Research Guides: Journalism: Find Statistics

Data vs Statistics

Data vs Statistics: How are they different?

These terms refer to very different types of information, but are often used interchangeably.

Data is the collection of new factual information that is used to create statistics.
Statistics present an analysis of the data.

Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statistics

For example, if you conduct a survey, the information you collect is data. When you analyze that information and create a pie chart, it becomes statistics.

Statistics By Topic

California

General

data.gov
data.gov: Repository of the U.S. Government's open data. Provides data from more than 100 agencies.
Pew Research Center
Nonpartisan source of data and statistics about world issues, attitudes and trends.

Agriculture

Agriculture - Data Catalog
Agriculture data from Data.gov.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service
Trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America. Provides reports, data, charts, and maps. TIP: Use the Data Products drop-down menu to locate agricultural data by topic.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Charts and maps of crops and livestock in the United States, as well as agriculture economics and the Census of Agriculture.

Business and Economy

Bureau of Economic Analysis
Data about the nation's economy, including U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). Provides state and local numbers, as well as foreign trade and investment stats and industry data.
Manufacturing
Data, tools, apps and research related to new technologies, facilities, and research. From Data.gov.
Statistics of U.S. Businesses
Data on the distribution of economic data by enterprise size and industry. TIP: Use the Find a Code drop-down menu to search for NAICS codes. From Census.gov.

Climate, Weather, and the Environment

Climate Data Online
Global weather data. TIP: Discover data by using their search tool or mapping tool. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Climate Data Catalog
Climate data from Data.gov.
Climate Maps
Easy-to-understand climate maps. See average monthly temperature, monthly temperature outlook, and more. From Climate.gov.
Statistical Weather and Climate Statistics
Climate information generated from examination of the data in the archives, including record temperatures, record precipitation and snowfall, climate extremes statistics, and other derived climate products. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
Information and tools on climate risks. TIP: Click Use the Climate Explorer to generate interactive graphs and maps showing climate projections and observations for any county in the contiguous United States. From Data.gov.
UNSD Environmental Indicators
Air and climate data and statistics complied by the United Nations Statistics Division.

Consumer

Consumer Data Catalog
Consumer data from Data.gov.
Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Data on expenditures, income, and demographic characteristics of consumers in the United States. From Census.gov.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services.TIP: Click the Browse CPI Data drop-down menu for interactive charts, research, and the latest numbers. From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Consumer Spending
Value of the goods and services purchased by, or on the behalf of, U.S. residents. BEA publishes annual, quarterly, and monthly estimates of consumer spending. TIP: Click on Interactive Data annual, quarterly, and monthly data. From the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Crime

Bureau of Justice Statistics
Collects, analyzes, publishes, and disseminates information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government.
FBI Crime Data Explorer
Crime by location and data set.
Public Safety
Data on crime, roadway safety, workplace safety, and more. From Data.gov.
Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics
Statistics on violent crime and property crime. Allows users to build their own customized data tables. From the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Demographics

Census Reporter
Facts and statistics about a specific area of the United States.
United States Census Bureau
Data about the people and economy of the United States.

Education

Annual Survey of School System Finances
Education finance data include revenues, expenditures, debt, and assets [cash and security holdings] of elementary and secondary public school systems. Statistics cover school systems in all states, and include the District of Columbia.
Education Data Catalog
Includes data on the Federal Student Loan Program, school surveys on crime and safety, and more. From Data.gov.
National Center for Education Statistics
Collects and analyzes education data the United States and other nations. NCES is located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences.
U.S. Department of Education
Data and statistics on education issues in the United States.

Employment & Labor

Business Employment Dynamics
Quarterly data series consist of gross job gains and gross job losses statistics from 1992 forward. These data help to provide a picture of the dynamic state of the labor market. From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Forecasts career information, including number of jobs and median salary. Browse occupations. From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy. Use their Regional Homepages tool to see labor-related news for a specific state.

Energy

International Energy Statistics
Search by type of energy or select a country or region. From the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
United Nations Energy Statistics
Annual and monthly energy statistics. From the United Nations Statistics Division.
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Data and resources on key energy topics like alternative fuels, green buildings, efficiency, and managing energy in homes. From Data.gov.
U.S. Total Energy Statistics
Data and statistics on U.S. energy. TIP: Click on Consumption & Production to see how the U.S. uses a mix of energy sources. From the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Federal

Data.gov
Repository of the U.S. Government's open data. Provides data from more than 100 agencies.
USA.gov - Statistics
Data and statistics about the United States. Provides census results.
Science and Research
Public science and research data from across the federal government. From Data.gov.

Finance

Federal Reserve Board - Data
Data on bank assets and liabilities, exchange rates and international data, household finance, and more.
Finance
Data sets on financial services, including banking, lending, retirement, investments, and insurance. From Data.gov.
Financial Report of the United States
Comprehensive view of the federal government's finances, such as its financial position and condition, revenues and costs, assets and liabilities, and other obligations and commitments. The Financial Report also discusses important financial issues and significant conditions that may affect future operations, including the need to achieve fiscal sustainability over the medium and long term. From the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Government Finance Statistics
Includes revenues, spending, debt, and assets. Topics include quarterly survey of public pensions, summary of state and local taxes, and public school system finances. From Census.gov.

Health

Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The nation's health protection agency. Browse CDC data and statistics by topic.
Health
Datasets, tools, and applications related to health and health care. From Data.gov.
National Center for Health Statistics
Population survey data and access to vital records. From the CDC.
National Institute of Mental Health
Statistics on a comprehensive list of mental health topics.
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit - Health
Data on the impact of climate on human health. From Data.gov.

Transportation

Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Statistics on commercial aviation, multimodal freight activity, and transportation economics. TIP: Use the Statistical Products and Data drop-down menu for specific data like Passenger Travel Facts and Figures, Transportation Economic Trends, and more. From the U.S. Department of Transportation.

World

CIA World Factbook
Global information on 267 world entities. Includes information on government, people, transportation, economy, and more.
United Nations Statistics Division
Global statistics compiled by the United Nations. TIP: Use the Topics and Data drop-down boxes for specific information.
World Health Organization
TIP: Use the Health Topics drop-down box to locate data, fact sheets, and more.