Example
A political party scored 20% in the last election and 30% in this one.
Percentage points: 30 - 20 = 10 percentage points
Relative change: (30 - 20) / 20 × 100 = 50%
The party gained 10 percentage points, which is a 50% increase relative to its previous score.
Example
An interest rate rises from 2% to 2.5%. What is the change in percentage points, and in percent?
Percentage points: 2.5 - 2 = 0.5 percentage points
Relative change: (2.5 - 2) / 2 × 100 = 25%
The rate rose by 0.5 percentage points, which is a 25% relative increase.
Example
Approval rating drops from 60% to 54%. What is the change in percentage points, and in percent?
Percentage points: 54 - 60 = -6 percentage points
Relative change: (54 - 60) / 60 × 100 = -10%
Approval fell by 6 percentage points, a 10% relative decline.
When to use this calculator
Use this whenever you're comparing two percentages to each other — interest rates, approval ratings, tax rates, or any other percentage-based figure measured at two points in time. For the deeper explanation of why the two numbers can differ so much, see the percentage points vs percentage change guide.
Frequently asked questions
Why not just say "the rate increased by 0.5%"?
That phrasing is ambiguous — it could mean 0.5 percentage points or a 0.5% relative change, which are very different amounts. Being explicit about which one you mean avoids confusion.
Does the order of the two percentages matter?
Yes. The calculation is always the second percentage minus the first, so entering them in the wrong order flips the sign of the result.
Can percentage points be negative?
Yes, when the second percentage is lower than the first, indicating a decline. Related: percentage points vs percentage change guide and percentage change calculator.