The correlation coefficient provides both the strength and direction of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Its values range between - 1.0 and + 1.0. When it is positive, the relationship between x and y is positive, and when it is negative, the relationship is also negative. A correlation coefficient close to zero indicates that there is no correlation between x and y.

Correlation of Fatal cases ratio and Total cases per 1 million with the most significant indicators

Of the greatest importance is the effect of the elderly demographic (in % of total population) on Ratio of fatal cases (0.35), though it does not lead to higher Total cases per 1M (slightly above zero - 0,06). For the total number per 1 million population (i.e. spread of virus) the only (and a fairly high) correlation is revealed for the population densities (coefficient value is 0.21) and also obesity (0.25).