Overseas statistics
Current statistics online
Some of the major overseas government statistical agencies, the equivalents of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, provide comprehensive, free information from national to local levels.
- usa.gov has information and links for finding data and statistics about the U.S. FedStats is a gateway to Federal statistics hosted by the University of Maryland.
- Office for National Statistics provides statistics on the United Kingdom's economy, population and society at the national and local level.
- Eurostat is the European Union's statistical information service, and is also available in French and German language versions.
- UNdata provides global statistical information from a single entry point.
- Statistics New Zealand is New Zealand's major source of official statistics.
Print resources in the National Library
Start with the Library Catalogue
- choose subjects from the drop-down All Fields list
- Type your keywords in the search bar
Example: Canada -- Statistics
To find statistical publications on specific countries browse the Reference Collection from RF 314 to RF 319
Provides statistical summaries for all countries on population, health, agriculture, finance, industry, economics, transport, media and education. This publication has changed title over the years and each new title has its own record in the catalogue. See the Former Title section of the catalogue record. The latest issue is held in the Reference collection.
Provides statistical summaries for all countries, including area, population and finance. This publication has changed title over the years and each new title has its own record in the catalogue. See the Former Title section of the catalogue record. The latest issue is held in the Reference collection.
Provides a fact file on every country, including statistical information on population and demography, economy, bioresources, industry, communications, education, and defence.
Official yearbook of Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. Provides statistical information on population, economics, environment, science, finance and agriculture presented in graphical form. The latest issue is held in the Reference collection.
Monthly Bulletin of Statistics
Published by the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs this publication presents monthly economic statistics for most of the countries and territories of the world. This publication has changed title over the years and each new title has its own record in the catalogue. See the Former Title section of the catalogue record.
Case study - Historical statistics
A researcher needs to find the following information for the years 1950 to 2008:
- Annual lists of countries in the world by GDP per capita
- Annual lists of countries in the world by GDP growth rate
- Annual Balances of Payments for Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and China
Because of the range of dates needed, we will need to use both print and online resources to find this information.
Data is available online from the United Nations Statistical Division website. Lists include GDP for all countries, in National Currency and US Dollars, and countries in the world with growth rate by GDP. The lists are given from 1970.
Printed sources include:
- International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia and Oceania 1750-2005
- International historical statistics : Europe, 1750-2000 These publications include historical figures on Balances of Payments and GDP
- Balance of payments statistics. Yearbook / International Monetary Fund Contains information on the Balance of Payments for all countries.
Some of the later figures may be found online at the various national statistical agencies, for example we could try a search of Statistics Singapore
Featured resource
Ontario. Parliament & Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition (1877 : Sydney, N.S.W.). (1877). The Province of Ontario as it is : containing manufacturing, commercial, statistical and other valuable information. Toronto, Ontario : Legislature of the Province of Ontario nla.gov.au/nla.obj-33590540
The Province of Ontario as it is : containing manufacturing, commercial, statistical and other valuable information. Toronto, Ontario: Legislature of the Province of Ontario, 1877.
Published by the Ontario exhibitors at the Exhibition at Sydney, New South Wales, under the authority of the Legislature of the Province of Ontario.
Related links
- CIA World Factbook
Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military and transnational issues for 267 world entities. - NationMaster
Searchable database of world country statistics, maps and profiles - FAOSTAT
Provides time-series and cross-sectional data relating to hunger, food and agriculture for some 245 countries, from 1961 to the present
In this guide
National Capital Development Commission, Sketch of the National Library of Australia, 1962, nla.obj-150872437
Wray Vamplew, (1987), Australians, historical statistics / editor, Wray Vamplew. Broadway, N.S.W., Australia : Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1781123
George Knibbs & Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics (Australia), The first Commonwealth census, 3rd April, 1911 : notes, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52795086
David Dale, (2010), The little book of Australia / David Dale. Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn4737717
[Australian Capital Territory including Canberra : geographic ephemera collected by the National Library of Australia], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-36052758