What percentage of data falls within 1 standard deviation in a normal distribution?

In a normal distribution, approximately 68% of the data falls within 1 standard deviation from the mean. This characteristic is a fundamental aspect of the properties of the normal distribution and is often referred to as the empirical rule or the 68-95-99.7 rule. The concept is essential in statistics as it helps in understanding how data is spread around the mean.

The normal distribution is symmetric, meaning that the values are evenly distributed on both sides of the mean. Thus, when considering one standard deviation away from the mean, you encompass a significant portion of values: about 68%. This understanding is vital when analyzing statistical data as it informs expectations regarding how likely it is for a random variable to fall within a certain range around the average.