A characteristic that describes a whole population is referred to as what?

A characteristic that describes a whole population is referred to as a parameter. In statistics, a parameter is a measurable attribute that summarizes some aspect of the entire population, such as the mean, median, or standard deviation. Parameters are typically fixed values, although they are often unknown because they require data from the entire population to calculate accurately.

In contrast, a statistic refers to a characteristic derived from a sample, which is a subset of the population. Statistics are used to estimate population parameters. A sample is the actual group from which data is collected, while a variable is any characteristic that can vary among the subjects within the population or the sample, such as age, income, or education level. Understanding the distinction between these terms is essential for anyone studying statistics, as it lays the foundation for correctly interpreting data and making inferences about populations based on sample information.