Research Guides: Statistics, Datasets, and Government Information: United States Statistics and Datasets

About Statistical Sources

Statistics can be a great way to quantify your research. Be sure to evaluate the sources of your statistical information, however, to make sure they come from unbiased sources. Government agencies (such as the U.S. Census Bureau) are generally considered reliable. Statistical information gathered from a commercial entity should be used with caution and evaluated for accuracy and authority.

Contact the Librarian if you need assistance, or if you are unsure of the validity of the statistics you gather during research.

Public Opinion Statistics

PollingReport.Com
"An independent, nonpartisan resource on trends in American public opinion." Topics include: State of the Union, Elections, "In the News", National Security, and Social Policy Issues.

National Statistical Information

USA.GOV
The U.S. government's official search engine.
U.S. Census Bureau -- Current Census Data
"The U.S. Census Bureau offers the most comprehensive demographic data for the United States. The site includes information and statistics on the nation's population, housing, business and manufacturing activity, international trade, farming, and state and local governments."
CDC FastStats -- Health and Disease Statistics
"The FastStats site provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance and is organized alphabetically. Links are provided to publications that include the statistics presented, to sources of more data, and to related web pages." By the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics
"The National Center for Health Statistics website, a rich source of information about America's health. As the Nation's principal health statistics agency, we compile statistical information to guide actions and policies to improve the health of our people. We are a unique public resource for health information -- a critical element of public health and health policy."
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
"The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics."
United States State Profiles and Energy Estimates
By the U.S. Energy Information Administration
U.S. Energy Outlook -- from the U.S. Department of Energy
"The Annual Energy Outlook presents a projection and analysis of US energy supply, demand, and prices through 2035. The projections are based on results from the Energy Information Administration's National Energy Modeling System."
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Data on the courts system, jails and prisoners, correctional programs, and much more.
Georgia Census Data
"The Georgia Census Data provides access to the U.S. Census Bureau's State and County Quick Facts data. Broken into three sections: People Quick Facts, Business Quick Facts, and Geography Quick Facts, the site offers a break down of some of the key statistics associated with Georgia. Data can be limited to a specific county or city."
Georgia Official and Statistical Register: "Georgia's Blue Book"
"The Georgia Official and Statistical Register, published from 1923-1990 by the Georgia Department of Archives and History, is commonly known as the Georgia Blue Book. Considered an important reference work for historical research, the Register covers Georgia's executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, providing biographical sketches of elected and other state officials."