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Update of the CNTS Data Archive

The new edition (July 2012) of the CNTS Data Archive from Databanks International contains 196 years of global data, from 1815 through 2011. A new option this year is the Domestic Conflict Event Variable LINKS, which provides links to news reports of each event, starting with the 2011 data. Additionally, the World Bank country codes and country names have been matched to the data.

Global Health Observatory (GHO)

The Global Health Observatory database is the World Health Organization's main health statistics repository. It provides data and analyses for key health themes, as well as direct access to the full database. The WHO Statistical Information System (WHOSIS) has been upgraded and incorporated into the latest version (February 2011) of the GHO, to provide more data, more tools, more analysis and more reports.

World Bank Frees up Data

In April 2010 the World Bank Group opened up the World Development Indicators database (and several other databases) and offered free access to more than 2,000 financial, business, health, economic and human development statistics that had mostly been available only to paying subscribers. The decision was part of a larger effort to increase access to information at the World Bank. And, for the first time, data was made available in languages other than English, with an initial 330 indicators translated into French, Spanish and Arabic.

European Social Survey: Contextual data

This 2008 report formed the origins of this website. It examines the availability and comparability of extant sources of contextual statistics of particular interest to users of ESS data. This website seeks to broaden the scope and be a valuable resource for social science data users worldwide (PDF).

 

 

UNdata

Institution

In February 2008 the UN Common Database was replaced by UNdata. The new dissemination portal is a product of The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) developed in partnership with Statistics Sweden and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The new site is hosted by the United Nations Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and is designed to provide users with a single entry point for the UN statistical Databases. UNdata is as such an attempt to solve the problem of dispersed data resources by pooling major UN databases and those of several international organizations into a single Internet environment. UNdata thus complements some of the UN data sources covered elsewhere in this guide.

Databases

UNdata covers a range of databases, within several topics. A full list of available datasets/databases can be found here.

UNdata

Data types and sources

The statistics available at UNdata are produced by United Nations Statistics and Population Divisions as well as other United Nations agencies and National Statistical Offices. According to their website, UNdata also includes estimates and projections.

Data download

UNdata

Topics

The main topics of the Undata includes Crime, Education, Energy, Environment, Finance, Food and agriculture, Gender, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human development, an Indicator Database, Industry, Information and Communication Technology, Labour, National Accounts, Official Development Assistance, Population, Refugees, Tourism, and Trade.

Geographical coverage

The database is in principle universal in scope with data for most countries and territories (including some that no longer exist), though the data coverage varies across countries.

Time coverage and updates

In most cases time-series are available from 1970 or 1980, with some starting around 1950. Updates are made regularly. A record showing when each database was last updated is available here.

Documentation

The UNdata provides footnotes and metadata on sources and definitions for each series. The glossary provides technical definitions and standards verbatim from their original sources as approved by an oversight inter-governmental body. The site also provides a wiki which provides links to metadata sections on each database homepage. The UNdata site itself thus contains little metadata except from the above mentioned glossary and wiki, but relies on the existing documentation available on each database homepage.

Access conditions and cost

Available free of charge.

Access procedures

Data can be found in three different ways; by using the search function and typing in keywords or a combination of such e.g. year, country and topic, by browsing the list of databases using the explorer function, or by using the advanced search function found under the “more” button which allows for a more refined search.

The database is intuitive and easy to use. Users can customize their desired table by using filters and by rearranging and sorting options.

Data formats

Excel, CSV, text and on-screen tables.

Comparability and data quality

UNdata presents data from all countries within a standardised framework. However, most of the data come from the statistical systems of member countries and the quality therefore depends on how well these national systems perform. Also, as pointed out elsewhere in this guide, a standardised framework does not always imply that the data are truly comparable.

At country level, the database should be a good source for contextual data. First, it is a conveniant hub for data stemming from the UN organizations, it contains a wide range of time-series, some of which have a fairly long time scope. Furthermore, it has a nearly universal coverage, with data for almost all countries in the world and many territories and dependencies. And lastly, the site contains a good system for retrieving documentation for each indicator, with references to the original data sources.

Electronic resource

UN Data - Metadata

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