Quick Navigation

VAR.P Function

Excel 2010+

Summary

The VAR.P function calculates the variance for an entire population dataset in Excel. It uses the population variance formula, which divides by the total number of data points rather than n-1 used in sample variance.

Syntax

VAR.P(number1,[number2],...)

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
number1	`Number`	Yes	First numeric argument representing population data - can be single value, array, or cell reference
number2,...	`Number`	No	Optional additional numbers/ranges (2-254 total arguments) corresponding to population

Using the VAR.P Function

VAR.P is essential for statistical analysis when you have data representing the complete population rather than just a sample. Use it for quality control of entire production batches, analysis of all test scores in a class, or any scenario where every data point matters.

Common VAR.P Examples

Population Variance for Tool Strengths

=VAR.P(A2:A11)

Calculates variance for breaking strengths of 10 tools (678.84), treating all 10 as the complete population.

Compare Population vs Sample Variance

=VAR.P(A2:A11)

Shows difference: VAR.P=678.84 (population) vs VAR.S=754.27 (sample) for same dataset.

Multiple Value Arguments

=VAR.P(10,12,15,14,13)

Direct variance calculation for small population dataset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use VAR.P when your data represents the entire population. Use VAR.S for samples of a larger population.

No, VAR.P ignores text, logical values, and empty cells in ranges. Use VARPA to include them.

Error values or unconvertible text cause the entire function to return an error.

Common Errors and Solutions

#VALUE! error

Cause: Arguments contain text that can't be converted to numbers or error values

Solution: Ensure all arguments contain valid numbers or remove problematic data

#DIV/0! error

Cause: All arguments are identical (zero variance)

Solution: This is mathematically correct - population has no variance

Notes

Formula: σ² = Σ(xi - μ)² / N where μ is population mean and N is total count
Logical values typed directly into arguments ARE counted (unlike ranges)
Maximum 254 arguments total
Equivalent to 1/N * SUM((xi-AVERAGE)^2)

Compatibility

Available in: Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel for the web

Not available in: Excel 2007 and earlier

Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2010+