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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

Radio 4,656 episodes

Episodes

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Does Venezuela really have the biggest oil reserves in the world?
We investigate if there are actually 300 billion barrels of oil in Venezuela's reserves
10 Jan 2026,8 mins
The Stats of the Nation: Immigration, benefits and inequality
Tim Harford explores the stats on some of the UK’s most potent political debates
09 Jan 2026,28 mins
The Stats of the Nation: Older people, education, prisons and the weather
Tim Harford explores the stats on pensioners, exams, justice and climate change
08 Jan 2026,28 mins
The Stats of the Nation: Sex, drugs and empty homes
Tim Harford explores the numbers that help explain fertility, pharmaceuticals and crime
07 Jan 2026,29 mins
The Stats of the Nation: Health
Tim Harford explores the numbers that help explain the state of health and the NHS
06 Jan 2026,28 mins
The Stats of the Nation: The Economy
Tim Harford explores the numbers that help explain the state of the UK economy
05 Jan 2026,28 mins
Numbers of the year 2026
From passenger numbers to world cup travel, we cast our eye forwards into 2026
03 Jan 2026,8 mins
Numbers of the year 2025
A plethora of interesting numbers you may not know about
31 Dec 2025,27 mins
Numbers of the year 2025
From tariffs to comets, we look back at the numbers of 2025 across the world
27 Dec 2025,8 mins
Were there really Three Wise Men?
From counting people to measuring housework - we explore.
24 Dec 2025,28 mins
The shocking world of US health costs
Can the same pill cost $3 in a pharmacy and $750 in a hospital?
20 Dec 2025,8 mins
Do we really have ‘superflu’?
The NHS is warning of an unprecedented flu season - we check.
17 Dec 2025,28 mins
RCP 8.5: Why did the climate change model get it wrong?
How an important climate model was too pessimistic about the future
13 Dec 2025,8 mins
Is RFK right about US sperm counts?
Do US teens have 50% lower sperm and testosterone counts than 65 year old men?
06 Dec 2025,8 mins
Richard Thaler and The Winner’s Curse
Richard Thaler on two of his most famous observations in behavioural economics
29 Nov 2025,8 mins
Is there a stock market crash coming?
Can data tell us if a stock market crash is coming?
22 Nov 2025,8 mins
Has there been a $50 trillion wealth transfer to the richest Americans?
Bernie Sanders says vast riches have moved to the wealthiest in the US. Is he right?
15 Nov 2025,8 mins
Is RFK Jr right about China's diabetes rate?
Investigating if 50% of people in China really have diabetes
08 Nov 2025,8 mins
Halloween special: How many people did the real Dracula impale?
Looking at the math's behind the myth
31 Oct 2025,8 mins
Is your housework split sexist?
Corinne Low explains the economics of women, men and housework
25 Oct 2025,8 mins
Nobel economics prize 2025: What's the big idea?
Tim Harford explains the ideas behind the winners of the economics Nobel Prize.
18 Oct 2025,8 mins
Are millions of people getting Motability cars for anxiety and ADHD?
Farm tax, ADHD benefits, Movember claim and Tim’s marathon
15 Oct 2025,28 mins
Are 72% of prison inmates in Switzerland foreign?
Donald Trump says three quarters of Swiss prisoners are not Swiss. Is he right?
11 Oct 2025,8 mins
Does half the UK get more in benefits than they pay in tax?
UK benefits, Zack Polanski’s billionaire claim and Gen Z job interviews
08 Oct 2025,26 mins
Is the world getting less miserable?
Exploring global polling data that suggests people in more countries are "thriving"
04 Oct 2025,8 mins
Has Donald Trump ended seven 'unendable' wars?
Trump’s peace deals, Labour’s GDP claim and university league tables
01 Oct 2025,28 mins
The Case of the Missing US Data
Why does it matter that US government datasets are being deleted and discontinued?
27 Sep 2025,8 mins
Was it easier to deport migrants to France before Brexit?
Migrant returns, ageing mistakes, beef prices and AI MP speeches.
24 Sep 2025,28 mins
Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?
Following the murder of Charlie Kirk, what is the data on political violence in the US?
20 Sep 2025,8 mins
Is it true that out-of-work benefits have almost doubled?
Out-of-work benefits, French pensioners, surprising salmon and the truth about senses.
17 Sep 2025,29 mins