proportion of the population

USAGE SUMMARY

"proportion of the population" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a specific group of people within the overall population. For example, you could say, "The proportion of the population between the ages of 25 and 35 is rising."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Metropolitan Manila is densely populated and contains a significant proportion of the population of the country.

Britannica

21% – non-white proportion of the population by 2030.

The Guardian - Business

A greater proportion of the population will fall victim to heart disease or cancer.

The Guardian

The proportion of the population that has never been to university is naturally dwindling.

The Guardian

By this point a significant proportion of the population had started to mobilise against them.

The Guardian

Changing Landscape Catholics represent a tiny proportion of the population in India — about 2percentt.

The New York Times

The simplest is that London is too big, as a proportion of the population.

The Guardian - Books

The most painful example for a sizeable proportion of the population is rail fares.

The Guardian

Catholics were oversampled and then weighted to their proper proportion of the population.

The New York Times

That would list each group in the order of their proportion of the population.

The New Yorker

The proportion of the population identifying as Christian is estimated at just under one-third.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proportion of the population", ensure you clearly define the specific group you are referencing to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify age range, ethnicity, or any other relevant characteristic.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a small "proportion of the population" is insignificant. Even a small proportion can represent a large number of individuals, especially in densely populated areas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proportion of the population" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject or object within a sentence. It specifies a relative amount of a group in relation to the total number of people. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

27%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "proportion of the population" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating a relative amount of a group within a larger population. As Ludwig highlights, its usage spans diverse fields, from news reporting to academic research. While alternatives like "percentage of the population" and "share of the population" exist, "proportion" serves as a versatile and widely understood term. Remember to clearly define the subgroup you're referencing and avoid misinterpreting statistical significance. Overall, understanding the contexts and nuances of this phrase ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

percentage of the population

Replaces "proportion" with "percentage", focusing on the numerical aspect.

share of the population

Substitutes "proportion" with "share", emphasizing the portion belonging to a specific group.

ratio of the population

Uses "ratio" instead of "proportion", highlighting the relative quantity between two groups.

amount of the population

Replaces "proportion" with "amount", focusing on the quantity of people.

fraction of the population

Employs "fraction" in place of "proportion", indicating a part of a whole.

segment of the population

Uses "segment" instead of "proportion", implying a distinct section of the population.

part of the population

Substitutes "proportion" with "part", offering a more general term.

number of the population

Replaces "proportion" with "number", focusing specifically on the count of individuals.

incidence in the population

Focuses on the rate at which something occurs within the population.

representation in the population

Highlights how a group is represented within the population.

FAQs

How do I use "proportion of the population" in a sentence?

Use "proportion of the population" to describe the size of a subgroup relative to the entire group. For example, "The proportion of the population over 65 is increasing."

What's the difference between "percentage of the population" and "proportion of the population"?

While similar, "percentage of the population" specifically refers to a value out of 100. "Proportion of the population" is a more general term that can refer to any fraction or ratio representing a part of the whole population.

What can I say instead of "proportion of the population"?

You can use alternatives like "share of the population", "ratio of the population", or "percentage of the population" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a large proportion of the population"?

Yes, it is correct. This phrase is commonly used to indicate that a significant part of the total population is being referred to. For example, "A large proportion of the population supports the new policy."