Purpose
Return value
Syntax
=STDEVP(number1,[number2],...)
- number1 - First number or reference in the sample.
- number2 - [optional] Second number or reference.
Using the STDEVP function
The STDEVP function calculates the standard deviation for an entire population. Standard deviation is a measure of how much variance there is in a set of numbers compared to the average (mean) of the numbers. The STDEVP function is meant to estimate standard deviation for an entire population. If data represents a sample, use the STDEV function .
Note: STDEVP has been replaced with a newer function called STDEV.P , which has identical behavior. Although STDEVP still exists for backwards compatibility, Microsoft recommends that people use the newer STDEV.P function instead.
Standard Deviation functions in Excel
The table below summarizes the standard deviation functions provided by Excel.
| Name | Data set | Text and logicals |
|---|---|---|
| STDEV | Sample | Ignored |
| STDEVP | Population | Ignored |
| STDEV.S | Sample | Ignored |
| STDEV.P | Population | Ignored |
| STDEVA | Sample | Evaluated |
| STDEVPA | Population | Evaluated |
Notes:
- STDEVP calculates standard deviation using the “n” method, ignoring logical values and text.
- STDEVP assumes your data is the entire population. When your data is a sample set only, calculate standard deviation using the STDEV function (or its more current replacement, the STDEV.S function).
- Numbers are supplied as arguments. They can be supplied as actual numbers, ranges, arrays, or references that contain numbers.
- The STDEVP function ignores logical values and text. If you want to include logical values and/or numbers as text in a reference, use the STDEVA function.
Purpose
Return value
Syntax
=STDEVPA(number1,[number2],...)
- number1 - First number or reference in the sample.
- number2 - [optional] Second number or reference.
Using the STDEVPA function
The STDEVPA function calculates the standard deviation for data that represents an entire population, evaluating text and logicals as numbers as part of the calculation. TEXT is evaluated as zero, TRUE is evaluated as 1, and FALSE is evaluated as zero.
Standard deviation is a measure of how much variance there is in a set of numbers compared to the average (mean) of the numbers. The STDEVPA function is meant to estimate standard deviation for an entire population. If data represents a sample, use the STDEVA function.
In the example shown, the formula in E5 is:
=STDEVPA(B5:B11)
Standard Deviation functions in Excel
The table below summarizes the standard deviation functions provided by Excel.
| Name | Data set | Text and logicals |
|---|---|---|
| STDEV | Sample | Ignored |
| STDEVP | Population | Ignored |
| STDEV.S | Sample | Ignored |
| STDEV.P | Population | Ignored |
| STDEVA | Sample | Evaluated |
| STDEVPA | Population | Evaluated |
Notes:
- Only use STDEVPA when you need to evaluate logicals or text in the standard deviation calculation.
- STDEVPA calculates standard deviation using the “n” method.
- STDEVA assumes data is an entire population. When data representations a sample, use STDEVA or STDEV.S
- Numbers are supplied as arguments. They can be supplied as actual numbers, ranges, arrays, or references that contain numbers.
- STDEVPA will evaluate logical values and/or numbers in supplied references. To ignore these values use STDEVP or STDEV.P
