Reference Sources: Statistics
Find On This Page:
| General Sources | United States, State & Local Statistics | International Statistics |
| Polls & Opinion Surveys | Geospatial Information | Analyzing Statistics |
General Sources
Online Sources:
FindIt! Multisearch Category for Statistics
Use this Multisearch category to identify several databases with statistical information.
Most can only be searched one at a time, however.
LexisNexis Statistical
'The world's most comprehensive access to statistical information' from
the Congressional Information Service, Inc.
Economagic.com: Economic Time Series
'This page is meant to be a comprehensive site of free, easily available economic time
series data useful for economic research, in particular economic forecasting. This
site (set of web pages) was started in 1996 to help students in an Applied Forecasting
class. ... At this time, there are more than 200,000 time series for which data and
custom charts can be retrieved.'
Data and Information Services Center (DISC)
Provided by the librarians at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, DISC's Internet
Crossroads contains over 825 annotated links to data-related resources on the Internet.
Both Online and In Print at the Library
Statistical Abstract of the United States
'As the National Data Book it contains a collection of statistics on social and
economic conditions in the United States. Selected international data are also included.
The Abstract is also your Guide to Sources of other data from the Census Bureau, other
Federal agencies, and private organizations.' A
print copy is also available in the library's reference collection.
World Almanac and Book of Facts
A print copy is also available
in the library's reference collection.
Information Please Almanac
A print copy is also available
in the library's reference collection.
United States, State & Local Statistics
FindIt! Multisearch Category for Statistics
Use this Multisearch category to identify several databases with statistical information.
Most can only be searched one at a time, however.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
'As the National Data Book it contains a collection of statistics on social and
economic conditions in the United States. Selected international data are also included.
The Abstract is also your Guide to Sources of other data from the Census Bureau, other
Federal agencies, and private organizations.' A
print copy is also available in the library's reference collection.
FedStats
'More than 100 agencies in the United States Federal Government produce statistics
of interest to the public. The Federal Interagency Council on Statistical
Policy maintains this site to provide easy access to the full range of statistics and
information produced by these agencies for public use.'
U.S. Census Bureau
The Census Bureau is one of the largest and oldest statistics-gathering agencies in the federal government. The best-known product is the Census of Population and Housing, which is conducted every 10 years, but the Census Bureau also conducts many other surveys and publishes brief analytical reports based on the data. You might be especially interested in the "People & Households" section in the middle of their homepage.
If you are particularly interested in using the Census of Population and Housing, you might want to look at this brief PowerPoint demo, or this Web Page. The easiest site to obtain Census information from is Missouri State Census Data Center. Although it may look like it only covers Missouri at first glance, there is actually data for the entire United States. Hint: You probably will want to look at the SF3 Profiles or Trend Reports. The Library also has print editions of the Census 2000 Missouri report and the Census 2000 Illinoisreport. Reports for other states, cities and metropolitan areas are also available from the Library.
Other sites sponsored by the Census Bureau:
- U. S. Census Bureau County and City Data Book
- USA Counties
- Historical Statistics of the United States
A print copy is also available in the library's reference collection - Guide to State Statistical Abstracts
Specifically, Statistical Abstract of Missouri.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
'Produces statistics on employment and unemployment, prices and living conditions, wages and benefits.' Their best-known publication is the Monthly Labor Review.
National Center of Education Statistics
'Collects, analyzes and publishes statistics on education.' Two of their most well-known products are the Digest of Education Statistics and Youth Indicators. Another site you might want to examine is NAEP Data Explorer, to discover what students across the country know and can do.
National Center for Health Statistics
'Responsible for the collection, analysis and dissemination on the nature of health, illness and disability of the U.S. population.' One of their best-known publications is Health United States.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
'Collects, analyzes, publishes and disseminates statistical information on crime, criminal offenders, [and] victims of crime.' Two publications you may want to consider are Crime in the United States and Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
The St. Louis Fed has three websites of interest:
- Liber8
This site is particularly intended for use by students and librarians, and as such is laid out in an easy-to-read format with an emphasis on analysis rather than data. - Fraser
"The Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research (FRASER) [is provided] by the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to expand on its mission to provide economic information and data to researchers interested in the U.S. economy. On this web site you will find links to scanned images of historical economic statistical publications, releases, and documents." - Fred
"FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data) is a database of over 3000 U.S. economic time series. With FRED® you can download data in Microsoft Excel and text formats and view charts of data series."
International Statistics
FindIt! Multisearch Category for Statistics
Use this Multisearch category to identify several databases with statistical information.
Most can only be searched one at a time, however.
NationMaster
Nationmaster is intended to make comparisons across countries more easily available. Choice
reviewed it as 'essential'.
National Government Statistical Websites
Collected by Indiana University and maintained by Archive-It.org, it provides a searchable
list of the chief statistical offices of many countries.
Many of the world's nations have statistical offices. Here are a few selected ones to get you started:
- United Kingdom National Statistics
- Federal Statistical Office Germany
- Statistics Canada
- Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel)
Similarly, many international organizations collect statistics: A few are:
- Eurostat Yearbook
- United Nations Statistics Division.
Also in the Library: Statistical Yearbook (United Nations) - Demographic and Social Statistics (United Nations)
Also in the Library: Demographic Yearbook (United Nations) - UNESCO Statistical Tables
Also in the Library: Statistical Yearbook(UNESCO) - FAOSTAT (Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Development Indicators (World Bank)
- Statistics Portal for the OECD
Print Resource
Check out Statesman's Yearbook from the Library's print collection. Editions back to 1898 are available, to make comparisons over time.
Polls & Opinion Surveys
FindIt! Multisearch Category for Statistics
Use this Multisearch category to identify several databases with statistical information.
Most can only be searched one at a time, however.
Pew Global Attitudes Project
"The Pew Global Attitudes Project is a series of worldwide public opinion surveys that
encompasses a broad array of subjects ranging from people's assessments of their own
lives to their views about the current state of the world and important issues of
the day. More than 90,000 interviews in 50 countries have been conducted as part
of the project's work."
Geospatial Information
Geospatial and Statistical Data
Center at the University of Virginia
"One of the Library's Electronic Centers, the Geostat Center contains most of the
spatial and social science data available through the University Library system."
Geospatial One Stop
"geodata.gov is a geographic information system (GIS) portal, also known as the Geospatial
One-Stop (GOS), that serves as a public gateway for improving access to geospatial
information and data under the Geospatial One-Stop E-Government initiative. Geospatial
One-Stop is one of 24 E-Government initiatives sponsored by the Federal Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) to enhance government efficiency and to improve citizen services."
NHGIS: The National Historical Geographic Information System
"The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) provides, free of
charge, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States
between 1790 and 2000."
Analyzing Statistics
How to Lie with Statistics is a classic!
Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice, which was produced by the Committee on Professional Ethics of the American Statistical Association in 1999, is intended to "encourage ethical and effective statistical work in morally conducive working environments. It is also intended to assist students in learning to perform statistical work responsibly."
Some other articles to consider:
- The (Ongoing) Vitality of Mythical Numbers: Does ID theft really cost $48 billion a year? By Jack Shafer Posted Monday, June 26, 2006, at 6:07 PM ET.
- Political Arithmetik: Where Numbers and Politics Meet
- Dubious Data Awards, from Stats at George Mason University
Please inquire at Olin Library's Reference Desk for further assistance in finding and using statistical sources.