CorrelateAI › Pairs
Atmospheric Methane (global) vs US Rural Population
Atmospheric Methane (global) and US Rural Population correlate at r = -0.80 over 42 years (1984–2025), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = +0.47. Direction flips without the trend.
Verdict: Direction flips without the trend. The raw correlation is -0.80, but once each series' time trend is removed it becomes 0.47. The year-to-year movements run the opposite way to the long-run trends, so the headline number is misleading.
- Pearson r
- -0.80
- p-value
- < 0.0001
- Years compared (n)
- 42 (1984–2025)
- 95% confidence interval
- -0.89 to -0.65
- Correlation with the time trend removed
- +0.47
Sources
- Atmospheric Methane (global) (ppb): NOAA GML. Global annual mean atmospheric methane from marine surface sites (NOAA GML).
- US Rural Population (% of total): World Bank. US Rural Population (World Bank indicator SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS).
Related pairs
- US Rural Population vs US Urban Population (r = -1.00)
- Atmospheric Methane (global) vs US Natural Gas Consumption (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric Methane (global) vs US GDP per Capita (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs Atmospheric Methane (global) (r = +0.98)
- Atmospheric Methane (global) vs US GDP (current US$) (r = +0.98)
- US Population vs US Rural Population (r = -0.97)
Correlation does not imply causation. How the verdict is worked out.