A measure of dispersion equal to the standard deviation of a sample divided by the mean. The value is a dimensionless quantity, not dependent on the units or scale in which the observations are made, and is often expressed as a percentage.
Statistics
The standard deviation divided by the mean. A term introduced by Karl Pearson in 1896.
Geology and Earth Sciences
A measure of variability within a sample, representing a population or a species; it is calculated as the standard deviation × 100 divided by the mean. Experience shows that within a homogenous population of mature individuals the coefficient of variation rarely exceeds 10.
Economics
The standard deviation of a random variable as a percentage of its mean.