====== Aggregation (statistics) ======

In statistics and related subjects, “aggregation” refers to the summarising of related data into a higher level of abstraction.

For example, when calculating an [[glossary:average:index|average]], multiple data points are aggregated and reduced to a single value.

When data are //aggregated//, they become easier to understand – rather than a multitude of values, there can be only one single one, which can then be more easily compared over a period of time or across different populations – but in the process, other information is lost, in particular the individual values of individual data points.

===== Aggregation levels =====

Data can be aggregated at different levels. For example, //population averages// can be available at the level of //municipalities//, //counties//, //countries//, //states// or //continents//.

===== See also =====

  * [[mathematics:statistics:interpretation:ecological_fallacy|Ecological fallacy]]

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