Historical Economic Statistic

Introduction

The data presented here are the most widely-used, official-source development data from the UN, World Bank and other international agencies. Here are some useful economic statistics websites:

1 UN statistics

http://unstats.un.org/

Organization description

Organization description: The Statistics Division is committed to the advancement of the global statistical system. They compile and disseminate global statistical information, develop standards and norms for statistical activities, and support countries’ efforts to strengthen their national statistical systems. They facilitate the coordination of international statistical activities and support the functioning of the UN Statistical Commission as the apex entity of the global statistical system.

Data resource

• provides a global centre for data on international trade, national accounts, energy, industry, environment, transport and demographic and social statistics gathered from many national and international sources
• promotes international standards of methods, classifications and definitions used by national agencies
• assists Member States, at their request, to improve their statistical services by giving advice and training
• coordinates international statistical programmes and activities entrusted to the Division by the United Nations Statistical Commission and the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA)
• provides input and secretarial support to the United Nations Statistical Commission and its Working Group
• helps to implement Agenda 21, particularly in the development and dissemination of integrated environmental and economic accounting, environmental statistics and indicators of sustainable development
• promotes modern surveying and mapping techniques as a tool for growth and development

2 IMF

http://www.imf.org/

Organization description

The IMF is an international organization of 185 member countries. It was established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment.

Data resource

The IMF publishes a range of time series data on IMF lending, exchange rates and other economic and financial indicators. Manuals, guides, and other material on statistical practices at the IMF, in member countries, and of the statistical community at large are also available.

3 POPULATION STATISTICS

http://www.populstat.info/

Data resource

Growth of the population per country in a historical perspective, including their administrative divisions and principal towns.

4 NBER

http://www.nber.org/

Organization description

The NBER is governed by a Board of Directors with representatives from the leading U.S. research universities and major national economics organizations. Other prominent economists from business, trade unions, and academe also sit on the Bureau's Board. Martin Feldstein is the NBER's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Data resource

NBER Collection
Business Cycle Dates
Latest Business Cycle Memo
New Economic Releases
Selected Sources
Economic Organizations
US Government Agencies
Other Data Collections
Economic Report of the President
Economic Indicators
Congressional Budget Office
OECD Frequently Requested Statistics

5 PWT

http://pwt.econ.upenn.edu/php_site/pwt62/pwt62_form.php

Data resource

The Penn World Table provides purchasing power parity and national income accounts converted to international prices for 188 countries for some or all of the years 1950-2004. The European Union or the OECD provide more detailed purchasing power and real product estimates for their countries and the World Bank makes current price estimates for most PWT countries at the GDP level.

6 TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL

http://www.transparency.org/index.php

Organization description

Transparency International, the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption, brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. TI’s mission is to create change towards a world free of corruption.

Data resource

The annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), first released in 1995, is the best known of TI’s tools. It has been widely credited with putting TI and the issue of corruption on the international policy agenda. The CPI ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys.

7 WTO

http://www.wto.org/

Organization description

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.

Data resource

It is the official website of International trade and tariff data.

8 Administrative Divisions of Countries

http://www.statoids.com/statoids.html

Organization description

The land area of the world is divided into countries. Most of the countries are, in turn, divided into smaller units. These units may be called states, provinces, regions, governorates, and so on. A phrase that describes them all is "major administrative divisions of countries". Use the term "statoid" for short. Since the word has no other accepted meaning, it can be used as a search term on search engines to target this site. The 'a' of statoid is long.

Data resource

The web is a guide to Internet sites about the statoids of each country.
For selected countries, it has posted lists of the secondary administrative subdivisions on this website. For example, to find the counties of the United States, click on "U" on the alphabet bar. Find the row of the table for the United States, and click on "county" in the column headed "Secondary". The primary subdivisions of countries change fairly often. There are perhaps a couple of dozen changes a year among all the countries of the world. The secondary subdivisions are more numerous, and governments can change them with fewer repercussions. Their changes are much more frequent. So be aware that the secondary division lists may not be up to date.