How to Calculate Percentage Change
Percentage change quantifies how much a value has grown or shrunk relative to its starting point. It is used in finance to measure returns, in science to report experimental results, in economics to track growth rates, and in everyday life to compare prices. The formula divides the absolute change by the original value, giving a relative measure of change.
Google ad
Formula
Percentage Change
Calculate the percentage increase or decrease between two values.
Google ad
Worked Example
Given:
Related Calculators
FAQs
What if the old value is negative?
When the old value is negative, the formula can produce counterintuitive results. For example, a change from -10 to -5 shows a 50% improvement, which may not match intuition. Always consider the context carefully when the base value is negative.
What is the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?
Percentage change measures change from an old value to a new value — it has direction (increase or decrease) and uses the old value as the base. Percentage difference compares two values without a clear starting point, using the average of both values as the base.
How is CAGR different from simple percentage change?
Simple percentage change measures total change over a period. CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) calculates the equivalent constant annual growth rate that would produce the same total change. A stock that doubled over 10 years has 100% total return but a CAGR of approximately 7.18%.