Does the average American have fewer than three friends?

Does the average American have fewer than three friends?

More or Less: Behind the Stats · 2025-06-04

Tim Harford is here to sprinkle a refreshing shower of statistical insight over the parched lawns of misinformation.

This week, we try to unpick the confusion over a claim made by London Mayor Sadiq Khan about the contribution skilled immigrants make to the nation’s finances.

Mark Zuckerberg says that the average American has fewer than 3 friends. Is he right?

Two doctors claim that up to 90% of Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented. Are they wrong?

And Tim interviews an American, Catholic, philosopher of religion called Robert Prevost. Is he the pope?

If you’ve seen a number in the news you think we should look at, email the team – [email protected]

More or Less is produced in partnership with the Open University.

Presenter: Tim HarfordReporter: Lizzy McNeillProducers: Nicholas Barrett and Nathan GowerSeries producer: Tom CollsProduction co-ordinator: Brenda BrownSound mix: Nigel AppletonEditor: Richard Vadon

More or Less: Behind the Stats

Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us. From BBC Radio 4

  • No. of episodes: 1,021
  • Latest episode: 2025-06-11
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