Methodology & Sources

    Our Data Sources

    We use real, publicly available demographic data from official government agencies. Here's exactly where our numbers come from.

    How We Calculate

    Our calculator applies your filters sequentially to the adult population of your selected region. Each filter reduces the pool based on the percentage of people who meet that criterion.

    Important: When cross-tabulated data isn't available (e.g., height by income), we apply filters independently. This assumes independence between variables, which may not perfectly reflect reality but provides a reasonable estimate.

    The Preference Strictness Score is separate from the statistical probability and reflects subjective criteria that can't be measured with census data.

    Independence Assumptions

    • US & Canada: Education-Income joint distribution available
    • UK, Australia, Europe: No joint distributions; variables assumed independent
    • All regions: Height and income assumed independent (no joint data)

    Ethnicity Data Methodology

    Ethnicity data availability and categorization varies significantly by region. Here's how we handle it:

    • US & Canada: Direct race/ethnicity questions in census surveys
    • UK: Census 2021 includes ethnic group question with Arab category
    • Australia: Derived from ancestry data, not direct race question
    • Europe: Most EU countries do not collect race data; estimates only

    When ethnicity data is estimated or unavailable, we flag it with "Limited" coverage and show a warning in your results.

    Source Classification

    Core Rarity
    Used for rarity calculations. Joint distributions from census/survey microdata.
    Measured
    Physical measurements (height, weight, BMI) by trained professionals.
    Context Only
    Reference documentation and tooltips only. Not used in rarity math.

    Limitations & Disclaimers

    • • Data is from the most recent available sources but may be 1-3 years old
    • • We assume independence between variables when cross-tab data isn't available
    • • Geographic filters use population proportions as approximations
    • • Results are estimates for entertainment purposes, not guarantees
    • • Individual preferences and compatibility factors are not captured in census data

    🇺🇸United States

    Great Coverage

    Age Distribution

    American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Income Distribution

    American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Education Distribution

    American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year PUMS

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    Microdata
    2022
    View Source

    Joint distribution with income derived from PUMS microdata

    Employment Status

    American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Height & BMI Data

    National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

    Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    Measured
    Measured
    Microdata
    2017-2020
    View Source

    Height physically measured by trained health professionals

    Marital Status

    American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Obesity Rates

    National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

    Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    Measured
    Measured
    Microdata
    2017-2020
    View Source

    BMI calculated from measured height and weight

    State Populations

    Population Estimates Program

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Core Rarity
    Census Count
    2022
    View Source

    Ethnicity Distribution

    American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Middle Eastern estimated from ancestry data (ACS Table B04006)

    Ethnicity Mapping: Middle Eastern estimated from ancestry data (ACS Table B04006)

    🇨🇦Canada

    Great Coverage

    Age Distribution

    Census Profile, 2021 Census

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Income Distribution

    Income of individuals by age group, sex and income source

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Education Distribution

    Census of Population PUMF

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    Microdata
    2021
    View Source

    Joint distribution with income derived from PUMF microdata

    Employment Status

    Labour Force Survey

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2023
    View Source

    Height Data

    Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Measured
    Measured
    Microdata
    2018-2021
    View Source

    Height physically measured by trained health professionals

    Marital Status

    Census Profile, 2021 Census

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Obesity Rates

    Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Measured
    Measured
    Microdata
    2018-2021
    View Source

    BMI calculated from measured height and weight

    Province Populations

    Census Profile, 2021 Census

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Core Rarity
    Census Count
    2021
    View Source

    Ethnicity Distribution

    Census 2021 - Visible Minority

    Source: Statistics Canada

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Based on visible minority categories. Middle Eastern derived from Arab/West Asian.

    Ethnicity Mapping: Based on Statistics Canada visible minority categories

    🇬🇧United Kingdom

    OK Coverage

    Age Distribution

    Census 2021

    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Income Distribution

    Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)

    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Education Distribution

    Census 2021

    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Limited joint distribution data - using marginal multiplication

    Employment Status

    Labour Force Survey

    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Height Data

    Health Survey for England

    Source: NHS Digital

    Measured
    Measured
    2021
    View Source

    Height physically measured by trained health professionals

    Marital Status

    Census 2021

    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Obesity Rates

    Health Survey for England

    Source: NHS Digital

    Measured
    Measured
    2021
    View Source

    BMI calculated from measured height and weight

    Region Populations

    Census 2021

    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Census Count
    2021
    View Source

    Ethnicity Distribution

    Census 2021

    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Includes Arab category in Census 2021

    Ethnicity Mapping: Census 2021 includes Arab category. Full ethnicity support.

    🇦🇺Australia

    OK Coverage

    Age Distribution

    Census of Population and Housing

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Income Distribution

    Survey of Income and Housing

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    Microdata
    2019-2020
    View Source

    Education Distribution

    Census of Population and Housing

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Limited joint distribution data - using marginal multiplication

    Employment Status

    Labour Force Survey

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Height Data

    Australian Health Survey

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Measured
    Measured
    Microdata
    2017-2018
    View Source

    Height physically measured by trained health professionals

    Marital Status

    Census of Population and Housing

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Obesity Rates

    Australian Health Survey

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Measured
    Measured
    Microdata
    2017-2018
    View Source

    BMI calculated from measured height and weight

    State Populations

    Census of Population and Housing

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Census Count
    2021
    View Source

    Ethnicity Distribution

    Census of Population and Housing - Ancestry

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2021
    View Source

    Derived from ancestry data, not direct race question. All values estimated.

    Ethnicity Mapping: Derived from ancestry data, not direct race question. All values estimated.

    🇪🇺Europe

    Limited Coverage

    Age Distribution

    Population by age group

    Source: Eurostat

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Income Distribution

    EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC)

    Source: Eurostat

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Primary official EU income source. Public aggregates only - microdata access restricted.

    Education Distribution

    Population by educational attainment level

    Source: Eurostat

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    No joint distribution data available - using marginal multiplication

    Employment Status

    EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS)

    Source: Eurostat

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Primary employment/education source. Public aggregates used.

    Height Data

    European Health Interview Survey (EHIS)

    Source: Eurostat

    Measured
    Self-reported
    2019
    View Source

    Mixed measured/self-reported data across countries

    Marital Status

    Population by marital status

    Source: Eurostat

    Core Rarity
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Obesity Rates

    European Health Interview Survey (EHIS)

    Source: Eurostat

    Measured
    Self-reported
    2019
    View Source

    Self-reported BMI - likely underestimates true obesity rates

    Sub-region Populations

    Population on 1 January

    Source: Eurostat

    Core Rarity
    Census Count
    2022
    View Source

    Ethnicity Distribution

    Migration and migrant population statistics

    Source: Eurostat

    Context Only
    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    ESTIMATED: Most EU countries do not collect race/ethnicity data. Values derived from migration and country of birth statistics. Country-specific mapping not available.

    Ethnicity Mapping: ESTIMATED: Most EU countries do not collect race/ethnicity data. Values derived from migration statistics.

    🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

    Limited Coverage

    Age Distribution

    World Population Prospects

    Source: UN Population Division estimates

    Census Count
    2023
    View Source

    Estimated from UN and World Bank data. UAE does not publish detailed census.

    Income Distribution

    WDI

    Source: World Bank / UAE Statistics Centre estimates

    Self-reported
    2023
    View Source

    Income data is estimated. Actual distribution varies significantly by nationality.

    Education Distribution

    UIS

    Source: UNESCO / World Bank estimates

    Self-reported
    2022
    View Source

    Estimated from UNESCO education statistics.

    Employment Status

    ILOSTAT

    Source: ILO / UAE Statistics estimates

    Self-reported
    2023
    View Source

    Labor force participation varies significantly by nationality and gender.

    Height Data

    NCD-RisC

    Source: NCD-RisC global height data

    Measured
    2020
    View Source

    Height data uses Middle East regional averages.

    Marital Status

    FCSA

    Source: UAE Statistics estimates

    Self-reported
    2023
    View Source

    Estimated from available regional data.

    Obesity Rates

    GHO

    Source: WHO Global Health Observatory

    Measured
    2022
    View Source

    WHO estimates for UAE.

    Emirate Populations

    FCSA Census

    Source: UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority

    Census Count
    2023
    View Source

    Official emirate population estimates.

    Ethnicity Distribution

    Multiple

    Source: Estimated from multiple sources

    Self-reported
    2023
    View Source

    Ethnicity data is estimated. UAE is ~90% expatriate with highly diverse origins. Official ethnic census data is not publicly available.

    Ethnicity Mapping: ESTIMATED: UAE does not publish detailed demographic breakdowns. Values derived from population estimates.

    All data is publicly available and free to access. We do not modify or alter the source data.