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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/astro-dark-matter-cosmic-share

About what fraction of cosmic critical density is dark matter?

Dark matter contributes about 27 percent.

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  1. About 5 percent
  2. About 68 percent
  3. About 27 percent ✔

Why: Current cosmological inventories assign roughly 27 percent to dark matter. Ordinary matter contributes only about 5 percent, while dark energy dominates the remainder.

Huh, didn't know that: Dark matter has not yet been directly identified in an Earth laboratory.

The dad joke
Dark matter owns 27 percent of the pie but never brings a plate.
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References

Answer: About 27 percent. Current cosmological inventories assign roughly 27 percent to dark matter. Ordinary matter contributes only about 5 percent, while dark energy dominates the remainder.

  1. What Is the Universe Really Made Of? openstax.org/books/astronomy-2e/pages/29-5-what-is-the-universe-really-made-of
    Dark matter accounts for about an additional 27% of the critical density.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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