How to Use Population Database Statistics DSTDEVP and DVARP in Excel

Use DVARP and DSTDEVP when the matching records are the whole group — every store in a region — not a sample.

You will learn to

• Find the population variance of matching records
• Find the population standard deviation
• Calculate a z-score within a group

How it works

DVARP and DSTDEVP calculate the variance and standard deviation of matching records treating them as the complete population, dividing by n rather than n − 1. Use them when you have every member of the group, such as all the stores in a region, rather than a sample.

With the population standard deviation you can score any member against its group: (value − DAVERAGE) ÷ DSTDEVP is a z-score that says how many standard deviations a store sits above or below its regional average.

=DSTDEVP(A1:E13,"Weekly sales",G1:G2)