In Phys. Lett. B 753, 629-638 (2016) [arXiv:1507.08188] the BESIII collaboration published a cross section measurement of the process $e^+e^-\to \pi^+ \pi^-$ in the energy range between 600 and 900 MeV. In this erratum we report a corrected evaluation of the statistical errors in terms of a fully propagated covariance matrix. The correction also yields a reduced statistical uncertainty for the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, which now reads as $a_\mu^{\pi\pi\mathrm{, LO}}(600 - 900\,\mathrm{MeV}) = (368.2 \pm 1.5_{\rm stat} \pm 3.3_{\rm syst})\times 10^{-10}$. The central values of the cross section measurement and of $a_\mu^{\pi\pi\mathrm{, LO}}$, as well as the systematic uncertainties remain unchanged.
Bare cross section $\sigma^\mathrm{bare}(e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-(\gamma_\mathrm{FSR}))$ of the process $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-$ measured using the initial state radiation method. The data is corrected concerning final state radiation and vacuum polarization effects. The final state radiation is added using the Schwinger term at born level.
Statistical covariance matrix of the bare cross section $\sigma^\mathrm{bare}(e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-(\gamma_\mathrm{FSR}))$.
Pion form factor $|F_\pi|^2$ measured using the initial state radiation method. The data is corrected concerning vacuum polarization effects.