Guide to Statistics Sources

This guide will help you to identify sources for statistical data in various subject areas. Ask a librarian for more assistance.

 General | Population and Demographics | Business and Economics |
Minnesota | International | Health | Crime | Education | Environment | More

General

Internet Sources:

Statistical Resources on the Web
From the Documents Center at the University of Michigan Library, this site groups statistical sources into 24 categories, including education, environment, foreign trade and economics, government, health, science, sociology, and weather.

FedStats
The gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. federal agencies. Browse topics, find programs and agencies, and search the database.

ProQuest Newspapers
Full text of more than 400 U.S. and international news sources. Includes coverage of more than 150 major U.S. and international newspapers such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and the Times of London, plus hundreds of other news sources and news wires. Includes the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 1990s-present for most full text titles. Search for articles on your topic to find statistics that may appear in newspaper articles. (Guide to using Newspapers)
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Population and Demographics

Internet Sources:

Census Bureau Homepage
Look for United States Census data (population and housing) and demographics information, plus links to other census pages.

American FactFinder
Interactive database engine for the 1997 and 2002 Economic Census, the Population Estimates Program, the American Community Survey, the 1990 Census, and Census 2000. See our Guide to American FactFinder.

State and County QuickFacts
Provides frequently requested Census Bureau information at the national, state and county level.

Statistical Abstract of the United States
The standard summary of US social, political and economic statistics. Also available in print. See sources below.

County and City Data Book
This electronic version has links to some of the tables ranking top US cities in various categories. Also available in print. See sources below.

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book
Contains a collection of statistics from 2006 on social and economic conditions in the United States at the state and metropolitan area levels. Selected data for component counties and central cities of metropolitan areas are also included. 1997/1998 version available online or in print. See sources below.

ChildStats
Provides statistical reports on the status of US children and their families. Coverage includes population and family characteristics, economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. From the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics.

Population Reference Bureau

Contains data on 136 population, environmental, and health variables for over 220 countries worldwide including education, reproductive, and regional statistics. United States data are also searchable: the contents of AmeriStat, a site that offered facts, figures, and analysis of key overall demographic trends affecting the United States population, are now available through PRB.

Reference Books:

A Statistical Portrait of the United States: Social Conditions and Trends. Ref HA214 .S73 2002

Statistical Abstract of the United States. Ref HA202 (Annual)
The standard summary of US social, political and economic statistics.

County and City Data Book. Ref HA202 .A36 (Annual)
Social and economic data for states, counties, cities, and census regions and divisions.

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book. Ref HA202 .S84 1997/87

State Rankings: A Statistical View of the 50 United States. Ref HA203.U17 2006

State Profiles: The Population and Economy of Each US State. Ref HA203 .S734 2002

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Business and Economics

Internet Sources:

US Commerce Department
Economic and Statistics Administration, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the International Trade Administration are just a few of the statistical resources available through the Commerce Department.

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Get statistics on the economy, industries, wages, employment, and other labor statistics.

Midwest BLS Information Office in Chicago
Find economic, wage, consumer, etc., statistics for the Midwest region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Find statistics related to traffic, air travel, fuel, and other transportation subjects.

Economic Census
2002 Economic Census data available.

Foreign Trade Statistics
From the US Census Bureau.

Reference Books:

Agricultural Statistics. Ref HD1751.A43 (Annual)
Tables of data on the quantity and value of domestic and international agricultural commodities. Web version includes past years.

Business Statistics of the United States. Ref HC101.A13122 2005
Provides recent and historical about the US economy and major industry groups. Previous editions available through CLIC Online.

Economic Report of the President. Ref HC106.5 .A272 (Annual). Also available through CLIC Online.

Foreign Trade of the United States. Ref HF3003 .F6 1999

Handbook of International Economic Statistics. Ref HA155.U54a 1998
Provides basic worldwide statistics for comparing the economic performance of major countries and regions.

Housing Statistics of the United States. Ref HD7293 .A1 H654 2001

Statistical Handbook on Consumption and Wealth in the United States. Ref HC110 .C6 S73 1999

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Minnesota

Internet Sources:

Atlas of Minnesota Online Edition
Interactive online maps providing social and economic data for counties in Minnesota. Data includes agriculture, population, housing, income, health, education, transportation, public safety, natural resources, civic engagement, and more.

Minnesota State Demographic Center
Link to a variety of data and information available from the State Demographer's Office (part of Minnesota Planning Dept.) See Datanet for Census statistics.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Merger of the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development and the Minnesota Department of Economic Security. Offers business and international statistics relating to Minnesota.

Minnesota Department of Health 
Vital and other Minnesota health-related statistics.

MinnStats
Repository of socioeconomic data produced by State of Minnesota agencies, coordinated by the Economic Resource Group.

Women's Foundation of Minnesota
Minnesota organization that promotes equality for girls and women. See the new report Status of Women in Minnesota Counties. Includes information of reproductive rights, economic and employment status of women, health, and political participation of women in Minnesota counties.

Reference Books:

Compare Minnesota: An Economic and Statistical Factbook. Ref HA451.C66 1998/1999
Covers demographics, personal income, industry, government, labor, education, capital resources, transportation, construction, real estate, quality of life, energy, telecommunications. 2002/2003 version available through CLIC online.

The Status of Women in Minnesota: Politics, Economics, Health, Rights, Demographics. Ref HA1438.M6 S82 2000

Includes information and statistics on the social and economic conditions of women in Minnesota. Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Women's Foundation.

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International

Internet Sources:

InfoNation
Contains geographical, economic, demographic, and social indicators data for all 185 United Nations members.

United Nations Statistical Division
Gateway to the statistical products and services of the UN.

World Bank
Detailed, country-specific statistical information.

Reference Books:

Human Development Report. Ref HD72 .H85 2005

Statistical Abstract of Latin America. Ref HA935.S8 1995

World Statistics Pocketbook. Ref HA154.W67 2001

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Health

Internet Sources:

CDC Data & Statistics
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wide range of health related statistical data.

National Center for Health Statistics
Includes health data and information on the trends of the health of Americans.

Vital Statistics of the United States
Birth and mortality statistics for the United States and territories.

Reference Books:

Health, United States, 2006. Ref RA407.3 .U57A 1998
Annual report on national trends in health statistics. 2006 available through CLIC Online.

Minnesota Women's Health Databook. Ref RA778 .M56 1999

Statistical Record of Health and Medicine. Ref RA407.5 .S732 1998

World Health Statistics Annual. Ref RA651 .A485 1996

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Crime

Internet Sources:

Bureau of Justice Statistics
From the US Department of Justice. Includes statistics on Crime & Victims, Criminal Offenders, and other related data.

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics
Portal of criminal justice information from a variety of sources.

Criminal Justice Statistics Center at Minnesota Planning
Criminal and juvenile justice information for state of Minnesota.

Reference Books:

Crime in the United States. Ref HV6787.A3 (Annual)

Crime State Rankings. Ref HV6787 .C735 1995

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. Ref HV7245 .N376 1999

Provides data from more than 100 sources covering various aspects of criminal justice, including justice system characteristics, public opinion, and natures of crime.

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Education

Internet Sources:

Education at a Glance
From the OECD. Annual reports.

ED.gov - Research & Statistics
From the US Department of Education. Research information, statistics, and student assessment.

National Center for Education Statistics
Includes Nation's Report Card and data tools for searching education statistics.

Reference Books:

The Almanac of American Education, 2005. LB2846.A45 2005 eb (CLIC e-book)

Digest of Education Statistics. Ref L11.D54 (Annual)

Education Statistics of the United States. Ref LA201 .E38 2000, 2001, 2003

Projections of Education Statistics to 2013. Ref LA210.A28 2006

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Environment

Internet Sources:

Environmental Health
From the Centers for Disease Control, strives to prevent disease that results from the interactions between humans and our environment. Includes topics such as air quality, extreme cold, earthquakes, hazardous waste, herbicides, and other environmental health issues.

Envirofacts Data Warehouse
From the Environmental Protection Agency. Access environmental data by location or topic.

Reference Books:

The Index of Leading Environmental Indicators. Ref GE150.D481 1997

The wellbeing of nations: a country-by-country index of quality of life and the environment. Ref GE140 .P74 2001

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More

For more about population and demographics statistics, try also our guide to Census Information and Sources.

For more business statistics, see our guide to Business and Company Information or our Business Administration guide. See also our guide to the Business & Economics databases.

For more help with print sources in the library, see our Statistics in Print Sources handout. Available online in pdf format (requires Adobe Acrobat to download) or at the Reference Desk.