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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

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More or Less: Egypt: Biggest Protest in History?

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Tahrir Square

21/07/2013

Egypt: Biggest Protest in History?

BBC World Service - More or Less, Egypt: Biggest Protest in History?

Was the Egyptian uprising which ousted President Mohamed Morsi the biggest ever seen?

It is claimed the demonstrations against the now-deposed President Morsi were the biggest the world has ever seen. But were the crowds really as large as reported?

It is claimed that Egyptians have taken part in the biggest uprising the world has ever seen. The nationwide demonstrations, which were followed by the removal of President Mohamed Morsi by the army, were certainly a massive show of people power. But were the crowds really as large as reported? Ruth Alexander assesses the evidence with the help of Middle East correspondent, Wyre Davies and BBC Monitoring’s Chris Greenway. 

But how do you count a crowd? Hannah Fry, mathematician and researcher of complexity theory from University College London, outlines the different methods – and their shortcomings.

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