Spreadsheets are a versatile tool that can be used for data management, analysis, and visualization. They have become a staple in many industries, from finance and accounting to marketing and sales.

In this blog post, we will explore statistics related to spreadsheets and their usage in different fields.

Key Spreadsheets Statistics 2023 – MY Choice


  • Usage of Spreadsheets: According to a survey by Dresner Advisory Services, over 90% of organizations use spreadsheets for financial reporting and analysis.
  • Excel is the most popular: Microsoft Excel is the most commonly used spreadsheet software, with over 750 million users worldwide.
  • Errors are common: A study published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism found that over 88% of spreadsheets containing clinical trial data contained errors.
  • Lack of collaboration: A survey by TrackVia found that 22% of businesses reported difficulties collaborating on spreadsheets due to version control issues.
  • Data visualization: Spreadsheets are increasingly used for data visualization. According to a survey by Datawrapper, 68% of data journalists use spreadsheets to create charts and graphs.
  • Growth in cloud-based solutions: Cloud-based spreadsheet software, such as Google Sheets, is growing in popularity. According to Google, over 2 million businesses now use Google Sheets.
  • Mobile access: With the rise of mobile devices, there is an increasing demand for mobile access to spreadsheets. Google Sheets reported a 40% increase in mobile usage in 2021.
  • Automation: Spreadsheets are increasingly being used for automation. For example, companies are using spreadsheets to automate repetitive tasks such as invoicing and reporting.
  • Integration with other software: Spreadsheets are increasingly being integrated with other software. For example, companies are using spreadsheets to feed data into business intelligence tools.
  • Data analysis: Spreadsheets are increasingly being used for data analysis. For example, companies are using spreadsheets to analyze customer data and make informed business decisions.

Spreadsheets in Business

Spreadsheet Usage in Accounting

  1. 91% of all businesses still use spreadsheets as a core part of their accounting process.
  2. 60% of accountants still use paper-based methods to manage their data, while 51% use spreadsheets.
  3. The average company uses 8 spreadsheets to manage their accounting data.

Spreadsheet Usage in Finance

  1. 82% of finance professionals rely on spreadsheets for their work.
  2. 75% of businesses use spreadsheets to create financial reports.
  3. 65% of finance professionals believe that there is room for improvement in their use of spreadsheets.

Spreadsheet Usage in Marketing

  1. 84% of marketers use spreadsheets for their work.
  2. 40% of marketers use spreadsheets to track and manage their budgets.
  3. 75% of marketers believe that spreadsheets are critical for their job.

Spreadsheet Usage in Sales

  1. 91% of sales teams still use spreadsheets to manage their customer data.
  2. 82% of sales reps believe that spreadsheets are an essential tool for their job.
  3. 70% of sales teams use spreadsheets to manage their sales forecasts.

Spreadsheets in Education

Spreadsheet Usage in Teaching

  1. 97% of teachers use spreadsheets in their classrooms.
  2. 75% of teachers use spreadsheets to manage student data.
  3. 61% of teachers use spreadsheets for grading purposes.

Spreadsheet Usage in Research

  1. 85% of researchers use spreadsheets to manage their data.
  2. 68% of researchers use spreadsheets to organize and analyze their data.
  3. 52% of researchers use spreadsheets to create graphs and charts.

Spreadsheets in Technology

Spreadsheet Software Market

  1. The global spreadsheet software market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2021 to 2028.
  2. Microsoft Excel dominates the spreadsheet software market, with a market share of 77.8%.
  3. Google Sheets is the second-most popular spreadsheet software, with a market share of 10.9%.

Spreadsheet Usage in Programming

  1. 70% of software developers use spreadsheets for data management and analysis.
  2. 57% of developers use spreadsheets for budget tracking.
  3. 50% of developers use spreadsheets for project management.

Spreadsheets in Personal Use

Personal Budgeting with Spreadsheets

  1. 60% of households use spreadsheets to manage their budgets.
  2. 57% of people use spreadsheets to track their expenses.
  3. 51% of people use spreadsheets to plan their savings.

Personal Task Management with Spreadsheets

  1. 70% of people use spreadsheets to manage their to-do lists.
  2. 64% of people use spreadsheets to track their goals.
  3. 57% of people use spreadsheets to plan their schedules.

Spreadsheet Usage in the Workplace

Spreadsheets have become a vital tool in the modern workplace. Here are some statistics that show just how much they are used:

  1. 90% of businesses use spreadsheets in some capacity.
  2. 70% of businesses use spreadsheets for financial analysis.
  3. 64% of businesses use spreadsheets for project management.
  4. 47% of businesses use spreadsheets for data analysis.
  5. 32% of businesses use spreadsheets for inventory management.

Spreadsheet Usage in Finance

Spreadsheets are especially popular in finance and accounting. Here are some statistics about their usage in this industry:

  1. 84% of CFOs use spreadsheets for budgeting and planning.
  2. 79% of finance professionals use spreadsheets for financial analysis.
  3. 69% of finance professionals use spreadsheets for forecasting.
  4. 61% of finance professionals use spreadsheets for financial reporting.
  5. 44% of finance professionals use spreadsheets for financial modeling.

Spreadsheet Security

Given the sensitive data that spreadsheets often contain, it’s important to ensure that they are properly secured. Here are some statistics related to spreadsheet security:

  1. 60% of spreadsheets contain errors.
  2. Only 34% of businesses have a formal policy for securing spreadsheets.
  3. 25% of spreadsheets that contain sensitive data are shared outside of the organization.
  4. 21% of businesses have experienced a data breach due to a spreadsheet error.

Spreadsheet Automation

With the rise of automation, spreadsheets are no exception to the trend. Here are some statistics about spreadsheet automation:

  1. 61% of businesses use some form of automation to populate their spreadsheets.
  2. 52% of businesses use automation to generate reports from spreadsheets.
  3. 40% of businesses use automation to update spreadsheets from external sources.
  4. 27% of businesses use automation to transfer data between spreadsheets.

Spreadsheet Alternatives

While spreadsheets are incredibly useful, they are not without their drawbacks. Here are some statistics related to alternatives to spreadsheets:

  1. 56% of businesses are looking for alternatives to spreadsheets.
  2. 38% of businesses are using cloud-based software as an alternative to spreadsheets.
  3. 30% of businesses are using business intelligence tools as an alternative to spreadsheets.
  4. 22% of businesses are using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems as an alternative to spreadsheets.

Spreadsheet vs. Database

While spreadsheets can be incredibly powerful tools, they are not always the best solution for managing data. Here are some statistics that compare spreadsheets to databases:

  1. Databases are up to 20 times faster than spreadsheets for large datasets.
  2. Databases are up to 10,000 times more scalable than spreadsheets.
  3. Databases are up to 99.99% more reliable than spreadsheets.
  4. Databases can handle up to 1 million concurrent users, while spreadsheets can handle a maximum of 10-20.

Spreadsheet vs. Project Management Software

Spreadsheets are often used for project management, but project management software can provide a more comprehensive solution. Here are some statistics that compare spreadsheets to project management software:

  1. Project management software is up to 70% more efficient than spreadsheets.
  2. Project management software can increase project success rates by up to 40%.
  3. Project management software can reduce project costs by up to 20%.

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