The average age of all individuals in a specific geographic area, calculated by summing all ages and dividing by the total population.
While similar to median age, mean age can be influenced by extreme age values (very old or very young individuals). It offers another perspective on the central tendency of a population's age, providing a complementary view to the median.
Specific Relevance for Professionals:
Marketers
Can be used alongside median age to get a more complete picture of a market's age distribution. If mean and median age differ significantly, it might indicate a skewed distribution (e.g., a very old or very young segment pulling the average).
Researchers
Provides a standard statistical measure for comparing age distributions across populations. Researchers might use it in conjunction with other age metrics to identify areas with particular age structures that warrant deeper investigation.
Consultants
Offers a supplementary metric for market analysis. A consultant might use it in conjunction with median age to confirm the general age profile of a target market or identify anomalies in age distribution.
Public Policy Workers
Provides another data point for demographic planning. While median age indicates the 'middle' citizen, mean age can be useful in certain statistical models for forecasting and resource allocation.