Confidence Interval for a Proportion (Wilson)

Wilson-score confidence interval for a binomial proportion (events ÷ n) at a 90/95/99% level — the small-sample-honest interval for a rate.

Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.

Example

Number of events
8
Sample size n
10
Confidence level
95%

Result: Proportion 80% (95% CI 49–94.3%).

The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.

What the result means

Use
Stays within [0, 1] and behaves well for small n or proportions near 0/1, unlike the naive Wald interval.

What you enter

  • Number of events
  • Sample size n
  • Confidence level
How this is calculated
Formula
Center = (p̂ + z²/2n)/(1 + z²/n); half = (z/(1 + z²/n))·√(p̂(1−p̂)/n + z²/4n²); clamped to [0, 1].

Wilson EB. Probable inference, the law of succession, and statistical inference. J Am Stat Assoc. 1927;22(158):209-212. Read the source ↗

A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.

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Built by Clay Good. Source on GitHub.