Pros and Cons of Harmonic Mean

Pros:

  • It is based on all observations.
  • It not significantly affected by the fluctuation of sampling.
  • It is capable of algebraic treatment.
  • It is an appropriate average for averaging ratios and rates.
  • It does not give much weight to large items

Cons:

  • Its calculation is difficult.
  • It gives a high weight-age to small items.
  • It cannot be calculated if any of the items is zero.
  • It is usually a value which does not exist in the given data.