LibGuides: Newspapers &amp; statistics: Statistics & data

Tips for locating sources

There are many freely available sources of statistics on just about every indicator imaginable.

Have a think about the statistics you need and identify which authoritative organisations might collect that type of data and make it available to the public.

Governments - local, state and federal
State and national not for profit organisations, e.g. Cancer Council Victoria, Beyond Blue
International organisations, e.g. WHO, UNESCO
Professional bodies

Browse their websites or refine your Google search to include that organisation's name or domain (e.g. add .gov.au to find information from Australian government websites).

Statistics v Data - what's the difference?

Statistics and data are terms that are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, there is a difference.

Data - think of data as the raw numbers or set of information collected, e.g. numbers recorded in a headcount or responses in a survey.

Statistics - this relates to how the data has been interpreted and summarised; the meaning that's been given to the data, e.g. presented in tables, graphs or charts, or expressed as averages or percentages in written reports.

Don't let this put you off though - a number of the websites listed mention data, but you will get the statistics as well.

Suggested websites

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
The ABS provides Australia’s official statistics and statistical publications on all aspects on Australia and Australian life – economy, industry, people, health, labour and the environment.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) – Australian Government
AIHW is Australia’s leading health and welfare statistics agency. The two flagship biannual reports Australia’s Health and Australia’s welfare are available on this site, as well as a range of reports and data on specific topics and population groups.
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
As well as current Australian weather, climate and water information, the BOM also has a vast archive of weather observations, analyses and statistics
Data.gov.au – Australian Government
The central source of Australian open government data published by local, state and federal government agencies, as well as data published by private institutions if the research was funded by the government. What format the data appears in varies, it may include published research reports or datasets (raw data).
Data Vic - Victorian Government
Vic Data is a portal for easy to find and use freely available data owned or generated by Victorian government departments (e.g. Department of Health and Human Services) and agencies (e.g. TAC – Transport Accident Commission).
Environmental Indicators - United Nations Statistics Division
Global environment statistics compiled from a wide range of data sources based on the indicator themes of air and climate, biodiversity, energy and minerals, forests, governance, inland water resources, land and agriculture, marine and coastal areas, natural disasters and waste
Global Health Observatory Data - World Health Organisation (WHO)
The portal to WHO’s data and analyses on global health priorities, situations and trends
Monthly Bulletin of Statistics Online - United Nations (UN)
Current economic and social statistics for more than 200 countries. It provides 100 indicators, of monthly, quarterly and annual data on a variety of subjects illustrating important economic trends and developments, including population, industrial production indices, price indices, employment and earnings, energy, manufacturing, transport, construction, international merchandise trade, finance and national accounts.
OECD Data - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The OECD provides charts, maps, tables and related publications across indicators of agriculture, development, economy, education, energy, environment, finance, government, health, innovation and technology, jobs and society in order to help inform better policies and solutions to a range of global challenges
World Bank Open Data
Find open data on all aspects of global and local development by country or by indicator (e.g., gender, health, education, poverty, aid effectiveness, economy, environment and climate change)
World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Provides statistical data and reference information (e.g. flags, time zones, maps) on countries as well as country comparisons based on a range of indicators.
Worldometers
Worldometers provides real-time data estimates on a wide range of indicators including population, government, food, health, society and media, energy and environment. Estimates are based on data from national and international organisations and statistical agencies.