Source rule
Primary sources come before secondary summaries. For global population the UN is central, for long-run historical communication Our World in Data is useful, for Germany Destatis is the national reference and for all humans ever born PRB is the main cited estimate.
Secondary sources are used only when they explain methodology or clearly route back to primary data.
Rounding rule
Numbers are rounded so the claim remains honest. Exact-looking numbers are avoided when the evidence cannot support the last digits.
Rounding is not hidden. The page states whether a value is a model value, projection or approximation.
Analysis rule
A page should not only state a number. It should explain common misunderstandings, what the number does not show, how to read the source and which comparisons are useful.
This separates a thin answer page from a high-quality explainer.
Correction process
If values contradict each other, the primary source is checked first. Then dependent values are reviewed: percentages, calculator copy, charts, sitemaps and structured data.
Small differences between live counters are not automatically errors. The key question is whether source and model are coherent.
Editorial standards as of June 29, 2026. This page documents source rules, rounding, analysis requirements and correction process.
Related pages
FAQ
Why publish standards?
They make the rules behind new content visible.
Does the site avoid precise numbers?
No. It uses precision when the evidence supports it and rounding when it does not.
How are errors handled?
Contradictions are checked against primary sources and dependent values are corrected together.