Official Statistics – what are they?

Official statistics are those produced by Government bodies (such as the Office for National Statistics in the UK), other national governments or international agencies (for example the OECD, IMF or UN). They are often produced in the first instance to aid policy making.

Non-official statistics – what are they?

Non-official statistics are produced by non-governmental groups such as trade associations, local authorities, quangoes and private companies.

Statistics on the Internet

National Statistics - The site for the UK's official statistics, it includes information on the economy, population, and society.

ESDS International This is a database only available by using your Athens username and password. ESDS International provides access to a range of datasets including macro data from OECD, IMF, World Bank and IEA.

Eurostat -The EU Statistical Office. It is possible to view structural, long, and short term indicators free of charge as well as the online version of Statistics in Focus which provides information on key statistical surveys

IMF - Real, fiscal, financial and socio-demographic data

OECD - Key data on OECD countries ranging from agriculture, food and health to trade and transport

United Nations - Global statistics

World Bank - Includes country profiles and sevearal databases including education, gender, health, nutrition and poverty

WHO - database bringing together core health statistics for the 193 WHO Member States. It comprises of more than 70 indicators.

WTO - International trade and tariff data

Where are printed sources of statistics held in the Library?

The printed collection is split into 2 sections, Statistics monographs and Statistics Journals.
These collections are both on the Level 2.
Check the Library catalogue for details
Use the Statistics collection option on the catalogue to find statistics monographs (all have classmarks beginning 31: ) or statistics journals (arranged in alphabetical order of title on the shelf)
European statistics are shelved in the EDC collection which is also on Level 2

The most useful guide to UK official statistics:

Guide to Official Statistics, 2000 016.3141/GUI (kept in the Quick Reference section)

An alphabetical index at the back of this work covers the huge and surprising variety of subjects upon which the government produces statistics, including all market sectors.

The most useful guide to non-official statistics:

Sources of Non-official UK statistics, 2006 016.3141/SOU (kept in the Quick Reference section)

This gives details of nearly 1,000 publications and services (including electronic publications) produced by trade associations, professional bodies, banks, consultancies, employers' federations, forecasting organizations and others, together with statistics appearing in trade journals and periodicals.

Other key general compilations of statistics:

• Commonwealth Yearbook 909.097124105/COM (kept in the Quick Reference section)
• Europa World Yearbook 909.83105/EUR (kept in the Quick Reference section)
• The Statesman's Yearbook 909.83105/STA (kept in the Quick Reference section)
• Statistical Yearbook (Statistics Journals 1963-). Published by the UN. Provides information on population and social statistics, economic activities, energy
• Whitaker’s Almanack 032.02/WHI (kept in the Quick Reference section)

Key printed statistical titles

This listing is grouped by jurisdiction, with general UK statistical compilations first, followed by subject specific compilations for the UK, then European sources, then International sources.

• Annual Abstract of Statistics (Statistics Journals from 1935 -): Comprehensive source of UK statistical data on a wide range of subjects, e.g. population, employment, finance. Most tables span 10 years. Latest edition is available online
• Monthly Digest of Statistics (Statistics Journals from 1987-):This brings figures in the Annual Abstract of Statistics up-to-date. Latest editions available online
• Family Spending (Statistics Journals 1990-): Data is collected on the characteristics of households, employment, household expenditure. Latest editions available online
• General Household Survey (Statistics Journals 1971-): Covers 5 main areas: population, housing, employment, education and health. Available online
• Social Trends (Statistics Journals from 1970-): A very useful source of data on a range of subjects such as population, education, health, housing, lifestyles. Provides graphs and explanatory text. Latest editions available online
• Regional Trends (Statistics Journals from 1981-): A useful compilation of social and economic data broken down by regions. A section on European Union is also available. Latest editions are available online

Crime & Justice

Criminal Statistics: England and Wales (Statistics Journals 1984-)
Home Office Statistical Bulletin – recorded crime in England & Wales (Statistics Journals 1979-2006) and then available online

Economy

Economic Trends (Statistics Journals 1968-2006) Then changes title to Economic and Labour Market Review (Statistics Journals 2007-)

United Kingdom Balance of Payments ("Pink book") – internal figures (Statistics Journals 1965-) online

United Kingdom National Accounts ("Blue book") – external figures (Statistics Journals 1984-) online

Education & Training

Education and Training Statistics for the United Kingdom (Statistics Journals 1997-) Formerly Education Statistics for the United Kingdom (Statistics Journals 1967-1996)
Items published by HESA (the Higher Education Statistics Agency) eg Students in Higher Education Institutions (Statistics Journals 1994/95-)

Employment

Labour Market Trends (Statistics Journals 1994-2006). Then Economic and Labour Market Review (Statistics Journals 2007-) online

Energy

Digest of UK Energy Statistics (Statistics Journals 1972-)

Environment

Housing and Construction Statistics (Statistics Journals 1972-2000), then Housing Statistics: Great Britain (Statistics Journals 2000-2002) Printed publication then ceased

Health & Care

Health Survey for England (shelved with main book collection check Library catalogue for details) The Office for National Statistics now provides a lot of health statistics online such as Abortions, Accidents and injuries, Child health, Diet and nutrition, National Health Service, Patient Care, Mental Health Services

Population

Population Trends (Statistics Journals 1975-2001) Then available online

Social and Welfare

Abortion Statistics: England and Wales (Statistics Journals 1974-2001) Then available online

Birth Statistics (Statistics Journals 1974-) online

General Household Survey - includes figures on smoking, drinking, contraception etc (Statistics Journals 1971-1993), then see Living in Britian (Statistics Journals 1994-2001), then see General Household Survey (Statistics Journals 2003-) online

Marriage and Divorce Statistics: England and Wales (Statistics Journals 1974-1994) then see Marriage, Divorce and Adoption Statistics (Statistics Journals 1995-1999; 2002-) online

Mortality Statistics: Series DR, : Deaths registered in....(Statistics Journals 2006-) Formerly Mortality Statistics: General: Series DH1, Mortality Statistics: Cause: Series DH2, and Mortality Statistics: Series DH4: Injury and Poisoning

Social Focus on …(Young people; the unemployed; Women and Men, Older people; Ethnic minorities; Families; Women) shelved with the Statistics Monographs see Library catalogue 

Trade 

Business Monitor: Overseas trade statistics of the UK. Outside the EU (Red), Within the EU (Blue), With the World (Green) (Statistics Journals )

Transport

Transport Statistics, Great Britain. (Statistics Journals 1964 – )

Europe

Eurostat Yearbook – breaks figures down into individual countries as well as the EU as a whole (Shelved in the EDC collection 31(4)/EUR ). The source of European statistics is now the Eurostat website

Key International Printed Statistics

• Balance of Payments Statistics (IMF) (Statistics Journals 1960-1980), then see Balanace of Payments Statistics (Statistical Journals 1981-)
• Demographic Yearbook (UN) (Statistics Journals 1963-)
• Energy Statistics of OECD Countries (Statistics Journals 1973/75-1996/97; 1998/99-2002/03), now available online via the ESDS International database
• Energy Statistics of Non-OECD Countries (Statistics Journals 1999/2000-2001/02), formerly Energy statistics and balances of non-OECD countries
• Main Economic Indicators (OECD) (Statistics Journals 1966-)
• Monthly Bulletin of Statistics (UN) (Statistics Journals 1987-)
• Oil and Gas Information (OECD) (Statistics Journals 1986/88-1995), then see Oil Information (Statistics Journals 1996-2001) or Natural Gas Information (Statistical Journals 1996-2001)
• International Financial Statistics (IMF) (Statistics Journals 1983-)
• Statistical Yearbook (UN) (Statistics Journals 1963-)
• World Development Indicators (Shelved in the main book collection 339.31/WOR. now available online via the ESDS International database
• World Health Statistics (WHO) (Statistics Journals 2006-)
• Yearbook of Labour Statistics (ILO) (Statistics Journals 1970-)