Statistics

Office for National Statistics (ONS) UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics, ONS collects and publishes statistics on a wide range of topics. They also conduct the census in England and Wales every 10 years.

Gov.uk: Statistics provides access to statistics produced by UK government departments and many other agencies and public bodies.

A UK census is held every 10 years. It provides detailed data on the British population, including age, birthplace, residence, migration, housing, employment etc. 

The most recent census was undertaken in 2021. The ONS (Office for National Statistics) aims to release the first results for Census 2021 data on the population of England and Wales in Summer 2022. Find out more from the ONS Census page.

• 2011 Census - Office for National Statistics data from the census undertaken in 2011.
• UK Data Service - Census Support provides access to aggregate data for the 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 UK Census
• InFuse provides access to 2001-2011 Census aggregate data for England and Wales by topic and geographical area.
• People and places: a 2001 census atlas of the UK [print] - atlas available in the Headington Library 304.60941/DOR

• UK Data Service is a single point of access to a wide range of secondary data including large-scale government surveys, international and business macro data, qualitative studies and census data. Datasets available through the service include international macro data from the World Bank, IMF and OECD, as well as UK data. Users can browse the collections online and register to analyse and download them. Their Open Data collections are available for anyone to use.
• UK Data Archive provides access to the UK's largest collection of social and economic data. They hold thousands of data collections, both quantitative and qualitative, for social science research and teaching.

• Business Source Complete contains country reports, including those produced by the OECD. For help locating these, use the Library guide to finding country information on Business Source Complete
• CIA World Factbook includes information on people, government, economy and many other issues in specific countries.
• Dorling, D., Newman, M. and Barford, A. (2008) The atlas of the real world: mapping the way we live. London: Thames & Hudson [print]. Available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 310/DOR and Atlas Collection 310/DOR.
• Economist pocket world in figures [print] - annual publication available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 310/ECO
• International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) is a cross-national collaboration programme conducting annual surveys on diverse topics relevant to social sciences. 
• Nationmaster is a large central data source where you can compare nations graphically.
• Passport (Euromonitor) contains country profiles, statistics and country pulse reports from around the world. Use our guide to find country information on Passport.
• Smith, D. (2013) The state of the world atlas. 9th edn. Oxford: New Internationalist [print]. Atlas available in the Headington Library at 300.223/SMI and Atlas Collection 300.223/SMI
• Statista is a wide-ranging and easy to use collection of market and consumer data.
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) 
• United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
• United Nations Statistics Division National Statistical Offices links to government data sources for individual countries.
• World Bank Open Data provides a wide range of data on global development topics.

UK Data Service is a single point of access to a wide range of secondary data including large-scale government surveys, international and business macro data, qualitative studies and census data. Datasets available through the service include international macrodata from the World Bank, IMF and OECD, as well as UK data. Users can browse the collections online and register to analyse and download them. Their Open Data collections are available for anyone to use.

UK

Local Statistics (NeSS) UK local information

Australia

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Canada

Statistics Canada: Statistique Canada

China

National Bureau of Statistics of China : English language source

European Union

Eurostat European Commission website providing statistical information on EU countries

Europe in figures: Eurostat yearbook

Eurobarometer surveys monitor the evolution of public opinion in all 28 EU Member States. The aim is to assess EU citizens’ awareness of and support for the European Union's activities. Each survey consists of approximately 1000 face-to-face interviews per country.

European Social Survey (ESS) a biennial cross-national survey of attitudes and behaviour established in 2001

France

Conseil national de l'information statistique (CNIS)

Institute national de la statistiques et des études économiques (INSEE): Statistiques

India

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation: Government of India

Japan

Web Japan is a good resource for high quality statistical data on many Japanese issues

USA

Statistical Abstracts of the United States is a comprehensive collection of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States, coverage goes up to 2010 when publication ceased

USA Government statistics

The Library holds a series of publications which specifically cover historical statistics:

• Mitchell, B. R. (1998) International historical statistics: Europe 1750-1993. 4th edn. Basingstoke: Macmillan [print] - available in Headington Library Statistics Collection 314/MIT
• Mitchell, B. R. (1995) International historical statistics: Africa, Asia & Oceania, 1750-1988. 2nd rev. edn. Basingstoke: Macmillan [print] - available in Headington Library Statistics Collection 316/MIT
• Mitchell, B. R. (1982) International historical statistics: Africa and Asia. London: Macmillan [print] - available in Headington Library Statistics Collection 316/MIT
• Mitchell, B. R. (1993) International historical statistics: the Americas, 1750-1988. 2nd edn. Basingstoke: Macmillan [print] - available in Headington Library Statistics Collection 317/MIT

Good sources for older UK statistics are:

• Annual Abstract of Statistics [online] 2002-2011. Contains statistics on the UK's economy, industry, society and demography
• Annual Abstract of Statistics [print] 1852-2010 available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 314.1 GRE.
  
  
• General Household Survey (2003-2007) and Living in Britain: results from the General Household Survey (1995-2002) [online] These Office for National Statistics (ONS) series covered statistics on a range of topics are available via the National Archives website. 
• General Household Survey [print] 1977-1993 available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 312.0941 GRE
  
  
• Monthly digest of statistics [online] 2001-2010
• Monthly digest of statistics [print] 1995-2015 - available in Headington Library Statistics Collection 314.1/GRE
  
  
• Regional trends [online] 2000-2011
• Regional trends [print] 1979-2001 - available in Headington Library Statistics Collection 314.1/REG.
  
  
• Social Trends [online] 2000-2012
• Social Trends [print] 1973; 1977-2011 available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 310/SOC and 1970-2011 available at Harcourt Hill Library (Stack). Coverage ceased in 2012.

Topic-specific sources listed below may also cover a wide period, for example:

• Charlton, J. and Murphy, M. (eds.) (1997) The Health of adult Britain, 1841-1994 London: Stationery Office. [print] In 2 vols. Available in Headington Library Statistics Collection 312.20942/GRE

Births, deaths and marriages - Office for National Statistics latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), including conceptions and fertility rates, maternities, live births and stillbirths, marriages, divorces, civil partnerships, cohabitation, family composition, life expectancies and deaths.

Business, industry and trade - Office for National Statistics latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), including data on the production and trade of goods and services, sales by retailers, characteristics of businesses, the construction and manufacturing sectors, and international trade.

The Business Subject Help pages provide a wealth of links to statistical sources on business and economics topics. 

• Housing - Office for National Statistics latest statistics on UK housing from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) including property price, private rent and household survey and census data
• Construction industry - Office for National Statistics latest statistics on UK construction industry from Office for national Statistics (ONS)
• OCSI (Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion) Data for neighbourhoods and regeneration (Data4NR)

NHBC (National House-Building Council) UK new house-building statistics

• Crime and justice - Office for National Statistics latest statistics on crime levels and trends for England and Wales from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Figures are based primarily on two sets of statistics: the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and police recorded crime data.
• Documents relating to crime statistics - Home Office via Gov.UK
• Ministry of Justice statistics via Gov.UK
• Police data web site data about crime and policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

• The Military Balance [Brookes login required] Produced by the International Institute for Strategic Studies this annual publication assesses military capabilities worldwide.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SPIRI databases including Military Expenditure database
• UK Government. Ministry of Defence Statistics at MoD via Gov.uk

• Business Source Complete database [Brookes login required] contains country reports including those produced by the OECD. For help locating these, use the Library guide to finding country information on Business Source Complete
• DFID (annual) Statistics on International Development provides access to statistical publications from the UK government Department for International Development.
• The Global Development Institute (Manchester University) provides a useful listing of datasets related to social assistance programmes, inequality, and poverty analysis.
• UNICEF Research and reports
• United Nations. Department of Economic & Social Affairs World Economic Situation And Prospects (WESP) Report - an annual report from the UN on the state of the global economy.
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Indicators
• World Bank (2011) Atlas of global development. 3rd edn. Washington: World Bank [print] - available in the Headington Library's Atlas Collection 338.910223/ATL
• World Bank World Bank Open Data - this site provides a wide range of data on global development topics.
• World Bank (annual) World Development Indicators
• World Bank (annual) World Development Report [print] - available in the Headington Library at 338.91/WOR. An archive of reports is also available online. Each report has a specific theme e.g. gender and development; jobs; health etc.
• WIID World Income Inequality Database collects and stores information on income inequality for developed, developing, and transition countries. WIID provides the most comprehensive set of income inequality statistics available

The Business Course Resource Help pages provide a wealth of links to statistical sources on business and economics topics. Take a look at their guides to Statistics and UK Statistics

UK economy

Economy - Office for National Statistics latest statistics on UK economic activity from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) covering production, distribution, consumption and trade of goods and services. Key sections:

• Balance of payments including the annual Pink Book
• National accounts including the annual Blue Book

Older sources:

• UK economic accounts [print] 1992-2006 available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 330.0212/GRE
• United Kingdom balance of payments: the pink book [print] 1967- available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 382.170212/UNI
• National Accounts - Office for National Statistics - UK national accounts statistics including national and sector accounts, industrial analyses and environmental accounts from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Includes 'UK National Accounts, The Blue Book'.
• National income and expenditure: the blue book [print] 1966-77 and 1979-1983, published later as: United Kingdom national accounts: the blue book [print] 1984-2004. These series are available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 339.30212/NAT

International

• OECD Economic Outlook [Brookes login required] via Business Source Complete database.
• Business Source Complete [Brookes login required] also includes OECD Economic Surveys for individual countries.
• European Central Bank Monthly Bulletin [print] 1999-2004 available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection
• Eurostatistics: data for short-term economic analysis [print] 1992-2008 available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 330.0212/EUR.

UK

• Education and childcare - Office for National Statistics latest education statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) covering early years childcare, school and college education, and higher education and adult learning, including qualifications.
• Department for Education (DfE) statistics via Gov.uk
• Higher Education Statistics Agency
• UK education and training statistics via Gov.uk
• Discover Uni statistics from universities and colleges in the UK

For further links to UK and international sources, see the Education and Early Years/Early Childhood Studies page

Elections - Office for National Statistics latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), including analysis of the number of people registered to vote in the UK.

UK

Employment and labour market - Office for National Statistics latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), covering employment, unemployment, types of work, earnings, working patterns and workplace disputes.

Employment and labour market figures for the UK were previously published in these print series, some of which are available online:

• Employment gazette 1980-1995 [print] available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 331.0212/GRE
• Labour market trends 1995-2006 [print] available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 331.0212/GRE. Also available online 2001-2006
• Economic & labour market review 2007-2014 [print] available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 331.0212/GRE. Also available online 2007-2011
• New earnings survey [print] 1982-2000 available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 331.0212/NEW
• SOC 2010 this is the current Standard Occupational Classification for the UK. For earlier versions, see the SOC Archive

International

• International Labour Organization (ILO) – statistics and databases

UK

• Statistics at Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) via Gov.uk
• Statistics at BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) via Gov.uk
• Digest of United Kingdom Energy statistics (DUKES) via Gov.uk

International

• European Environment Agency Data and maps
• European Environment Agency (2007) Europe's environment: the fourth assessment 
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations The State of the World  - set of flagship reports from the FAO published annually or biennially, covering: The State of the World's Forests; The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets; The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture; The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World; The State of Food and Agriculture.
• World Resources Institute Maps & data

UK

• Statistics at Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) via Gov.uk
• Search for 'food' or 'agriculture' on the Gov.uk: Statistics website

International

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) The State of Food and Agriculture - annual report
• A range of other statistics on food and agriculture topics is available from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Statistics web site

UK

• Health and social care - Office for National Statistics latest statistics on life expectancy, health inequalities, disability and addiction as well as access to and expenditure on private and public healthcare systems from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)

International

• World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO) statistics from The Global Health Observatory at the WHO

UK

• Income and wealth - Office for National Statistics latest statistics on UK household income and wealth from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• Retail industry - Office for National Statistics latest statistics on UK retail industry from the the Office for National Statistics (ONS) , including spending on goods (in store and online) (Retail Sales Index) and spending on services (Index of Services).

Older sources:

Family expenditure survey [print] 1957-1989, later: Family spending [print] 1990- . These series are available in the Headington Library Statistics Collection 339.40212/FAM

UK and international

• Mintel [Brookes login required] provides UK market research reports which cover how people spend their leisure time, including sport, holidays, food and drink, retail etc.
• Passport (Euromonitor) [Brookes login required] contains full text UK and international market research reports published by Euromonitor. Use our guides to searching Passport

See the Business Course Resource Help pages for links to other databases providing UK and global consumer data.

UK

• Leisure and tourism - Office for National Statistics latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Includes figures on visits and visitors to the UK, the reasons for visiting and the amount of money they spent here. Also UK residents travelling abroad, their reasons for travel and the amount of money they spent.
• Tourism industry - Office for National Statistics latest UK tourism and travel statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), including accommodation services, food and beverage services, passenger transport services, vehicle hire, travel agencies and sports, recreational and conference services), employment levels and output of the tourism industry, the number of visitors to the UK and the amount they spend.
• Mintel [Brookes login required] gives access to UK market research reports. Includes UK leisure reports, plus international travel and tourism reports.
• VisitBritain UK domestic tourism statistics
• British Beer & Pub Association Statistical handbook [print] latest edition available at Headington Library Statistics Collection 338.4766330212/BRE. Handbooks for 1973-2007 and 2009-2015 are available in the National Brewing Library.

International

• Passport (Euromonitor) [Brookes login required] contains data and market research reports for the UK and beyond. To find tourism statistics and reports, choose Industries from the top menu, then Travel. You can focus your search by geographical area to find statistics from a specific country. Use our guide for further tips on searching Passport.

For more sources and guidance, see the Course Resource Help pages for Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management

UK

• Population and migration - Office for National Statistics latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) including figures on the size, age, sex and geographic distribution of the UK population, and changes in the UK population. See also section on Census above.
• Cultural identity - Office for National Statistics data drawn from a wide range of sources on how people in the UK see themselves today in terms of ethnicity, sexual identity, religion and language, and how this has changed over time.

International

• King, R. (2010) The atlas of human migration: global patterns of people on the move. London: Earthscan [print] - available in Headington Library Atlas Collection 304.8/ATL
• Seager, J. (2003) The atlas of women . 3rd edn. London: Women's Press [print] - available in the Headington Library Atlas Collection 305.402223/SEA
• United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Annual) Demographic yearbook
• United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) Demographic and social statistics
• United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) International migration
• United Nations (2015) The World's Women 2015: Trends and Statistics includes archive of previous editions

UK

• British Social Attitudes freely available online, this survey has been carried out annually by NatCen since 1983 and tracks changes in people's social, political and moral attitudes. Print copies of older issues (1984-2012) are also available in the Library shelved at 303.380941/BRI
• People, population and community - Office for National Statistics - covers statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on topics such as cultural identity and well-being

• Statistics at DfT (Department for Transport) via Gov.uk