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More or Less: Behind the Stats

BBC Radio 4
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Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us. From BBC Radio 4

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1048Founded18 years ago
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News CommentaryMathematicsNewsScience

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Artwork for More or Less: Behind the Stats

Latest Episodes

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

US President Donald Trump claims he has ended seven “unendable” wars. Is that true?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 for the first si... more

In early February 2025, something strange started happening across US government websites.

Decades of data began disappearing from webpages for agencies such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and t... more

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey says it was easier to deport illegal migrants to Europe when we were in the EU. Is that true?

Did the governor of the Bank of England get his numbers w... more

On September the 10th 2025, right-wing political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at an event in Utah. In the aftermath, his friend JD Vance, the US Vice President, hosted a special memorial edition of ‘The ... more

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Recent Guests

Lizzy McNeill
Data analyst discussing violence statistics
Episode: Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?
Sean Westwood
Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Episode: Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?
Robert Pape
Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?
Duncan Weldon
Economist, author, and friend of the programme
Not mentioned
Episode: Are Afghan nationals more likely to be convicted of sexual offences?
Madeleine Sumption
Director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University
Oxford University
Episode: Are Afghan nationals more likely to be convicted of sexual offences?
Michael Strain
Economist with the American Enterprise Institute and professor at Georgetown University
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Why it matters that Trump fired data chief
Kieran Maguire
Football finance expert and author of The Price of Football
Episode: Why Manchester United can afford to play badly
Alex Edmans
Professor of finance at London Business School and author of 'May Contain Lies'
London Business School
Episode: How to spot a suspicious statistic
Rob Howard
Professor of Old Age Psychiatry
University College London
Episode: Does the average American have fewer than three friends?

Hosts

Tim Harford
Host of More or Less and an advocate for making sense of statistical complexities in contemporary debates. He brings a wealth of knowledge and an engaging style to understanding statistics.
Lizzy McNeill
Co-host and contributor who brings insight into various episodes, often focusing on gender issues and climate-related discussions, complementing statistical analysis with engaging storytelling.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5.5k ratings
  • OMG

    This is the beast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    위버필드
    South Korea2 months ago
  • Water used by AI

    My garden water features inputs a lot of water per second. But the net cost of water is minimal. Since it does not pollute the water, it is constantly recycled. In your program you did not mention the subject. Both the discharge water for the cooling of processors and the electricity generators should be a large proportion of the input. It is certainly not zero.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    XYZ19084567
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Limited by their narrative

    So disappointing to hear the biased assessments from the IFS week after week presented as if no alternatives exist. When it comes to economics, welfare and tax come here for your neoliberal right wing ideology dressed up in selected facts only.

    Sometimes they debunk some stuff and they can do it well. They should apply the same standards to the topics above and give people all the facts.

    Taxing the wealth of the rich doesn’t actually exist according to this programme.

    So sad to hear the pr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    psiloiordinary
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Professional liars

    They manipulate data as usual.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    OlegAney
    Russia3 months ago
  • More challenging please

    Why does Tim not challenge Seth more?Who funds the think tank that Seth works for?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many express a desire for longer episodes to explore themes in greater depth, indicating strong engagement with content.
Listeners appreciate the insightful analysis and well-researched discussions that clarify complex statistical narratives.
Critics mention concerns over perceived biases and an agenda in some topics covered, emphasizing the need for balanced viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are Afghan nationals more likely to be convicted of sexual offences?
Q: Why is it difficult to determine the rate of Afghan nationals facing convictions?
The underlying population data for Afghan nationals in the UK is inaccurate, making it hard to establish reliable ratios.
Are Afghan nationals more likely to be convicted of sexual offences?
Q: What do we know about the convictions data of Afghan nationals?
The convictions data is likely to be self-reported and appears somewhat messy, but there is general confidence in its accuracy for high-level calculations.
Does the average American have fewer than three friends?
Q: What is the accuracy of the claim that 90% of Alzheimer's cases can be prevented?
The claim lacks strong support and may only accurately reflect 45% of cases that can be delayed or prevented.
Donald Trump: 100 days fact-check
Q: What is the deal with eggs? I mean, why was the cost of eggs a political issue?
Wendling explains the impact of avian flu on egg production and resulting price fluctuations.
Donald Trump: 100 days fact-check
Q: Did you watch the speech live?
Mike Wendling confirms he did watch it and describes the rally atmosphere.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About More or Less: Behind the Stats

What is More or Less: Behind the Stats about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the interpretation of statistics and their implications in everyday life, this show engages listeners by tackling a diverse array of themes including climate change, economics, health issues, and societal factors. The program often scrutinizes high-profile assertions, presenting evidence-based insights that underscore the importance of accurate data representation. Uniquely, it combines lighthearted discussion with rigorous examination, making complex topics accessible and entertaining for a broad audience. Notable for its critical lens on popular statistics, this show seeks to clarify misconceptions and promote statistical literacy.

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Which podcasts are similar to More or Less: Behind the Stats?

These podcasts share a similar audience with More or Less: Behind the Stats:

1. BBC Inside Science
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How many episodes of More or Less: Behind the Stats are there?

More or Less: Behind the Stats launched 18 years ago and published 1048 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on More or Less: Behind the Stats?

Recent guests on More or Less: Behind the Stats include:

1. Lizzy McNeill
2. Sean Westwood
3. Robert Pape
4. Duncan Weldon
5. Madeleine Sumption
6. Michael Strain
7. Kieran Maguire
8. Alex Edmans

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