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spurious correlations

correlation is not causation

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A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the 'we live in a society' meme and the second variable is Wind power generated in Namibia. The chart goes from 2006 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #4,950

We Live in a Current-Generating Society: The Shocking Connection Between 'We Live in a Society' Meme Popularity and Wind Power Generated in Namibia
As the 'we live in a society' meme gained traction, it created a whirlwind of attention. People all over were embracing the idea and it blew a breath of fresh air into the internet. This societal reflection led to a surge in demand for clean energy and a realization that we truly do 'reap what we sow.' In Namibia, this meant a gust of support for wind power, propelling the industry forward. It's a true testament to the power of memes - they can really turbine things around for the better!



What else correlates?
Popularity of the 'we live in a society' meme · all memes
Wind power generated in Namibia · all energy
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Robberies in New Mexico and the second variable is Car crashes in the US. The chart goes from 1991 to 2014, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #3,981

The Highwaymen: Exploring the Hold-Up between Robberies in New Mexico and Car Crashes in the US
It turns out the robbers were the ones causing all the high-speed chases! Without them around, the roads are a lot safer. Plus, with fewer robberies, there's less need for getaway cars, so it's really a win-win situation for everyone - except the robbers, of course. It's like they say, "Steer clear of crime and you'll brake for fewer accidents!"



What else correlates?
Robberies in New Mexico · all random state specific
Car crashes in the US · all weird & wacky
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Votes for Democratic Senators in New Jersey and the second variable is Searches for 'never gonna give you up'. The chart goes from 2006 to 2020, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #5,223

Never Gonna Vote You Up: Analyzing the Correlation Between Democrat Votes for Senators in New Jersey and the Popularity of the 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Meme
As Democrat votes for Senators in New Jersey increased, it led to a rise in overall political enthusiasm. This surge in political energy somehow triggered a chain reaction of internet memes, and the 'never gonna give you up' meme experienced a resurgence as a form of light-hearted, bipartisan rickrolling. Who knew that political shifts in the Garden State could have such a groovy impact on internet culture?



What else correlates?
Votes for Democratic Senators in New Jersey · all elections
Searches for 'never gonna give you up' · all memes
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air quality in Vineland, New Jersey and the second variable is Warner Bros. Discovery's stock price (WBD). The chart goes from 2006 to 2023, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #2,929

A Breath of Fresh Air: Examining the Atmospheric Impact on Warner Bros. Discovery's Stock Price in Vineland, New Jersey
As the air quality in Vineland improved, it created a more uplifting atmosphere. This positivity wafted its way to Wall Street, where investors, feeling a breath of fresh air, decided to inflate the stock price of Warner Bros. Discovery. It seems like cleaner air isn't just good for the environment, but also for giving stocks a 'breathe' of life!



What else correlates?
Air quality in Vineland, New Jersey · all weather
Warner Bros. Discovery's stock price (WBD) · all stocks
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the first name Dexter and the second variable is Google searches for 'bing'. The chart goes from 2004 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #5,230

Dexter's Dichotomy: Delving into the Data Doldrums of 'Bing' and Baby Names
As the popularity of the name Dexter rose, so did the number of people naming their kids after everyone's favorite fictional serial killer. This led to a surge in interest for all things dark and mysterious, including the search engine Bing, because why google when you can bing in the name of irony and edginess.



What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Dexter · all first names
Google searches for 'bing' · all google searches
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Number of articles Matt Levine published on Bloomberg on Wednesdays and the second variable is Nuclear power generation in France. The chart goes from 2014 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #5,894

Watt's Up, Matt? The Electrifying Connection Between Matt Levine's Wednesday Bloomberg Articles and Nuclear Power Generation in France
Apparently, Matt's puns were so powerful, they were causing a chain reaction in the French energy sector. Who knew finance and fission had such a strong connection? Keep an eye out for his next article - it might just be the catalyst for a meltdown!



What else correlates?
Number of articles Matt Levine published on Bloomberg on Wednesdays · all weird & wacky
Nuclear power generation in France · all energy
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is American cheese consumption and the second variable is BlackRock's stock price (BLK). The chart goes from 2002 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #4,018

Cheddar and Cheddar: The Cheesy Connection Between American Cheese Consumption and BlackRock's Stock Price
As Americans consumed more American cheese, they found themselves feeling more patriotic. This surge of patriotism led to a general increase in national pride. As national pride soared, so did the overall confidence in the American economy. This confidence boost directly impacted the stock market, leading to an increase in stock prices across the board, including BlackRock's. Who knew that the key to a strong stock market was just a little bit of cheesy motivation?



What else correlates?
American cheese consumption · all food
BlackRock's stock price (BLK) · all stocks
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Number of public school students in 11th grade and the second variable is Popularity of the 'this is fine' meme. The chart goes from 2006 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #5,953

The Prevalence of Poignant Proportions: Public School Pupils in 11th grade and the Popularity of the 'This is Fine' Meme
The surge in 11th graders hit a tipping point where their collective stress and apathy created a meme resonance, leading to the widespread adoption of the 'this is fine' attitude as a coping mechanism.



What else correlates?
Number of public school students in 11th grade · all education
Popularity of the 'this is fine' meme · all memes
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the first name Annabelle and the second variable is UFO sightings in South Carolina. The chart goes from 1975 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #2,085

Unidentified First Name Phenomena: The Anns and Aliens Connection in South Carolina
It's simple, really. As more parents named their daughters Annabelle after the creepy doll in the horror movies, they inadvertently unleashed a wave of spooky energy. This supernatural surge somehow attracted UFOs to South Carolina, creating a breeding ground for otherworldly encounters. Remember, when it rains popularity, it pours unidentified flying objects!



What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Annabelle · all first names
UFO sightings in South Carolina · all random state specific
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is The distance between Neptune and the Sun and the second variable is Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. The chart goes from 1975 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #1,034

Lost in Space Opera: An Interstellar Analysis of Neptune's Distance from the Sun and its Impact on Days of Our Lives Viewership
It seems that Neptune's newfound proximity to the Sun created a soap opera of its own, leading the viewers to switch from the fictional drama of Days of Our Lives to the real-life gravitational tug-of-war between the two celestial bodies. It's a classic case of cosmic competition for attention! Remember, even in space, everyone loves a good plot twist.



What else correlates?
The distance between Neptune and the Sun · all planets
Viewership count for Days of Our Lives · all weird & wacky
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is GMO use in corn grown in Kansas and the second variable is The number of postmasters in Kansas. The chart goes from 2003 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #1,744

The Corny Connection: The Correlation Between GMO Corn and Postmaster Proliferation in Kansas
As GMO use in Kansas corn decreased, the size of corn cobs also decreased, leading to a nationwide corn shortage. With fewer corn shipments requiring postal services, the demand for postmasters in Kansas plummeted. Who knew that small corn could lead to even smaller postmaster populations?



What else correlates?
GMO use in corn grown in Kansas · all food
The number of postmasters in Kansas · all cccupations
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Associates degrees awarded in Liberal arts and the second variable is Google searches for 'tummy ache'. The chart goes from 2011 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #1,530

The Liberal Arts Laughs: A Gut-Busting Investigation into the Correlation between Associates Degrees in Liberal Arts and Google Searches for 'Tummy Ache'
As more people delved into the depths of philosophy and existential thinking, the collective realization of the absurdity of human existence led to a wave of stomach-churning existential dread and questioning of the universe's grand design. This, in turn, manifested as a notable uptick in tummy ache-related Google searches as individuals grappled with the cosmic uncertainty while pondering the true nature of being. It seems that pondering the meaning of life may have led to some uneasy feelings in the pit of many a contemplative stomach.



What else correlates?
Associates degrees awarded in Liberal arts · all education
Google searches for 'tummy ache' · all google searches
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the 'distracted boyfriend' meme and the second variable is Hydopower energy generated in Turkmenistan. The chart goes from 2006 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #5,217

Distracted Boyfriend Meme Popularity: A Hydropower Enigma in Turkmenistan
The increased brain activity from viewing and sharing the meme led to a tiny but measurable rise in atmospheric humidity over Turkmenistan, thus boosting hydropower output. Remember, memes can make waves in more ways than one!



What else correlates?
Popularity of the 'distracted boyfriend' meme · all memes
Hydopower energy generated in Turkmenistan · all energy
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is The distance between Neptune and Earth and the second variable is Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. The chart goes from 1987 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #4,242

A Cosmic Dance: The Neptunian Distance and Amazonian Resilience
Neptune's gravitational pull disrupted Earth's axial tilt, leading to erratic weather patterns in the Amazon that ultimately contributed to deforestation. As the saying goes, it's not just a rainforest, it's a Neptune-muddled, tree-toppling, cosmic conundrum!



What else correlates?
The distance between Neptune and Earth · all planets
Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon · all weird & wacky
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Google searches for 'best schools' and the second variable is The number of security guards in Pennsylvania. The chart goes from 2004 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #4,246

Googling for Schooling: Linking Best Schools Searches to Security Legion in Pennsylvania
The best schools kept ranking higher, creating a top-tier security guard demand. It seems like in Pennsylvania, when it comes to protecting schools, it's a-queue-lity hire they're after!



What else correlates?
Google searches for 'best schools' · all google searches
The number of security guards in Pennsylvania · all cccupations
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air quality in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the second variable is Associate Professor salaries in the US. The chart goes from 2009 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
View details about correlation #1,079

The Air-ly Bird Gets the Paycheck: A Breath of Fresh Air for Associate Professor Salaries
The decrease in air quality in Grand Rapids led to an increase in respiratory issues among the population. This, in turn, created a higher demand for medical services, causing healthcare costs to skyrocket. To compensate for these rising costs, academic institutions had to cut down on budgets, leading to a decrease in associate professor salaries nationwide.



What else correlates?
Air quality in Grand Rapids, Michigan · all weather
Associate Professor salaries in the US · all education
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Why this works

  1. Data dredging: I have 25,237 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 636,906,169 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Fun fact: the chart used on the wikipedia page to demonstrate data dredging is also from me. I've been being naughty with data since 2014.
    Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead tossed a bunch of data in a blender to see what correlations would shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
  2. Lack of causal connection: There is probably no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
    This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
  3. Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. You will often see trend-lines form. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A naive p-value calculation does not take this into account. You will calculate a lower chance of "randomly" achieving the result than represents reality.

    To be more specific: p-value tests are probability values, where you are calculating the probability of achieving a result at least as extreme as you found completely by chance. When calculating a p-value, you need to assert how many "degrees of freedom" your variable has. I count each year (minus one) as a "degree of freedom," but this is misleading for continuous variables.

    This kind of thing can creep up on you pretty easily when using p-values, which is why it's best to take it as "one of many" inputs that help you assess the results of your analysis.
  4. Y-axes doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graphs above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves. Nothing against line graphs. They are great at telling a story when you have linear data! But visually it is deceptive because the only data is at the points on the graph, not the lines on the graph. In between each point, the data could have been doing anything. Like going for a random walk by itself!
    Mathematically what I showed is true, but it is intentionally misleading. If you click on any of the charts that abuse this, you can scroll down to see a version that starts at zero.
  5. Confounding variable: Confounding variables (like global pandemics) will cause two variables to look connected when in fact a "sneaky third" variable is influencing both of them behind the scenes.
  6. Outliers: Some datasets here have outliers which drag up the correlation. In concept, "outlier" just means "way different than the rest of your dataset." When calculating a correlation like this, they are particularly impactful because a single outlier can substantially increase your correlation.

    Because this page is automatically generated, I don't know whether any of the charts displayed on it have outliers. I'm just a footnote. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
    I intentionally mishandeled outliers, which makes the correlation look extra strong.
  7. Low n: There are not many data points included in some of these charts. You can do analyses with low ns! But you shouldn't data dredge with a low n.
    Even if the p-value is high, we should be suspicious of using so few datapoints in a correlation.

Pro-tip: click on any correlation to see:

Project by Tyler Vigen
emailme@tylervigen.com · about · subscribe


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