Statistics

This guide provides links to statistics found in library resources and on freely available websites. It also includes tips for effectively searching the web for statistics and guidance on evaluating the information you find.

Before you start to search, ask yourself what organization or agency might have collected and produced the statistics. This information may help you find information faster.

Overview of organizations or agencies that produce statistics:

• Intergovernmental agencies or organizations e.g. United Nations, World Bank, IMF. They collect international, comparative data on a large scale, covering long time periods.
• Governments of each country including state/province or local governments collect statistics.
• Professional associations, e.g. trade/industry associations
• NGOs e.g. Hong Kong Council of Social Services
• Research Centers e.g. universities. Statistics from research, surveys or questionnaires are made available in scholarly journals or conference proceedings. 
• Commercial organizations. Collect statistics to sell to other companies.

Note that statistics are only as good as those provided by the governments or organizations that collect them so there may be variations in range, coverage and consistency.