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If I have a vector layer in QGIS, how do I use Python to find the maximum value which a given field has?

I need to convert the values in one field into values between 0 and 1. I guess I therefore need to set it to val/maxVal. That's why I need to find the maximum value.

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  • and what if I'd like to evaluate the maximum for each unique value? This doesn't work at all...could someone find the error? thanks uniquevalues=layer.uniqueValues(index,limit=10000) for uv in uniquevalues: features = layer.getFeatures() for feat in features: values = [] attrs = feat.attributes() values.append(attrs[field]) if feat[field] == uv: maxarea = max(values)
    – FedericaZ
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 15:44

4 Answers 4

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It is not necessary to get a complete list of field values. In QgsVectorLayer exists 'maximumValue' method. So, this works well and it's shorter:

layer = iface.activeLayer()

idx = layer.fieldNameIndex('fieldName')
print layer.maximumValue(idx)
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  • 3
    Just a note - the biggest advantage of using QgsVectorLayer.maximumValue over iterating through every value is that maximumValue can hand calculation of the maximum over to the data source itself. Ie, for a Postgres layer QGIS will send a simple "select max("field") from ..." query to the database, rather then having to fetch every single feature from the database and iterate through them. It's a dramatic performance win.
    – ndawson
    Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 22:07
  • Not working on string columns. Code proposed by Joseph fix te issue.
    – Kostadin
    Commented Jan 16, 2018 at 14:07
  • Notice that the precision seems limited, I have a few dozen points with a field set at 438.56, and the result is 438.57. Using layer.maximumValue(layer.fields().indexFromName('field_alt')), QGIS 3.22, Win 10 Pro.
    – S.E.
    Commented Apr 22, 2022 at 14:30
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The accepted answer does not work in QGIS3.

Now one has to do:

fieldname='id'
layer=iface.activeLayer()
idx=layer.fields().indexFromName(fieldname)
print(layer.maximumValue(idx))

(I am setting fieldname as the first line to make it easier to cut and paste for someone wanting to test it with their layer)

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You could use the following in the Python Console to print out the maximum value for a given field:

values = []
layer = qgis.utils.iface.activeLayer()
idx = layer.fieldNameIndex('fieldName')
for feat in layer.getFeatures():
    attrs = feat.attributes()
    values.append(attrs[idx])

print max(values)
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  • 1
    It is not necessary to get a complete list of field values. In QgsVectorLayer exists 'maximumValue' method.
    – xunilk
    Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 12:02
  • 1
    Also works, but @xunilk's is the better solution.
    – Tom Chadwin
    Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 12:47
  • @TomChadwin - Can't argue there =)
    – Joseph
    Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 12:49
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There are also several other approaches available:

Approach 1 : QgsAggregateCalculator with Max

Available aggregates to calculate.

Not all aggregates are available for all field types.

This approach is available since QGIS 2.16.

layer = iface.activeLayer()
max_value = layer.aggregate(QgsAggregateCalculator.Max, "name_of_your_field")[0]
print(max_value)

Approach 2 : QgsVectorLayerUtils

Contains utility methods for working with QgsVectorLayers.

This approach is available since QGIS 3.

layer = iface.activeLayer()
max_value = max(QgsVectorLayerUtils.getValues(layer, "name_of_your_field")[0])
print(max_value)

Approach 3 : QgsVectorLayer class with getFeatures() method

Similar to @Joseph's solution

layer = iface.activeLayer()
max_value = max([feat["name_of_your_field"] for feat in layer.getFeatures()])
print(max_value)
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