Library Guides: Political Science: Data & Statistics

Key National and International Data Sources

This list is not intended to be comprehensive, just to provide a sense of the kinds of data we can help you find. As always, please contact me with any questions.

ICPSR: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
Best starting point for raw data.

ICPSR maintains and provides access to a vast archive of social science data for research and includes many large time-series datasets. International in scope.

General Social Survey (NORC)
The GSS contains a standard 'core' of demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal questions, plus topics of special interest. Many of the core questions have remained unchanged since 1972 to facilitate time-trend studies as well as replication of earlier findings.
ANES: American National Election Studies
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Provides data and statistics on elections, public opinion, and political participation in US elections from 1948. Datasets may be downloaded from the site.

ProQuest Statistical Insight

Covers data from U.S. federal and state governments, universities, private associations and organizations, independent research groups, as well as international and intergovernmental organizations.
Formerly from LexisNexis
World Development Indicators Online

Includes the World Development Indicators and Global Development Finance databases. Contains over 500 timeseries indicators under the headings: world view, environment, economy, states and markets and global links. Data are at the country level only and are updated annually. Includes the World Development Indicators and Global Development Finance databases.
OECD.Stat

Brings together most of the statistical databases in SourceOECD, allowing quick searching in one place.
Human Development Reports

UN data on key social, economic, and governmental metrics.
Historical Statistics of the United States: Millennial Edition

Compilation of over 37,000 statistical series from over 1,000 sources. All tables include citations to data sources and descriptions of data anomalies. Each major section includes a signed essay that puts the statistics in historical context.

US Government Data Sources

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
Federal Reserve data. Create a free account to save files.

Produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. It includes U.S. data on interest rates, exchange rates, CPI, GDP, PPI, etc.

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
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Information on education in the United States.

United States Census

Social Explorer
Census data from 1790 to 2010.

Social Explorer is a detailed reference tool for current and historical Census data from 1790 to the present. Data may be generated by browsing maps or building reports.
American FactFinder

Search data collected by the US Bureau of Census on housing, population, business and government.

Guide to Census Data
Additional detailed information on the Economic Census.

Foreign Censuses

Many foreign censuses are available through the catalog, using subject searches as shown here. Not all years or countries may be held in our libraries or even available. Please contact me if you have questions about accessing specific census material.

Turkey -- Census, 1985
Argentina -- Population -- Statistics
Urban population -- Japan -- Statistics

International Statistical Agencies
The US Census Bureau maintains an online directory of statistical agencies in countries around the world. Data availability varies from country to country and English-language availability is limited.
National Statistical Offices and Central Banks Web Archive
Archive of country statistical office and central bank websites that often contain ephemeral statistical data on topics such as economic conditions, population, education, housing, environmental conditions, transportation, health, social services, vital statistics, and more.