Sources & Methodology

We prioritize original statistical publishers: government statistical agencies, research organizations, and the organizations that maintain the underlying records.

Every number needs a definition

Each article identifies its data period, geographic or population coverage, units, and sources. Publication dates describe when an article appeared here, not when its underlying data were collected. We label historical and preliminary figures explicitly.

Comparisons and calculations

We distinguish means from medians, people from visits, percentage changes from percentage-point changes, and population averages from averages among participants. Calculations are labeled and their assumptions explained. Rounded figures can produce small differences in totals.

Daily articles

Our publishing system prepares articles using retrieved source material and automated drafting and review. It checks source evidence and required definitions before an article enters the publication queue. A failed check holds the article back. Automated review is not a guarantee of accuracy; readers can inspect the linked originals and report corrections.

Dates and updates

Sources are reviewed when an article is prepared. We do not relabel older statistics with the current year, and pages are not necessarily updated whenever a source changes. For the newest release, follow the source link.

Corrections

Please include the page address, the disputed number, and an original source when sending a correction. We evaluate corrections against the source and update the page when appropriate.