This guide is an aid for finding statistical sources using Burke Library's general collection and online resources. The purpose of this guide is to highlight key statistical sources with a particular emphasis on U.S. and international economic and social science data. This guide includes print and electronic sources.
U.S. Data Statistical Abstract of the United States
The standard source for U.S. statistics, published since 1878.
Also available in print. Latest edition in Reference. Location: HA202 .A2
FedStats
Easy access to the full range of official statistical information produced by the federal government.
International Data
CIA World Factbook
General country profiles with basic population and economic data. Eurostat
European Union demographic, economic, and environment data. International Financial Statistics Online
IMF data on all aspects of international and domestic finance. Approximately 32,000 time series covering more than 200 countries and areas. Includes exchange rates, international liquidity, international banking, money and banking, interest rates, prices, production, international transactions, government accounts, and national accounts.
Coverage: 1948-present. OFFSTATS - Official Statistics on the Web
Free statistics from official sources on the web, arranged by country, region or subject. UNdata
Search across over 14 UN statistical databases through a single portal. United Nations Statistics Division
Global economic, social and environmental statistics. UN data is available in numerous statistical databases and print publications, like the Statistical Yearbook. World Development Indicators Online
The World Bank's principal data source on the global economy. More than 700 time series on more than 208 countries and 18 country groups. Coverage: 1960-present.
ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political & Social Research)
The world's largest archive of digital social science data. Users that wish to download members-only data and some publicly available data are required to establish a MyData account.
Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
The Roper Center archives datasets from thousands of public opinion surveys. Roper Center membership enables the Hamilton community to download datasets directly through the RoperExpress service and to use the iPOLL database. 75% of the Center's public opinion studies conducted in the U.S. are available for download through RoperExpress in ASCII or SPSS formats. Search for Datasets
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts many censuses and surveys. The most well-known is the official population census of the United States, called the Decennial Census, conducted every ten years. During each decennial census the Census Bureau collects data from every household in the U.S. and its territories.
American FactFinder
Easy access to census data in the form of maps, tables, and reports. Librarian Tip: Take the FactFinder Site Tour. CensusScope
An easy-to-use tool for investigating U.S. demographic trends. Historical Census Browser
U.S. Census population and economic data at the state and county level from 1790 to 1960. Data below the county level (individuals, cities, census tracts, etc.) is not available. This site is not intended for downloading data. Historical Decennial Census - Population and Housing Selected historical decennial census data from 1790-2000. IPUMS-USA
Integrated Public Use Microdata Series consists of census microdata, which are composed of individual records containing information collected on persons and households. The unit of observation is the individual. More than fifty high-precision samples of the American population drawn from fifteen federal censuses and from the American Community Surveys of 2000-2007. Users must register before extracting data from the website. U.S. Census 2000 Census Download Center
Designed for experienced users who need access to larger amounts of data than are available through other parts of American FactFinder.
Popular Census Reports and Surveys:
American Community Survey (ACS)
A new nationwide survey designed to see how communities look and are changing. Census of Governments
Covers government organization, finance, and employment. Current Population Survey (CPS) A monthly survey of about 50,000 households, the CPS is the primary source of information on the labor force characteristics of the U.S. population. Economic Census Profiles the U.S. economy every 5 years, from the national to the local level.
IPUMS - International
Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International is the world's largest collection of publicly available individual-level census data. The data are samples from population censuses from around the world taken since 1960.
Licensed data sets: Economagic: Economic Time Series
The core data sets involve U.S. macroeconomic data, but the bulk of the data is employment data by local area -- state, county, MSA, and many cities and towns. Site license access provided by Hamilton College Economics Department. STAT-USA
Business, trade, and economic information from across the federal government. business, trade, and economic information from across the Federal Government. Most information is provided in the form of text reports rather than spreadsheet or downloadable datasets.
Other data resources: EconData.Net
Guide to regional socioeconomic data on the web.
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The BEA's economic statistics provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy. Industry, GNP and GDP data for the U.S. is reported in the monthly report, Survey of Current Business.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The source for Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), and data on employment, unemployment, wages and salaries.
Economic Report of the President
Annual report issued by the Council of Economic Advisors giving an overview the nation's economic progress. Reports available online from 1995 to present. Economic Statistics Briefing Room
Easy access to current federal economic indicators. Panel Study of Income Dynamics
A longitudinal study of 8,000 families since 1968 collecting data on economic, health and social behavior.
Licensed data sets: International Financial Statistics Online
IMF data on all aspects of international and domestic finance. Approximately 32,000 time series covering more than 200 countries and areas. Includes exchange rates, international liquidity, international banking, money and banking, interest rates, prices, production, international transactions, government accounts, and national accounts.
Coverage: 1948-present. World Development Indicators Online
The World Bank's principal data source on the global economy. More than 700 time series on more than 208 countries and 18 country groups. Coverage: 1960-present.
Other data resources: Global Distribution of Poverty
The Global Poverty Mapping Project seeks to enhance current understanding of the global distribution of poverty mapping project. LABORSTA
Labor statistics and estimates for over 200 countries since 1969 from the International Labour Office. OECD Economic Surveys
In-depth reviews of member countries' economies and selected non-member countries. UNdata
Search across over 14 UN statistical databases through a single portal.
American National Election Studies
Data on voting, public opinion, and political participation. Exit Poll Data
Available from Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
Also available on CD-ROM for 2000, 2004 and 2006. Location: Ref JK1968 2000 .E44 U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Voter registration and turnout data. Voting and Registration Data (U.S. Census Bureau)
Voting and registration by various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Federal Election Commisssion Campaign finance reports and data from 1993 to present. LexisNexis Congressional
Campaign financial data (1989-present), campaign contributions from individuals and PACs (1987-present), and member financial disclosures (1991-present). Click on Members & Committees. Opensecrets.org
Campaign finance data from 1992 to present, made available by the Center for Responsive Politics. America at the Polls: A Handbook of American Presidential Election Statistics
Election returns for the 1920 to 1996 presidential contests.
Location: Ref JK524 .A73 1994 America Votes: A Handbook of Contemporary American Election Statistics
Data by state for presidential, gubernatorial and congressional races; congressional district data for recent congressional elections; and county level figures for the most recent elections.
Location: Ref JK1967 .A8
Library owns 1956/57- Elections in the Americas: A Data Handbook
Location: Ref JF1001 .E363 2005 Guide to U.S. Elections
Data for presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial elections.
Location: Ref JK1967 .C662 2005 A Statistical History of the American Electorate
Location: Ref JK1967 .R87 2001 United States Presidential Primary Elections, 1968-1996: A Handbook of Election Statistics
Location: Ref JK522 .C66 2000
Election Results Archive Election results from 134 countries that have met a minimum threshold of democratic performance. The ERA contains results back to 1974. Lijphart Elections Archive A collection of district level election results for approximately 350 national legislative elections in 26 countries that was maintained through 2003. Political Database of the Americas Historical and current election results for the Americas. Elections in Africa: A Data Handbook
Location: Ref JQ1879 .A55 E44 1999 Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook
Location: Ref JQ38 .E44 2001 Elections in the Americas: A Data Handbook Location: Ref JF1001 .E363 2005 Elections in Western Europe since 1815: Electoral Results
Location: Ref JN94 .A95 C368 2004 International Almanac of Electoral History
Location: Ref JF1001 .M17 1991
MEASURE DHS
Survey data and analysis on the population, health, and nutrition of women and children in developing countries. Measure DHS is a project of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Dataset access requires registration and a research project request. The request must include a project title and a description of the analysis you propose to perform with the data.
Licensed data sets: iPOLL Contains questions from polls conducted by other U.S. organizations such as Harris, Gallup, National Opinion Research Center, and major news organizations. Also provides additional information such as study abstracts, links to questionnaires, data sets and citation information.
Updated daily. Coverage: 1935-present. Hamilton users must register to use the iPOLL database. Polling the Nations
Question and answer responses from public opinion polls conducted by the major polling organizations and news media. Includes U.S. and international polls. Responses to the questions are included but with no demographic breakdowns.
Updated monthly. Coverage: 1986-present. How Polling the Nations compares to iPOLL. Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
The Roper Center archives datasets from thousands of public opinion surveys. Roper Center membership enables the Hamilton community to download datasets directly through the RoperExpress service and to use the iPOLL database. 75% of the Center's public opinion studies conducted in the U.S. are available for download through RoperExpress in ASCII or SPSS formats.
Other data resources: Marist Institute for Public Opinion
A survey research center at Marist College, MIPO regularly measures public opinion across the nation, in New York State and New York City. Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Regularly surveys residents in Connecticut, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and nationwide about political races, state and national elections, and issues of public concern. Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
An independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues. The Gallup Poll Cumulative Index: Public Opinion, 1935-1997
Location: Ref HN90 .P8 G32 1999
Licensed data sets: Polling the Nations
Question and answer responses from public opinion polls conducted by the major polling organizations and news media. Includes U.S. and international polls. Responses to the questions are included but with no demographic breakdowns.
Updated monthly. Coverage: 1986-present.
How Polling the Nations compares to iPOLL.
Other data resources: European Commission Public Opinion Analysis
Standard and special Eurobarometer reports. Pew Global Attitudes Project A series of worldwide public opinion surveys that encompasses a broad array of subjects in the news. World Public Opinion Public opinion on international issues from around the world. A project of the Program on International Policy Attitudes, University of Maryland. Changing Values and Beliefs in 85 Countries: Trends from the Values Surveys from 1981 to 2004. (Series: European Values Studies, vol. 11)
Locaiton: Ref BD435 .C495 2008 Index to International Public Opinion
Location: Ref HM1236 .I54
Library owns vols for 1979/80-1998/99.
GenderStats
A database of gender statistics developed by the World Bank's Gender & Development Group. The data on key gender topics comes from a variety of national and international sources, including national statistics, United Nations databases, and World Bank-conducted or funded surveys. Global Gender Gap Report
Annual survey by the Global Economic Forum that measures educational attainment, economic participation and opportunity, political empowerment, health and survival. WomanStats
Over 260 indicators of women's status in 174 countries. To view the data users must create a free account.
There is no standard citation style for numerical datasets retrieved from online databases or web sites. Consult the appropriate style guide for examples of citing data sources presented in tables. At a minimum the following elements should be included in a citation:
IPUMS - International
