Data Sources

• Major Data Producers and Disseminators with list of entries
• Major Sources of Comparative Data with list of entries

Major Data Producers and Disseminators

Social Science Data Archives (CESSDA)
CESSDA (Council of European Social Science Data Archives) promotes the acquisition, archiving and distribution of electronic data for social science teaching and research in Europe. It encourages the exchange of data and technology and fosters the development of new organisations in sympathy with its aims. It associates and cooperates with other international organisations sharing similar objectives. The site contains a searchable map with links to all major European and world social science data archives.

North American University Archives
Eurodata
Luxembourg Income Study
Luxembourg Employment Study
Social Science Data Archives in Eastern Europe
Centre Quetelet

Major Sources of Comparative Data

CESSDA Archives
CESSDA (Council of European Social Science Data Archives) links the major European social science data archives and was set up to facilitate the acquisition, archiving and distribution of electronic data for social science teaching and research in Europe. An integrated catalogue is available for searching.

EURODATA – Statistics Library
EURODATA

Eurostat
Eurostat offers a broad range of indicators, on-line and free of charge from the UN yearbook.  Access also to a number of other databases.

IFDO (International Federation of Data Organisations)
This site provides structured information on social science subjects and an up-to-date list of member data archives. Also included are basic documents on archive management as well as different papers on data analysis issues. The site supports international comparative analysis on sustainable development with study packs for graduate students.http://www.ifdo.org/org_archives/arc_bfr.htm

ILO (International Labour Organisation)
http://www.ilo.org
Access to databases of aggregate labour market statistics, occupational health and associated legal information.

International Monetary Fund
The World Economic Outlook (WEO) Database
Special Data Dissemination Standard
General Data Dissemination Standard

Living Standards Measurement Surveys
The Living Standards Measurement Study was established by the World Bank in 1980 to explore ways of improving the type and quality of household data collected by government statistical offices in developing countries. The objectives of the LSMS were to develop new methods for monitoring progress in raising levels of living, to identify the consequences for households of current and proposed government policies, and to improve communications between survey statisticians, analysts, and policymakers.”  Surveys have been carried out in 24 different countries (among them several in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States) , and data are available either on the web or on application. 

North American University Archives
North American University Archives

OECD, Statistics
There are two Statistics headings on the web site. This heading is used for free statistical data. The Statistics Portal, the other heading, classifies statistics by topic, offers a newsletter, a Statistics brief, frequently asked statistics, and provides an overview of statistical work at the OECD.

Other Data Archives
http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/findingData/map3.asp

UN (United Nations)
http://www.un.org/databases/index.html
Provides access to demographic, social and economic indicators, information on environmental indicators and bibliographic databases.  Also direct access (some by subscription) to a range of databases.

UNESCO
http://www.unesco.org/
Global and internationally comparable statistics on education, science, technology, culture and communication.    

The UNESCO Education Database covers a wide range of  areas, at four main educational levels: pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary, in accordance with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) system. This system provides standard definitions for each of the four levels of education examined. UNESCO collects and collates education data according to these definitions from approximately 200 countries, and compiles them into the Education Database time series, which is published annually.Comparability is imposed after collection. The Educational Database is alsoavailable from the UK Data Archive.

This a selection of web sites that allow the user to quickly extract social science data. In some cases, raw data can be extracted, in others summary data or both are possible.  Various downloading options (data format, type of Internet access protocol, supporting documentation, etc.) are supported by various systems. Extraction systems can be interactive web sites, software systems that must be downloaded to the PC and installed there, or both.   Some sites allow downloading of full data sets that underlay the extraction system. 

International Data Base (IDB)--Census Bureau
Basic demographic and socio-economic variables for any or all of 227 countries around the world. Summary or detailed data is available from 1950 and projections to 2050. The entire IDB can also be downloaded.

Population Database--UN FAO
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization provides annual population data from 1961-present by country. Also a long term quinquennial population series for total and rural/urban population.

TransMONEE: Database of Socio-Economic Indicators for CEE/CIS Countries--United Nations Children's Fund and International Child Development Center

A public use database of socio-economic indicators for 27 transition states within Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEC/CIS/Baltics) provided by UNICEF. Contains 120 variables from 1989 to present.

WHO (World Health Organisation)
Social Research
Social, economic, political, behavioural, and health system factors all affect, and are affected by, disease patterns and disease control efforts.

The WHO Library and Information Networks for Knowledge (LNK) provides comprehensive library and information services on WHO-produced recorded information in print and other media. In addition, library services give access to worldwide health, medical and development information resources to WHO headquarters, regions and country offices, ministries of health and other government offices, health workers in Member States, other UN and international agencies, and diplomatic missions.

WHO Statistical Information System
WHOSIS provides access to statistical and epidemiological data. WHOSIS allows the user to search by keywords through the entire WHO website, and globally throughout the Web.

WORLD BANK, THE
Provides a range of international social and economic indicators on electronic media.
http://www.worldbank.org/data/