Percentage Decrease Questions with Answers and Solutions

Percentage decrease questions are important for competitive examinations such as SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC GD, RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, Banking, Defence, Police, and other government exams. They are also useful for school students learning percentages.

Like percentage increase questions, percentage decrease questions are solved using a simple formula. In this section, we will learn how to calculate percentage decrease through solved examples.

To understand the basics of percentages, visit our Percentage Hub.

Formula for Percentage Decrease

Formula:

% Decrease = (Decrease ÷ Original Value) × 100

Where:

• Decrease = Original Value − New Value
• Original Value = Initial value before the decrease

For more percentage formulas and shortcuts, visit our Percentage Formula section.

Question 1: In the first class test, Radhika scored 50 marks out of 60. In the second class test, she scored 45 marks out of 60. By what percentage did her marks decrease in the second test compared to the first test?

Solution

Marks in the first test = 50 (Original Value)

Marks in the second test = 45

Decrease in marks

= 50 − 45

= 5 marks

Using the percentage decrease formula:

% Decrease = (Decrease ÷ Original Value) × 100

= (5 ÷ 50) × 100

= (1 ÷ 10) × 100

= 10%

Answer

Radhika’s marks decreased by 10%.

Question 2: Jindal Stainless produced 60,000 tonnes of steel in May 2025. However, due to a breakdown in its electric arc furnace, the company produced only 45,000 tonnes of steel in June 2025. By what percentage did steel production decrease in June 2025 compared to May 2025?

Solution

Steel production in May 2025 = 60,000 tonnes (Original Value)

Steel production in June 2025 = 45,000 tonnes

Decrease in production

= 60,000 − 45,000

= 15,000 tonnes

Using the percentage decrease formula:

% Decrease = (Decrease ÷ Original Value) × 100

= (15,000 ÷ 60,000) × 100

= (1/4) × 100

= 25%

Answer

Steel production decreased by 25%.

Question 3: Sita and Geeta study in the same class. In a test, Sita scored 50 marks out of 50, while Geeta scored only 30 marks. By what percentage were Geeta’s marks less than Sita’s marks?

Solution

Sita’s marks = 50 (Original Value)

Geeta’s marks = 30

Decrease in marks

= 50 − 30

= 20

Using the percentage decrease formula:

% Decrease = (20 ÷ 50) × 100

= (2/5) × 100

= 40%

Answer

Geeta scored 40% less marks than Sita.

SSC/RRB/Defence/Banking Exams Shortcut

Sita scored:

50 out of 50 = 100%

Geeta scored:

30 out of 50 = (30/50) × 100 = 60%

Therefore,

Percentage decrease = 100% − 60%

= 40%

Question 4: In 2024, RRB NTPC recruited 9,544 candidates. In 2025, the number of candidates recruited decreased to 9,133. By what percentage did the recruitment decrease in 2025 compared to 2024?

Solution

Candidates recruited in 2024 = 9,544 (Original Value)

Candidates recruited in 2025 = 9,133

Decrease in recruitment

= 9,544 − 9,133

= 411

Using the percentage decrease formula:

% Decrease = (411 ÷ 9,544) × 100

≈ 4.31%

Answer

The recruitment decreased by approximately 4.31%.

Question 5: A milk factory produced 24,000 bottles of milk in February 2020. Due to a shortage of raw materials during the COVID-19 pandemic, production fell to 21,600 bottles in March 2020. Find the percentage decrease in production.

Solution

Production in February 2020 = 24,000 bottles (Original Value)

Production in March 2020 = 21,600 bottles

Decrease in production

= 24,000 − 21,600

= 2,400 bottles

Using the percentage decrease formula:

= (2,400 ÷ 24,000) × 100

= (1/10) × 100

= 10%

Answer

The production of milk bottles decreased by 10%.

Question 6: A shop’s monthly sales were ₹1,25,000 in July. In August, the sales reduced to ₹1,05,000. Find the percentage decrease in sales.

Solution

Original Value (Sales in July) = ₹1,25,000

Sales in August = ₹1,05,000

Decrease in sales

= ₹1,25,000 − ₹1,05,000

= ₹20,000

Using the percentage decrease formula:

= (20,000 ÷ 1,25,000) × 100

= (20 ÷ 125) × 100

= (4 ÷ 25) × 100

= 16%

Answer

The shop’s sales decreased by 16%.

Question 7: The price of a stock was ₹1,200 at the beginning of 2025. By the end of 2025, its price had fallen to ₹990. Find the percentage decrease in the stock price.

Solution

Price of the stock at the beginning of 2025 = ₹1,200 (Original Value)

Price of the stock at the end of 2025 = ₹990

Decrease in price

= ₹1,200 − ₹990

= ₹210

Using the percentage decrease formula:

= (210 ÷ 1,200) × 100

= (7 ÷ 40) × 100

= 17.5%

Answer

The stock price decreased by 17.5%.

SSC/Banking Shortcut

The price fell from ₹1,200 to ₹990.

Difference = ₹210

Percentage decrease

= (210 ÷ 1,200) × 100

= 17.5%

Answer: 17.5%

Question 8: In the previous year’s Class 12 examinations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, a total of 7,00,000 students appeared for the exams. This year, only 6,50,000 students appeared. By what percentage did the number of students appearing for the examination decrease?

Solution

Students appeared last year = 7,00,000 (Original Value)

Students appeared this year = 6,50,000

Decrease in students

= 7,00,000 − 6,50,000

= 50,000

Using the percentage decrease formula:

% Decrease = (Decrease ÷ Original Value) × 100

= (50,000 ÷ 7,00,000) × 100

= (5 ÷ 70) × 100

= (1 ÷ 14) × 100

= 7.14%

Answer

The number of students appearing for the examination decreased by approximately 7.14%.

SSC/RRB Shortcut

Decrease = 50,000

Original Value = 7,00,000

Percentage decrease

= (50,000 ÷ 7,00,000) × 100

= (1 ÷ 14) × 100

=7.14%

Question 9: A company that manufactures resins reported a profit of ₹80 lakh in the previous year. In the current year, its profit decreased to ₹68 lakh. By what percentage did the company’s profit decrease?

Solution

Initial profit = ₹80 lakh (Original Value)

Current profit = ₹68 lakh

Decrease in profit

= 80 − 68

= ₹12 lakh

Using the percentage decrease formula:

= (12 ÷ 80) × 100

= (3 ÷ 20) × 100

= 15%

Answer

The company’s profit decreased by 15%.

SSC/RRB Shortcut

Profit fell from ₹80 lakh to ₹68 lakh.

Decrease = ₹12 lakh

Since:

12/80 = 3/20

Percentage decrease

= (3/20) × 100

= 15%

Answer: 15%

Question 10: A village had a population of 450 people. After a few years, 150 people left the village. By what percentage did the population decrease?

Solution

Initial population = 450 (Original Value)

People who left the village = 150

Decrease in population = 150

Using the percentage decrease formula:

= (150 ÷ 450) × 100

= (1 ÷ 3) × 100

= 33⅓%

Answer

The population of the village decreased by 33⅓%.

SSC/RRB Shortcut

Population decrease = 150

Original population = 450

Since:

150/450 = 1/3

Percentage decrease

= (1/3) × 100

= 33⅓%

Answer: 33⅓%

Question 11: The number of passengers travelling on a railway route decreased from 48,000 to 41,280. Find the percentage decrease in the number of passengers.

Solution

Initial number of passengers = 48,000 (Original Value)

Final number of passengers = 41,280

Decrease in passengers

= 48,000 − 41,280

= 6,720

Using the percentage decrease formula:

= (6,720 ÷ 48,000) × 100

= 0.14 × 100

= 14%

Answer

The number of passengers decreased by 14%.

SSC/RRB Shortcut

Decrease = 6,720

Original Value = 48,000

Percentage decrease

= (6,720 ÷ 48,000) × 100

= (672 ÷ 4,800) × 100

= (14 ÷ 100) × 100

= 14%

Answer: 14%

Percentage decrease shortcuts:

Practice Questions on Percentage Decrease

Question 1: An SSC coaching institute had 1,200 students enrolled in 2024. In 2025, the number of enrolled students decreased to 1,080. Find the percentage decrease in enrollment.

Question 2: A public sector bank opened 8,000 savings accounts in one quarter. In the next quarter, it opened only 7,000 accounts. Calculate the percentage decrease.

Note: If you understand the concepts well of this lesson above, questions can be solved in less than a minute.

FAQ on Percentage Decrease Questions

When is percentage decrease used?

Percentage decrease is used to calculate the percentage change when a value decreases from its original value.

What is the formula for percentage decrease?

Percentage Decrease = (Decrease ÷ Original Value) × 100

What is the difference between percentage increase and percentage decrease?

Percentage increase measures the growth of a quantity from its original value, while percentage decrease measures the reduction of a quantity from its original value.

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