MS Excel: COUNTIF Function (WS)

In Excel, the COUNTIF function counts the number of cells in a range, that meets a given criteria.

The syntax for the COUNTIF function is:

COUNTIF( range, criteria )

range is the range of cells that you want to count based on the criteria.

criteria is used to determine which cells to count.

Applies To:

  • Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function:

  • Worksheet function (WS)

Worksheet Function Example:

Let's take a look at an example to see how you would use the COUNTIF function in a worksheet:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the COUNTIF function would return the following:

=COUNTIF(A2:A7, D2) would return 1
=COUNTIF(A:A, D2) would return 1
=COUNTIF(A2:A7, ">=2001") would return 4

Using Named Ranges

You can also use a named range in the COUNTIF function. For example, we've created a named range called family that refers to column A in Sheet 1.

Then we've entered the following data in Excel:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above:

=COUNTIF(family, D2) would return 1
=COUNTIF(family, ">=2001") would return 4

To view named ranges: Under the Insert menu, select Name > Define.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I'm trying to use COUNTIF on a selection of cells (not necessarily one solid range), and the syntax of the function does not allow that. Is there another way to do this?

Here's an example of what I'd like to be able to do:

=COUNTIF(A2,A5,F6,G9,">0")

Answer: Unfortunately, the COUNTIF function does not support multiple ranges. However, you could try summing multiple COUNTIFs.

For example:

=SUM(COUNTIF(A2,">0"),COUNTIF(A5,">0"),COUNTIF(F6,">0"),COUNTIF(G9,">0"))

OR

=COUNTIF(A2,">0")+COUNTIF(A5,">0")+COUNTIF(F6,">0")+COUNTIF(G9,">0")

Question: I am using the COUNTIF function and I would like to make the criteria equal to a cell.

For example:

=COUNTIF(C4:C19,">=2/26/04")

I want to replace 2/26/04 with cell A1. How do I do this?

Answer: To use a cell reference in the criteria, you could do the following:

=COUNTIF(C4:C19,">="&A1)

=COUNTIF(A2:A7, D2) would return 1
=COUNTIF(A:A, D2) would return 1
=COUNTIF(A2:A7, ">=2001") would return 4
=COUNTIF(family, D2) would return 1
=COUNTIF(family, ">=2001") would return 4

=COUNTIF(A2,A5,F6,G9,">0")

=SUM(COUNTIF(A2,">0"),COUNTIF(A5,">0"),COUNTIF(F6,">0"),COUNTIF(G9,">0"))

=COUNTIF(A2,">0")+COUNTIF(A5,">0")+COUNTIF(F6,">0")+COUNTIF(G9,">0")

=COUNTIF(C4:C19,">=2/26/04")

=COUNTIF(C4:C19,">="&A1)

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