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Quick Answer

VARP Function

Population variance (n) of a set of numbers.

✓ Excel✓ Google SheetsExcel All versions

Syntax

VARP
(number1, [number2], ...)

Parameters

ParameterDescriptionRequired
number1The first number, range, or reference in the population.Required
number2Additional numbers, ranges, or references (optional, up to 255 total arguments).Optional

Basic Example

Population variance of five values

=VARP(10,20,30,40,50)
Result200

The mean is 30; the sum of squared deviations is 1000, divided by 5 gives a population variance of 200.

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Population from a range

Full census of a small group

Compute the variance of every value in B2:B6

=VARP(B2:B6)
Result: Population variance of the 5 values
Divides by n (5) rather than n-1.

Example 2: Population vs sample

Comparing denominators

Same data, two different denominators

=VARP(10,20,30,40,50) and =VAR(10,20,30,40,50)
Result: 200 and 250
VARP divides by 5 (n) while VAR divides by 4 (n-1), so the sample version is larger. VARP is the square of STDEVP.

How VARP Works

VARP computes the population variance as the sum of squared deviations from the mean divided by n. Using n (not n-1) is correct only when the supplied data is the complete population; for a sample, VAR's n-1 correction is appropriate. Text and logical values in references are ignored.

1
Confirm population
Ensure the data represents the entire population, not a sample.
2
Enter formula
Type =VARP(range or values).
3
Press Enter
The population variance is displayed.

Important Notes & Limitations

  • Only valid when the data is the entire population; using it on a sample underestimates the true variance.

  • Ignores text and logical values inside ranged references.

  • Requires at least one numeric value, otherwise returns #DIV/0!.

Common Errors & Fixes

#DIV/0!No numeric values were supplied.

Fix: Provide at least one data point.

Result too smallData was actually a sample but n was used.

Fix: Use VAR (or VAR.S) for a sample.

Download Practice File

Practice VARP with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the VARP function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Works in Google SheetsCompatible with ExcelIncludes exercises

File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between VARP and VAR?
VARP divides by n (population), VAR divides by n-1 (sample).
Is VARP the same as VAR.P?
Functionally yes; VAR.P is the modern replacement for the legacy VARP.
How is VARP related to STDEVP?
VARP is the square of STDEVP for the same data set.