Empirical statistical laws

An empirical statistical law or (in popular terminology) a law of statistics represents a type of behaviour that has been found across a number of datasets and, indeed, across a range of types of data sets. Many of these observances have been formulated and proved as statistical or probabilistic theorems and the term "law" has been carried over to these theorems. There are other statistical and probabilistic theorems that also have "law" as a part of their names that have not obviously derived from empirical observations. However, both type of "law" may be considrered instances a scientific law in the field of statistics.

Examples of empirically inspired statistical laws that have a firm theoretical basis include:

• Statistical regularity
• Law of large numbers
• Central limit theorem
• Regression towards the mean

Examples of "laws" with a weaker foundation include:

• Safety in numbers

Examples of supposed "laws" which are incorrect include:

• Law of averages

Compare the popular concept of laws of chance.