nwcloseness

Calculate closeness centrality

Syntax

nwcloseness 
[netlist]
[,
unconnected(int)
generate(var1 var2 var3)
nosym
replace]

unconnected(int)	defines the length of the (non-existent) path between two unconnected nodes
generate(var1 var2 var3)	Required. Exactly 3 variable names to save closeness, farness and nearness scores, in that order
nosym	do not symmetrize network before calculation of shortest paths
replace	overwrite existing var1, var2, var3 (or _closeness, _farness, _nearness); required if they already exist

Description

Calculates the closeness centrality (and farness and nearness score) for each node i in a network or network list and saves the result as Stata variables.

The closeness centrality for node i is defined in the following way:

• farness_i = sum(dist_ik), over all k

• nearness_i = 1 / farness_i

• closeness_i = nearness_i * (nodes - 1)

with: dist_ik being the length of the shortest path from node i to node k (see nwgeodesic)

Closeness centrality is not defined when the network is unconnected. However, scores can still be obtained when option unconnected() is specified. Any integer value can be choosen; unconnected(max) assigns non-existent paths a length based on the longest shortest path length observed in the network (plus one) (see nwgeodesic).

generate() is required and must always give exactly 3 names (var1 var2 var3, for closeness, farness and nearness respectively). Existing Stata variables var1, var2, var3 require option replace to be overwritten. In case, closeness centrality is calculated for z networks at the same time (e.g. ** nwcloseness glasgow1 glasgow2, generate(clo far near)*), the command generates the variables *var1_z, var2_z, var3_z for each network.

Examples

. nwwebuse gang, nwclear
. nwcloseness gang, generate(_closeness _farness _nearness)
. sum _closeness _farness _nearness

Supported network types

Binary: yes. Directed: yes - symmetrized by default (the same “no-prefix trap” nosym convention as nwkatz/nwevcent), nosym available. Weighted: inherited entirely from whatever nwgeodesic options are passed through (this command has no weighted/alpha() of its own). Signed: not checked. Two-mode: not checked.

See also

• nwgeodesic, nwpath, nwgeodesic, nwbetween, nwdegree, nwevcent, nwkatz

• last certified : 24 Aug 2026