Things to Remember:
- The specific data that you’re looking for may simply not exist. Statistics are gathered for specific purposes, to fulfill certain needs, and it is simply not possible to address all variables.
- The most recent statistics for your topic may be several years old, simply because it takes time to compile all the accumulated data.
- Statistics are intentionally anonymous – any information that could identify individuals is removed before the statistics are compiled.
- Not all statistical data is freely available (i.e. statisitcs compiled and funded by private organizations)
General United States Statistics
Census.gov – the leading source of quality data about the people and economy of the United States.
- American FactFinder – an online tool for accessing key Census Bureau data sets: the population and housing census, the economic census, the American Community Survey, and others.
- Statistical Abstract of the United States – "published since 1878, this is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States." This resource is also available in print at Call Number RR 317.3 Un3s.
State Search – provides Chief Information Office contact information, professional biographies, state government links, and state statistics for the fifty United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
LexisNexis Statistical Universe – Click "Search Tables Base Edition" to search for statistical tables on your topic. Coverage extends back to 1973 for some sources and includes a wide variety of topics for countries around the world.
International Statistics
CIA World FactBook - contains information on the geography, population, government, economy, communication systems, transportation, military, and transnational issues of countries around the world.
United Nations Statistics Division – provides statistics and data on the United Nations.
Statistical Abstract of Latin America – contains statistics on the societies, economies, and politics of Latin America. Available in print (Reference Collection) Call Number: RR 203 W893ct
The Europa world year book - contains "detailed information on the political, economic, and commercial institutions of the world. Volume I contains a comprehensive listing of some 1,900 international organizations" and countries A-J, while Volume II contains countries K-Z. Available in print (Reference Collection) Call Number: RR 310 E
Religion
Adherents.com – contains "references to published membership/adherent statistics and congregation statistics for over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc."
World Christian trends, AD 30-AD 2200 : interpreting the annual Christian megacensus – includes statistics of evangelism and evangelization around the globe, as well as statistics on persecution and Christian martyrs throughout history, and the economics of Christianity. Available in print (Reference Collection) Call Number: RR 203 W893ct
World Christian Database – provides comprehensive statistical information on world religions, Christian denominations, and people groups. Extensive data is available on 9,000 Christian denominations, 13,000 ethnolinguistic peoples, as well as data on 5,000 cities, 3,000 provinces and 238 countries. Compiled by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Center for the Study of Global Christianity.
Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) – provides data on American and international religion, allowing you to generate national profiles, maps, church membership overviews, denominational heritage trees, tables, charts, and other summary reports.
The Barna Group – provides primary research through its five divisions with a vision of partnering with Christian ministries to affect a spiritual transformation in the United States.
Religion Source – contains links to other online sources of religious statistics.
Education
National Center for Education Statistics – "is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education." Click the "Tables & Figures" tab, or "Fast Facts" to get started.
ERIC – provides access to over 1.2 million journal articles, papers, and statistical reports in the field of education, and contains the full-text where possible. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
UNESCO Institute for Statistics – contains global and internationally comparable statistics on education, science, technology, culture and communication. Select a "Core Theme" on the top left to get started.
Medicine
National Center for Health Statistics – principal health statistics agency in the United States. Also try their database FastStats A-Z for fast access to health-related data.
WHO Statistical Information System (WHOSIS) – compiled by the World Health Organization, WHOSIS contains national statistics for 50 core indicators on mortality, morbidity, risk factors, service coverage, and health systems for WHO’s 193 member states.
MedlinePlus – health statistics from the National Library of Medicine.
Government
White House Federal Statistics – provides the latest federal government statistics.
FedStats – contains "a full range of statistics and information produced by Federal agencies for public use."
Crime
Bureau of Justice Statistics – "collects, analyzes, publishes, and disseminates information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government."
Uniform Crime Report (FBI) – contains crime statistics compiled by over 17,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States. Full-text data available since 1995. Includes links to Hate Crime Statistics and other related topics.
Business and Economics
Bureau of Economic Analysis – provides economic accounts data and statistics to promote a better understanding of the U.S. economy
Bureau of Labor Statistics – "is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics," which produces "impartial, timely, and accurate data relevant to the needs of our users and to the social and economic conditions of our Nation, its workers, and their families."
- Occupational Outlook Handbook – provides information about hundreds of different types of jobs, including the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions.
FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) – provides data and statistics on Banking, Business/Fiscal, Consumer Price Indexes (CPI), Employment & Population, Exchange Rates, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Components, Interest Rates, Monetary Aggregates, Producer Price Indexes (PPI), Reserves and Monetary Base, U.S. Trade & International Transactions, U.S. Financial Data, and Regional Data, including labor force and unemployment rate time series for every state, county, and metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States.
Worldscope – provides basic financial information on public companies worldwide.
Miscellaneous
TranStats – "contains a searchable index of over 100 transportation-related databases across every mode of transportation — with many social and demographic data sets that are commonly used in transportation analysis." Compiled by the Bureau of Transportation.
Energy Information Administration – provides statistics and other data related to energy, fuels, and the environment, as well as forecasts and analyses of this content. Contains official energy statistics from the U.S. Government.
National Agricultural Statistics Service – contains data and statistics on virtually all aspects of agriculture in the United States, including production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use, and changes in the demographics of U.S.
For more information, please contact:
Reference Librarian
(630) 752-5169
Reference@wheaton.edu
