The average person’s risk of dying on a commercial flight, due to an accident or crash, is about one in 29.4 million. That is extremely unlikely. Feel safer traveling now?
If you’re a sports fan, it’s likely that you are invested in statistics as well. Data analytics are extremely important in professional sports to improve players’ performances, decide which players to draft and sign, determine what course of action to take depending on the opponent at hand, and to decide how much to pay each professional athlete. Coaches and players often analyze hours of footage to find out exactly what they did well and how to replicate it, along with what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening again in the future. Almost everything can be broken down to a science, including how to win a national championship.
Statistics are also necessary to have proof of just how great an athlete is. Any casual UFC viewer can see that Kamaru Usman is an incredible fighter, but it is much more impressive to know that he has 20 wins and only 2 losses in his professional career. He also had been taken down by an opponent exactly 0 times until recently. Accurately tracking statistics on athletes may not be a life or death situation, like keeping a close eye on Covid-19 rates or a nation’s health information, but it certainly is fascinating. And it can help a player solidify their title as greatest of all time or help them land a spot in the hall of fame.
