Statistical

VAR.P Function in Excel

Calculates variance based on the entire population.

Syntax

  • =VAR.P(number1, [number2], ...)

Arguments

  • number1 (required): First value or range
  • number2 (optional): Additional values or ranges

Examples

  • =VAR.P(A1:A100) - Population variance - Result: Variance value

VAR.P for data analysis

  • Confirm whether you need entire columns, filtered subsets, or distinct values.
  • Use [COUNTIFS](/functions/countifs/) and [SUMIFS](/functions/sumifs/) for multi-criteria metrics.
  • Pivot tables complement single-cell statistical formulas for exploration.

Common errors

  • Use when data represents entire population

Use cases

  • Variance analysis
  • Risk assessment
  • Quality metrics

Frequently asked questions

  • What is variance and how is it useful? Variance measures how far values spread from the mean, calculated as the average of squared differences from the mean. It's useful in finance for risk assessment (portfolio variance), quality control (process consistency), and statistical testing.
  • How do I calculate pooled variance for multiple groups? Pooled variance combines variances from multiple groups: =((n1-1)*VAR.S(group1) + (n2-1)*VAR.S(group2)) / (n1+n2-2). This is used in t-tests comparing two groups with assumed equal variances.

Editorial review

  • Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.

When to use VAR.P

  • Variance analysis — common Statistical scenario for VAR.P.
  • Risk assessment — common Statistical scenario for VAR.P.
  • Quality metrics — common Statistical scenario for VAR.P.

VAR.P in the Statistical category

  • Browse all Statistical functions at /categories/statistical/ for related formulas.
  • VAR.P syntax: =VAR.P(number1, [number2], ...)
  • number1 (required): First value or range
  • number2 (optional): Additional values or ranges
  • Confirm VAR.P arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.

Formula checklist before you copy down

  • Confirm VAR.P arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.
  • If results look wrong, check for text stored as numbers and invisible spaces with TRIM.
  • Spot-check three known input rows manually against expected output.

Related Excel functions

  • VAR.S (/functions/var-s/): Estimates variance based on a sample.
  • STDEV.P (/functions/stdev-p/): Calculates standard deviation based on the entire population.
  • AVERAGE (/functions/average/): Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of the arguments.

Errors to watch for

  • Use when data represents entire population — review causes on linked error pages in the directory.

Copy-paste audit workflow

  • Enter VAR.P on three test rows with known expected output documented on a QA tab.
  • Fill down only after absolute references are locked on lookup tables and rate tables.
  • Compare against manual calculation or a calculator for financial and statistical functions.
  • Search this directory for comparison guides when choosing between similar functions in the same category.

VAR.P worked examples to copy

  • =VAR.P(A1:A100) — Population variance. Expected result: Variance value.

VAR.P reference summary for crawlers and offline review

  • VAR.P belongs to the Statistical category in Excel. Calculates variance based on the entire population.
  • Full syntax: =VAR.P(number1, [number2], ...). Open /functions/var-p/ for parameters, FAQs, and related pages.
  • Common mistakes: Use when data represents entire population
  • Pair this function with comparison guides when another Excel formula might fit the same task better.
  • Review fix-excel-formula-errors when unexpected errors appear after upgrading Excel or sharing across locales.