LIBRARY
Research Guide 16
International statistical data: a guide to
sources
This is a guide to sources of international statistical information, including both printed and online. The
print sources described are all held in the Headington Library, but some titles are also available at
Wheatley and Harcourt Hill.
1. How to find relevant sources

Use this guide – it lists sources (both online and printed format) as follows:
Worldwide statistics – multi-topic
Worldwide statistics – specific subjects
Regional/country statistics

Browse in the Statistics Collection (in the JHHB Level 2). An index to the Statistics Collection is
displayed at the end of the shelves. NB: Some excellent sources are NOT shelved in the Statistics
Collection; please refer to this guide for details.

For specific, named sources, use the Library catalogue to find shelfmark.

For some online/electronic sources, look under Use E-Resources - Reference Desk – Statistics.
2. Worldwide statistics - multi-topic
Print:
Commonwealth yearbook Quick Reference 909.0971241 COM
Demographic yearbook Statistics Collection 312 UNI and online http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
Dorling, D. (2010) The atlas of the real world: mapping the way we live. London: Thames & Hudson.
Statistics Collection 310/DOR
Economist pocket world in figures Statistics Collection 310 ECO
Europa world year book Quick Reference 900 EUR
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2013) OECD factbook 2013: economic,
environmental and social statistics. 8th ed. Paris: OECD Wheatley Statistics Collection 330.0212/OEC
Smith, D. (2013) The State of the World Atlas. 8th ed. Hoboken: Taylor & Francis e-book
The Statesman's yearbook
Quick Reference 900 STA
WWW.BROOKES.AC.UK/LIBRARY
World statistics pocketbook (United Nations) Statistics Collection 310 UNI and online
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
Online:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworldfactbook/ OECD CIA World Fact Book
http://www.oecdilibrary.org/statistics (subscription Brookes) - OECDiLibrary
http://www.oecd.org/statistics/ (Freely available)
http://www.nationmaster.com/statistics NationMaster – global statistical database for comparisons
http://www.statista.com Statista – statistics on a wide range of topics
http://www.unicef.org/statistics/ Unicef: statistics and monitoring
http://data.un.org/ - From the United Nations Statistics Division – single entry point to search UN Statistical
databases
http://data.worldbank.org. World Bank data
Nationmaster is a large central data source where you can compare nations graphically http://www.nationmaster.com/
3. Worldwide statistics – specific subjects
Agriculture
The state of food and agriculture (Food and Agriculture Organization) Statistics Collection 338.10212 STA.
Also at: http://www.fao.org/publications/sofa/
Statistical data – including FOA statistical yearbooks - available at: http://www.fao.org/statistics/en/
Defence
The military balance (International Institute for Strategic Studies). Statistics Collection 355.205 MIL
UK Defence Statistics Compendium - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-defence-statisticscompendium-index
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute – SPIRI databases including Military Expenditure
database - http://www.sipri.org/databases
Economic/Development
World Bank. (2011) Atlas of global develoment. 3rd ed. Washington: World Bank Atlas Collection
338.910223/ATL
Business Source Complete (for country profiles) (access via Library web pages – E-Resources Databases)
Main economic indicators Statistics Collection 330.0212 ORG (latest 2005) and online via Library web
pages – E-Resources – E-journals.
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Economic surveys (OECD) P 330.9 ORG Current edition only at Wheatley but also available online via
Business Source Complete list of E-journals (search under ‘OECD Economic Surveys: name of country)
Statistics on international development (DFID) Statistics Collection 338.91410212 STA Statistics of UK aid
to developing countries. Latest at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-forinternational-development/about/statistics
World Bank data http://data.worldbank.org.
World development indicators Statistics Collection 330.0212 WOR and at
http://data.worldbank.org./indicator
World economic situation and prospects Wheatley Statistics Collection 330.90212 WOR and at
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/index.shtml
Health
Health Services & Sciences Research Resources (HSRR) https://wwwcf.nlm.nih.gov/hsrr_search/index.cfm - HSRR is a searchable database of information
about datasets and instruments/indices employed in Health Services Research (from the US
National Library of Medicine)
O’Donovan, D. (2008) The atlas of health: mapping the challenges and causes of disease. London:
Earthscan Atlas Collection 613.0223/ODO
World Health Organization Statistical Information System (WHOSIS) has been incorporated into the Global
Health Observatory (GHO) at http://www.who.int/gho/en
World Health Organization (2011) Atlas eHealth Country Profiles: based on the findings of the Second
Global Survey on e-Health. Geneva: World Health Organization - E-book
World Health Organization (2011) Mental health atlas 2011. Geneva: World Health Organization E-book
World Health Organization (2012) Atlas of health and climate. Geneva: World Health Organization E-book
Labour
Year book of labour statistics (International Labour Office) Statistics Collection 331.0212 YEA
International Labour Organization – statistics and databases http://ilo.org/global/statistics-anddatabases/lang--en/index.htm
Population, gender
United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic & Social Statistics http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic
Atlas of women. (2003). New rev 3rd Ed Atlas Collection 305.402223 SEA
King, R. (2010) The atlas of human migration: global patterns of people on the move. London: Earthscan
Atlas Collection 304.8/ATL
OECD Publishing (2010) Atlas of gender and development: how social norms affect gender equality in
non-OECD countries. Paris: OECD E-book
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Resources and Environment
BP statistical review of world energy (access via Library web pages – E-Resources - Ejournals) and at
http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html
CO2 emissions from fuel combustion 1971-2005 (IEA) (2007) Statistics Collection 363.7387021 INT
Little green data book Statistics Collection 333.021 LIT and at http://data.worldbank.org.
Vital Signs: the trends that are shaping our future Statistics Collection 333.70212/VIT
World energy outlook Statistics Collection 333.79021 WOR
World Resources Institute Statistics Collection 333.70212 WOR and see http://www.wri.org/publications
Tourism and Travel
Yearbook of tourism statistics Statistics Collection 338.47910212 YEA
World Tourism Organization. (2009) World overview: tourism market trends, 2007. Madrid: World
Tourism Organization Statistics Collection 338.47910212/WOR
4. Regional/country statistics
Europe
Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia Quick Reference 947 EAS
European Commission – Eurostat at http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/eurostat/home
European Environment Agency http://www.eea.europa.eu
Europe in figures Statistics Collection 314 EUR
European marketing data and statistics Statistics Collection 314 EUR
Europe’s environment: the fourth assessment Statistics Collection 333.70212 EUR
Eurostat regional yearbook Statistics Collection 330.0212 REG
European Commission Eurostats: key to European statistics
http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/home
France
Annuaire statistique de la France Statistics Collection 314.4.ANN Latest editions at
http://www.insee.fr/fr/publications-et-services/sommaire.asp?id=178&nivgeo=0
For English version see http://www.insee.fr/en/insee-statistique-publique/default.asp
Institut Nationale de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques at http://www.insee.fr/
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Non European
Africa
Africa. South of the Sahara
Quick Reference 967.0329 AFR
Middle East and North Africa Quick Reference 956.054 MID
World Bank Africa(n) development indicators 316 AFR (check Library catalogue for exact location) and
http://data.worldbank.org.
Americas
South America, Central America and the Caribbean
Subject Quick Reference 980.04 SOU
Statistical abstract of the United States Statistics Collection 317.3 UNI and later editions at
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab
Statistical yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean Statistics Collection 318 STA and at
http://websie.eclac.cl/anuario_estadistico/anuario_2011/ing/content_en.asp
The USA and Canada Subject Quick Reference 973.929 USA
Statistics Canada: Canadian Government Statistics
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/start-debut-eng.html
USA Government statistics
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference-Shelf/Data.shtml
Asia
Statistical yearbook for Asia and the Pacific Statistics Collection 315 STA
http://www.unescap.org/stat/data/syb2011
and at
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation India (includes access to latest Statistical
Yearbook) http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/site/home.aspx
National Bureau of Statistics China http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/
Far East and Australasia
The Far East and Australasia Subject Quick Reference 950.43 FAR
Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.abs.gov.au/
5. Further help
For further help, please ask at the Library Help Zone or Enquiry Desks or contact your Academic Liaison
Librarian. At Headington, Lindsay Sellar is also always willing to try to help.
LS/KAS
May 2015
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