What is 85th percentile?

The 85th percentile represents a value below which 85% of all observations fall. In a statistical distribution, the 85th percentile mark separates the top 15% of the observations from the rest of the data. Practically speaking, it indicates that 15% of the values are higher than the 85th percentile, and 85% of the values are lower than or equal to it.

The 85th percentile can be calculated using various methods, depending on the nature and availability of the data. If you are working with a set of data, you can sort the values in ascending order. The value at position (n * 0.85) represents the 85th percentile, where n is the total number of data points.

In many statistical software packages and tools, there are built-in functions to calculate percentiles. For instance, in Microsoft Excel, you can use the PERCENTILE function to obtain the desired percentile for a given dataset.

Understanding and interpreting the 85th percentile can provide valuable insights into various datasets and measurements. It can serve as a benchmark to assess performance or outcomes relative to a specific criterion. Researchers, analysts, and professionals across different fields use percentiles, including the 85th percentile, to draw meaningful conclusions and make data-driven decisions.