LibGuides: Statistics: Statistics About the U.S.

Finding Government Statistics

Not sure where to look for US government statistics? The following article highlights various resources with detailed information about their contents. Many of them are listed on the right.

Hartsell-Gundy, Jeffrey. "Finding Government Statistics on the Internet: A Compendium of Major Sources." College & Research Libraries News 75.3 (2014): 148-52. Association of College & Research Libraries, Mar. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.

U.S. Census Bureau News Releases

Some recent new items from the U.S. Census bureau, the federal agency charged with gathering statitistics about America and Americans.

Statistical Agencies of the U.S. Government

U.S. Census Bureau
Although its primary role is to count people for the purposes of congressional redistricting, the Bureau is constantly collecting and analyzing data about the people who live in the U.S. A great place to look for information about population, race, income, health, and more. Their Quick Facts Map is a great place to get started. Also, the bureau's Statistics in Schools highlights tools and ideas for using US statistics in instruction.

Since the Statistical Abstract of the United States ceased publication in 2011, those seeking statistical information from the US government must go directly to the many agencies that compile this information. Below is a listing of the major federal agencies that collect statistical data. It is by no means a complete list.

Burea of Economic Analysis (BEA)
The primary source for economic data about the U.S. The agency's publication, U.S. Economy at a Glance, is quite helpful.
Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
The primary source for crime statistics.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The organization that collects data about US. labor, jobs and workers.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
The U.S. agency that tracks data about planes, trains, automobiles and other forms of transportation.
National Center for Education Statistics
This federal office gathers statistics about education and schools, from the local to the national level. Check out the useful data on their Fast Facts page.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
An arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this agency collects and distributes statistics on health, diseases, mortality and other topics. Like many of these agencies, they also have a useful FastStats page to get you started.
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
Data about science, research programs, engineering projects are provided by this agency of the National Science Foundation.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
As the agency in charge of the nation's borders, they are also charged with tracking immigration data. The major publication in this area is the Yearbook of Immigration Statistics.
Energy Information Administration (EIA)
This branch of the Dept. of Energy tracks energy sources like coal, natural gas, and renewal energy sources, from extraction to usage to disposal.
National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS)
This agency tracks most statistics surrounding crops and livestock in the U.S., as well as other agricultural data. Their biggest publication is the Census of Agriculture, conducted every 5 years.
Economic Research Service
This branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture tracks aspects of the agricultural economy, most notably, food prices. Users may find their State Fact Sheets handy.

Other U.S. Statistics Sources

USAFacts
A site that compiles federal statistical data to highlight trends in the U.S. population and government spending.
Data & Statistics About the US
From the federal government. All sorts of statistics about Americans, from population to economics to energy.
Uniform Crime Reports (FBI)
Uniform Crime Reports are part of a series of reports compiled by the FBI using data from law enforcement agencies across the United States. Two of the more commonly used reports are Crime in the United States and Hate Crime Statistics.
CRS Reports
The Congressional Research Service provides detailed information to Congress on a wide range of issues, most of them packed with statistics. No web site has all of them, but UNT collects a good number of them.
AHRQ: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The AHRQ's is charged with gathering data and other evidence to make American healthcare safer and more effective. They collect a wealth of health-related data -- especially strong in comparing between states.
County Health Rankings
A joint effort of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, this site ranks counties on various health factors within their states. An interesting way to compare health characteristics in various locales.
IRS Tax Stats
"...a wide range of tables, articles, and data that describe and measure elements of the U.S. tax system."
Databases, Tables & Calculators - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A collection of labor and economic statistics in the United States, grouped into categories of data. Much of the information commonly referred to can be found under Top Picks.
USA Live Stats
Brought to you by the creators of Worldometers, this site consists of rapidly upating counters of data related to the US economy, health, population, media, and more. Be sure to click on the info link to the right of each counter to learn more about the data's sources.