[Grammar] Eighty percent of the population is/are

[Oceanlike]

I'm confused by such a question again.

- Eighty percent of the population is/are overdosing on salt.

I think the answer is 'are' but I'm unsure. Do I look at 'eighty percent' as plural hence 'are' or 'population' as a collective noun hence 'is'?

Thank you! :-D

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'is' is correct because the subject is 'population', which is singular.

 

[kilroy65]

Eighty percent of the population is/are overdosing on salt.

"80%" indicates a part/portion of something. In your sentence, it is "population". This is a collective noun and I think both options are acceptable.

 

[Tdol]

In British English, both forms are OK. I would guess that the plural would be the more common one.