Convert column where values type are string to numeric

Question

I have this DF (gdp_g20) with information of GDP, first line example below:

Country Name Country Code Indicator Name Indicator Code 2014
Argentina ARG GDP (current US$) NY.GDP.MKTP.CD $526,320,000,000.00

I want to plot it but as the value types of column '2014' are string, it's not possible.

So anyone know how to convert gdp_g20['2014'] to numeric data? I've seen some posts but none of them worked.

Thanks in advance.

I tried removing the $ sign and convert with to_numeric, as below:

gdp_g20['2014'] = gdp_g20['2014'].apply(lambda x: x.replace('$', ''))
gdp_g20['2014'] = pd.to_numeric(gdp_g20['2014'])

But then I got the error:

"Unable to parse string " 526,320,000,000.00 " at position 0"

Removing the dollar sign should allow any other method to recast the datatype as numerical data i think. — Jason Chia
– Jason Chia, Commented Jul 14, 2021 at 13:49
I've tried that but got an error. Edited the post so you can see. May you can have an other idea of how to do it. — Felipe Balbino
– Felipe Balbino, Commented Jul 14, 2021 at 14:08

norie · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-14 14:11:03Z

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You need to remove the $ and get rid of the ,, this should do it.

gdp_g20['2014'] = data['2014'].str[1:].str.replace(',','').astype(float)

answered Jul 14, 2021 at 14:11

norie

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Felipe Balbino Over a year ago

Thanks! did it in a different way but it worked. gdp_g20['2014'] = gdp_g20['2014'].apply(lambda x: x.replace('$', '').replace(',', '')) gdp_g20['2014'] = pd.to_numeric(gdp_g20['2014'])

Sameet · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-14 14:21:13Z

1

Looks like you were on the right track you just need to remove the "," too

Adding another line to your code like this works

gdp_g20["2014"] = gdp_g20['2014'].apply(lambda x: x.replace('$', ''))
gdp_g20["2014"] = gdp_g20['2014'].apply(lambda x: x.replace(',', ''))
gdp_g20['2014'] = pd.to_numeric(gdp_g20['2014'])

answered Jul 14, 2021 at 14:21

Sameet

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