“85% Of Women Wear The Wrong Bra Size”: 50 Wild Statistics That Are As Random As They Are Interesting, As Shared On This Twitter Page
Interview
If someone asked you if you love math, your response might not be too enthusiastic. But if someone asked you if you’d like to learn interesting facts about the world and all of the people in it, you might be a little more inclined to say yes. As boring as the word ‘statistics’ may sound, as it may trigger you to think about a snooze-fest of a class you took in high school that you barely made it out of with a passing grade, stats can be pretty exciting.
To teach you pandas a little bit more about our amazing planet and all of the people inhabiting it, we did a deep dive into the World of Statistics Twitter account. Whether you’re curious about the most commonly spoken languages in the world or what percentage of the population is incapable of getting smelly armpits, World of Statistics has got you covered.
Below, you’ll find our personal favorite fascinating stats from the page that we think you’ll enjoy too, as well as interviews with Denis, the creator of World of Statistics, and Tim Macuga, Senior Project Officer for the Australian Data Science Network and part of the team behind The Random Sample podcast. So be sure to upvote the statistics that blow your mind, and then let us know in the comments what the most interesting stat you’ve ever heard was. And if you’re interested in learning even more fun facts after finishing this article, you can check out another Bored Panda list featuring statistics you might not know right here.
This post may include affiliate links.
World of Statistics is an extremely successful page. It was initially launched in December 2020, and it has already amassed over 838k followers. The page's bio quotes the late Mark Twain saying, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” But along with the sense of humor the creator sometimes showcases on the page, followers certainly can learn a thing or two. For example, did you know that about 11% of Americans have never left the state that they were born in? If you happen to be one of those people, it might be time to start planning a road trip!
It’s not surprising that this page has grown such a massive following though. Learning more about our world is always fun, and it can be great to have a break from the memes and jokes on Twitter to actually gain some knowledge. There is nothing wrong with discussing comedy content you find online with your friends, but at your next dinner party or work gathering, it might be more fitting to bring up some of the eye-opening stats you’ve learned from World of Statistics.
To gain some insight on the background of the page, we reached out the creator of World of Statistics, Denis. "World of Statistics was launched as an addition to our main account - World of Engineering," Denis told Bored Panda. "On the WoE page, I often posted various statistics on engineering topics and saw that it had a very good response from the audience. People love statistics. And since the topics for statistics are endless, it was decided to make a separate account, which began to develop rapidly."
When asked why people find statistics so fascinating, Denis told us, "Statistics are important because today we live in the information world. Literally in one tweet you see enough information to assess the state of any issue in the world. There are countries often compared with each other, and of course, followers are always happy to see their countries in the top."
We also asked Denis to share the most fascinating stat that he knows, and he told us, with a smile, that 69.420% of statistics are made up. Yeah, I'm going to have to have that one fact-checked...
Stuff like this should make every US citizen realize that we are no longer the "Land of the Free". We are all wage slave workers. Indentured servants to our wealthy, who don't pay taxes.
Many of us do in fact realize that and we hate it and want change.
Load More Replies...
US citizen here... waited until I was at a large enough company (50+ employees) to have kids so I could qualify for FMLA (12 weeks off for medical, unpaid) with 6 of those weeks getting a miniscule amount of short term disability payments. Our system is a joke.
USA: this single mother just went through the worst physical pain anyone could experience so after she just paid thousands of dollars just to have a child let’s overwhelm her with having to go to work as well and if she doesn’t come to work she’s broke and can’t properly take care of her child. Please add on to this if you would like to
Yep. USA is also moving towards becoming fascist authoritarian dictatorship based on christian theocracy. If Democrats don't unite and start voting party line and playing dirty like republicans, USA as a democracy will be lost in very near future.
Load More Replies...
It's actually more, but after the 1st year they only pay a certain percentage of your wage, not all of it. (Bulgarian here)
Load More Replies... 
Isn't it only 6 month, split between the parents? And with the new rules the parents must split them.
Load More Replies...
Not sure where this statistic is from, but many US companies offer paid maternity and paternity leave.
I believe this is referring to statutory leave as opposed to discretionary leave.
Load More Replies...
Same country that just made states able to take away a women's right to choose. Does that sound backwards to anyone else. BTW: US citizen
Take my upvote, idk why you're being downvoted for speaking the truth, some forced birther can't handle it, I guess
Load More Replies...
Actually In Bulgaria you get 1 year at some (pretty significant) percentage of your salary and you can get a second year at a minimum wage.
USA really does only care about kids when they're in the womb, after that laters on bye bye. The people in charge should be ashamed.
My grandparents were born there... I should look into dual citizenship!!
Load More Replies...
In Czechia, it is 28 weeks of paid maternity leave and then you can stay at home for up to 4 years with the child, still getting some amount of money (deoends on how long you decide to stay at home, if you choose 4 years, it is not much, if 1 year, it is livable). Plus free healthcare for you and the babies of course. I am just going back to work after 5 years of being home taking care of my two sons. The problem is there are not many options if you want to return (have to return) to work earlier, because kindergardens usually don't accept kids younger than 3 and there are almost no daycares for the younger ones.
Top that off with many states not allowing an abortion and no free medical care. Crazy.
Women are forced to carry a child and then forced to go back to work before advisable, it's only "probirth" not "prolife"
Load More Replies...
Usa is garbage, our health care system is trash. Everything is about money
Not sure why you got down voted. Here's an up vote for speaking the truth. I'll also add that it's the people that are treated like garbage and devalued and taken advantage of. The country, land, or better yet planet is not to blame and is not garbage. It actually provides everything we all need to thrive. It's people that cause the suffering and deny us all the resources on this Earth that are meant for us all to use in the 1st place. I don't have one issue with this planet at all. It's those running it and controlling it that's the issue.
Load More Replies...
So, the s**t hole country was in us all along! What a heart freezing message!
I had to go on unpaid maternity fairly early in a high risk pregnancy. I was terminated from the job a week before the baby was born "because I'd used up my maternity leave". (USA, of course)
This is horrible. Even with disability (which you should receive) that money is only temporary. And you would get a portion of your salary. And not all employers have to comply (religious entities, etc) in CA, you get 6 mo paid, but the company does not have to pay. The state will pay disability plus you get federal disability, but it's not enough
Load More Replies...
In Canada, you can get up to 78 weeks, although it won't be at your full salary.
Let's explain the US system, You have 50 states, each with their own legal system, courts, legislature, executive branch, military (several states operate thier own Navy of sorts), etc. And a federal govt to coordinate issues between the states and those things granted them power under the Constitution. There is a thing called the 10th amendment, that states that any powers not given to the federal govt belongs to the state. This is not a power given to the feds, and each state has their own maternity policies. It would be unconstitional for the federal govt to have maternity leave laws, and would be overturned even by the liberal judges. Remember we had to pass an amendment to allow for federal taxes for example. So these type of things that have a whole general "USA" are garbage, because they are based on ignoring the entire US political system and how it functions.
You are going Way overboard on the "STATES' RIGHTS" interpretation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consider minimum wage law. When Congress passed legislation mandating min. pay per hour, each of the states had to comply (although, of course, they could increase the min. amount). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . If the majority of representatives in the U.S. House and Senate voted for minimum Maternity Leave standards, each state would be required to meet the standard. This would fall under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) -- just like the min. wage laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Federal Gov't sets minimum standards all of the time. (ex: "... standards enacted under Trump require the fleet of new vehicles to get just under 28 miles per gallon ..." ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Having minimum standards set by the Federal Gov't is in no way, "unconstitutional", as you claim. I'd recommend taking your own advice and learn about, "entire US political system and how it functions", or, you could begin with, IMHO ... instead of, "Let's explain the US system".
Load More Replies...
Stuff like this is talked about extensively on childfree websites. Just one of the innumerable bricks in the wall that never made having a child appealing. Such an uphill climb with next to no help. I had no vocation anyway. I'm 54, post-menopausal, no regrets.
Doesn't this refer to legal entitlement? Needs clarification for those in the US who get 3 months off because they have decent employers
I'm guessing countries with parental leave aren't on this list, because at least Norway should be on the top group, but much of the leave can be used by either parent
Me looking for the one with the most weeks and then realising they’re in order
Russia treats their expectant and new mothers better than we (USA) do.
Load More Replies...
I wonder if any of these stats have anything to do with the prevailing violence in the US.
.Republicans won't let us. Vote blue in the mid terms and see how much changes.
In the US it depends on who you work for. Some folks get months, others get weeks, some get zero. There's no law, but there are good employers.
In Bulgaria it is 3 years. First year full salary, second a percentage of it (I think 70 or 65) and third isn't paid but you keep your job as they aren't allowed to fire you for the three years and another one after that.
Forgot to mention that checkups while pregnant, giving birth and everything after that is free unless you want a specific doctor, separate room and whatever that isn't included in the healthcare system
Load More Replies...
I worked right up to the day I had my 3rd son. Left work in labor. Three days later, the boss sent a coworker to my door asking if I could come back yet. I ended up taking a week off, and got a lecture about my priorities. But, they did let my husband bring the baby in during my break, so I could breastfeed him in the bathroom. So, there's that.
this isn't true. The US provides up to 12 weeks of maternity leave for both parents
38 states do not require any maternity leave. 12 states plus D.C. have minimum standards for maternity leave large companies must meet. (Documented on the website below). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . https://www.parents.com/parenting/work/life-balance/maternity-leave-benefits-for-every-state/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 States with Zero Maternity Leave standards: . . Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming
Load More Replies...
I live in the US Got 10 weeks paid maternity leave 15 years ago. Plus 4 weeks paid before she was born because my doctor wanted me out. This was at a retail job, nothing fancy. It sucks that it's not mandatory, but most employers pay maternity leave if you've been at the job for 3 months or so.
In NZ we also have the Plunket Nurse's do house calls up until age 5. Doesn't matter if you have 10 kids, they'll come round. More in the beginning, naturally. They will help with everything. New parent stressed to the gills, go have a lie down or shower and the Plunket Nurse will stay with the baby for a half hour or so. They're there to help teach new parents tricks and techniques if the new parent is struggling with something. Essentially a wellness check for baby and new parents. Not a wellness check in America with the police being called, them banging on your front door to ask if you're ok and then leave.
Unless you're active duty military. I had 30 days maternity leave in '87 & '88 when my sons were born. I believe it's longer now, but I don't know for sure.
That's not true! US has maternity and now paternity leave in weeks! Many...No, not like the above, but it's not nothing
Some companies offer it as a benefit but it isn't a requirement like in the countries above. That's the problem
Load More Replies... 
In Romania you get until the baby is 2 years old, with 85% of your salary paid by the government. The last month out of those 2 years has to be taken by the father, if eligible.
I don't know how does it go in other countries, but in Hungary the mom can get the 100% of her previous salary from the government for the whole 24 week if she doesn't work at all beside of being with her baby. After the 24th week she can stay at home more on a lower income from the state.
For Czech republic this is not complete. There is also paternal leave, which can be three years long.
I don't understand stand this. Why don't people without kids get paid time for not populating the world.
Seems like some of it could be earned as bonus vacation time near retirement -- if no maternity/paternity time was taken.
Load More Replies...
Canada is either 1 year (52 weeks) or 18 months, paid for by taxes. If you choose the 18 months option, you get the same amount of money
I think my company offers paid maternity leave, 2 or 3 months. But it might not be full pay. The fathers get time off too. So in the US it depends on the company. Granted my company is part of an international network of companies so that could have something to do with it.
We also reached out to Tim Macuga for some insight on the topic of statistics, as he was one of the team members behind creating The Random Sample podcast, which provides a unique glimpse into the world of mathematics and statistics, and how these sciences play such a crucial role in so many areas of our lives. "The world is literally swimming in data," Tim told Bored Panda. "More than ever, we need people who understand how to work with data and who have the expertise on how to analyze it and find the hidden stories inside of it that will help governments, businesses and other organisations make better-informed decisions."
Tim also made it clear how fascinating statistics can be. "Statistics are anything but boring," he says. "The skills that statisticians have allow them to work on a variety of problems that involve business, the environment, conservation, health and so on. No matter where your interests are, there’s a problem for you to help tackle with your statistical expertise. It also allows you to get involved in a variety of different problems. That never gets boring!"
We also asked Tim for his thoughts on why it's so important for us to study statistics. "There is only going to be a growing demand for these skills," he told Bored Panda. "Students who take this path will definitely open themselves up to a world of opportunities."
If you'd like to hear more about the magic of statistics and check out The Random Sample podcast, which Tim tells me is preparing to re-launch soon, you can find it right here.
You probably use statistics in your daily life more than you even realize. Even if you are not sitting at a computer analyzing data or crunching numbers, somebody is doing it behind the scenes to make your life easier. According to Michigan Technological University, the importance of applied statistics has increased exponentially over time, so in today’s data-driven world, we rely more heavily than ever on the discipline of statistics.
Michigan Tech notes the census as a prime example of how statistics have become more prevalent over time. The United States conducted its first census in 1790, but since then, the census has become more and more comprehensive. It now covers a diverse range of topics to provide accurate information about the demographics and economic information of the population. The statistics garnered from the census are then used to help governments make decisions affecting the allocation of funds, congressional representation, where school districts lie and much more. In fact, the American federal government now has 13 statistical agencies analyzing information related to labor trends, health, education, and much more.
Every government and organization around the world relies heavily on statistics to get anything done. The United Nations Statistics Division even refers to the role of official statistics as an “indispensable element in the information system of a democratic society” and “one of the cornerstones of good government and public confidence in good government“. Accurate statistics are vital to politicians who need to know where to campaign and what demographics to target and to law enforcement agencies attempting to combat crime and fraud. If there were no records showing how effective, or ineffective, methods have been in stopping crime, agencies would simply be blindly guessing by trial and error, wasting time and resources and allowing for many more victims.
A few of the examples Michigan Tech provides for how governments use statistics every day are for tracking economic numbers, conducting federal science research, and collecting and analyzing educational data. It is crucial that governments keep a close eye on all of this information to better serve their constituents and make decisions in the best interest of the nation.
This explains my husband. He's never worn deodorant and he can't understand why everyone else does. I keep trying to explain that he's unique - maybe if I show him this, he'll get it!
Grizzly bears are BIG. Don't try to engage one, you will lose. Even shooting one will probably just make it angry and it will maul you to death before it has a chance to bleed out.
I get this, cats will run right into the area you would step, after they had been following you. I broke the screen on a new laptop because a cat did that and I didn't want to kick her. Instead I fell on my bed, and broke the screen. 10/10 would do again
Imagine if we did not have any accurate statistics available to help us make informed decisions. How many people die climbing this mountain each year? I have no idea, so I’ll just assume there is no risk! What are the chances that it will rain on this particular day in April? I’m not sure, so I’ll plan my wedding to be outdoors with no backup plans whatsoever! Is it healthy to eat red meat three times a day every day of my life? Nothing is telling me otherwise, so I’ll just carry on this way. Okay, you get the point. But can you imagine if we really were running around making decisions with absolutely no information to go off of? Life would be chaotic, dangerous and reckless. I, for one, am extremely thankful for whoever is out there cracking away at a computer and conducting surveys to make my life easier.
Statistics can be comforting as well. If you have a phobia of sharks or plane crashes, it might actually be nice to learn the exact numbers on how often these freak incidents occur. In the entire year of 2021, worldwide, there were only 137 shark attacks reported. And of those attacks that were unprovoked, only 9 ended up being fatal. Considering how massive the planet is and how many people go swimming, surfing and poking around in the oceans each year, your chances of avoiding sharks are pretty good. And when it comes to plane crashes? The average person’s risk of dying on a commercial flight, due to an accident or crash, is about one in 29.4 million. That is extremely unlikely. Feel safer traveling now?
If you’re a sports fan, it’s likely that you are invested in statistics as well. Data analytics are extremely important in professional sports to improve players’ performances, decide which players to draft and sign, determine what course of action to take depending on the opponent at hand, and to decide how much to pay each professional athlete. Coaches and players often analyze hours of footage to find out exactly what they did well and how to replicate it, along with what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening again in the future. Almost everything can be broken down to a science, including how to win a national championship.
How is this measured? I don't necessarily dispute this claim since I myself like to pace; but I remain wary of statements involving precise quantification of subjective qualities
Statistics are also necessary to have proof of just how great an athlete is. Any casual UFC viewer can see that Kamaru Usman is an incredible fighter, but it is much more impressive to know that he has 20 wins and only 2 losses in his professional career. He also had been taken down by an opponent exactly 0 times until recently. Accurately tracking statistics on athletes may not be a life or death situation, like keeping a close eye on Covid-19 rates or a nation’s health information, but it certainly is fascinating. And it can help a player solidify their title as greatest of all time or help them land a spot in the hall of fame.
Last I read this it said that only 10% of people weren't lactose intolerant.
Statistics have been vital in our lives long before the pandemic, but I, personally, have never looked at so many charts in my life as I have since March 2020. It is extremely important for governments and citizens to understand and accurately record what is happening with the pandemic to keep everyone as safe as possible. If we had no records of when rates began spiking, particularly death rates, we might not have taken any action to stop the spread until it was too late. While Covid-19 has already impacted all of our lives, I cannot imagine how devastating the effects could have been without the millions of people around the world who did everything they could to keep tabs on this illness.
When it comes to having accurate statistics, we can all do our part to help out. When it’s time to record data for the census, please cooperate. Mail back your questionnaire, answer that phone call, or hop on the internet to be sure your data is captured. And if you take an at-home test for Covid-19 and you end up being positive, please report it to your local government or health agency. No matter how hard statisticians are working, they aren’t mind readers. We all have a personal responsibility to help spread accurate information.
We hope you’re enjoying this list celebrating the wonderful world of statistics and that you have learned some fun facts that you will be waiting to whip out at your next dinner party. The more we understand about the world, the more we understand ourselves and the deeper empathy we feel for others. Keep upvoting the stats that you find mind-blowing, and if you still haven’t had enough after finishing this list, you can check out another Bored Panda story featuring interesting statistics right here.
Wow, I would have assumed the number to be much higher! I wonder if they include Snapchat nudes and NSFW Instagram in there...
Interestingly enough, nuclear reactors these days are actually a safe and effective source of clean energy. Ironically many nations' green emission initiatives are being counterproductive with the closing of nuclear power plants, since the power will be supplemented by coal, leading to more pollution.
I like the implications of the phrasing "most popular" - don't most people inherit their family name?
"Never Going to Give You Up" isn't even on the list? Dang, we've got work to do...
Don't worry guys, it won't take long for this information to be out of date!
To be fair: the water in the coffee alone, if drank all at once, would result in water intoxication and would be lethal.
I can guarantee you that a lot of skyscrapers in Dubai are in downtown
Note: this post originally had 61 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
I think that's why the article opens up with "there are 3 types of lies..."
Load More Replies...
Another bp post ripped verbatim from another source and calls it an ‘article’. Stellar journalism 👎🏿
In 2007, toothpaste company Colgate ran an ad stating that 80% of dentists recommend their product. In reality, this is a famous example of misleading statistics. The ad suggested that dentists preferred Colgate over other toothpaste brands. But the survey asked them to list several brands of toothpaste they would recommend. The data only showed that Colgate was one of a number of different brands that dentists liked. Not quite the same claim, was it? Statistics = Misleading at best, lies at worst
I prefer sites like: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ https://ourworldindata.org/
I think that's why the article opens up with "there are 3 types of lies..."
Load More Replies... Another bp post ripped verbatim from another source and calls it an ‘article’. Stellar journalism 👎🏿
In 2007, toothpaste company Colgate ran an ad stating that 80% of dentists recommend their product. In reality, this is a famous example of misleading statistics. The ad suggested that dentists preferred Colgate over other toothpaste brands. But the survey asked them to list several brands of toothpaste they would recommend. The data only showed that Colgate was one of a number of different brands that dentists liked. Not quite the same claim, was it? Statistics = Misleading at best, lies at worst
I prefer sites like: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ https://ourworldindata.org/
