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Environmental Design Library
Statistics & Data for City Planning: International
Gateways
Using Statistics
Numeric & Spatial Data Sources
General Sources 		Regional Data
City Data
Campus Resources
Statistics & Data for City Planning: International is a guide to UC Berkeley library and web resources for socioeconomic and demographic data and statistics relevant to city planning. The focus here is international; for a guide to U.S. statistics see Statistics & Data for City Planning: United States.  For international housing statistics, see Housing Research Resources.  See International Planning for a guide to general research sources.  For additional assistance please consult the reference staff of the Environmental Design Library, 210 Wurster Hall.

UC Berkeley faculty, registered students, and staff who are off campus may use items marked UCB Only or UC Only by using The Library's proxy service or by installing the Connecting@Berkeley CD on their computer.

Last updated: 28 August 2007 Conditions of Use

    Gateways
  1. Country and regional data (Philadelphia Univ.) Essentially an extensive well-organized full text statistical abstract of country or regional data.  Coverage includes social, economic, environmental, legal data, and much more.
    2. http://faculty.philau.edu/russowl/country.html
  2. International organizations & statistics (UC Berkeley, Library)  Lists links to some of the major resources for international statistical, organized by world and regional coverage, and then subject.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/govinfo/intl/gov_intlstats.html
  3. OFFSTATS: official statistics on the web (Univ. of Aukland, Library) Lists web sites offering "free and easily accessible social, economic and general data from official or similar "quotable" sources."  Organized by country or topic.
    4. http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/subjects/stats/offstats/
  4. Statistical resources on the web (Univ. of Michigan, Documents Center) Comprehensive. Excellent starting point.
    5. http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html
  5. Statistical information via Lexis-Nexis - UCB Only Indexes statistical publications issued by 80-90 major international intergovernmental organizations . Abstracts provided for all documents. Full text microfiche (see Microfiche 3583) is available for most titles, in Doe Reference, East Reading Room.
    6. Online ed.: 1970/83--;  http://web.lexis-nexis.com/ statuniv
    Print equivalents available in Doe Refe or Busi & Econ


    Using Statistics   Here is a selection of books on using and interpreting statistics and data in the social sciences. To find additional titles, try the following subject searches in the Library's online catalogs:
    Social sciences -- Research -- Methodology
    Social sciences -- Statistical methods
    Social sciences -- Statistics
    Statistics -- Graphic methods

  1. The Chicago guide to writing about numbers, by Jane E. Miller. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 2004.  Table of contents.
    Environ Dsgn, Doe/Refe, Bus & Econ, Engin T11 M485 2004
  2. Handbook of applied social research methods, Leonard Bickman and Debra J. Rog, eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998.
    Environ Dsgn, Main, PubHealth H62 H24534 1998
  3. How to think about statistics, by John L. Phillips. 6th ed. NY: W.H. Freeman and Co., 2000.
    Environ Dsgn, Main HA29 P517 2000
  4. Interpreting quantitative data, by David Byrne. London: Sage, 2002.
    Environ Dsgn, Bus & Econ HA35 B97 2002
  5. Learning from strangers: the art and method of qualitative interview studies, by Robert S. Weiss. NY: Free Press, 1995, c1994.  Note Chapter 6: Analysis of Data.
    6. Environ Dsgn HN29 W42 1995
  6. Statistics: a tool for social research, by Joseph F. Healey.v6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publ., 2002.
    Environ Dsgn HA29 H39 2002
  7. The Uses and misuses of data and models: the mathematization of the human sciences, by W. James Bradley, Kurt C. Schaefer. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 1998.
    Environ Dsgn, Main H61.25 B69 1998
  8. The Visual display of quantitative information, by Edward R. Tufte. 2nd ed. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, 2001.
    Environ Dsgn, Engin QA276.3 T83 2001


    Numeric & Spatial Data Sources   Here is a selection of numeric data collections for the social sciences. To find additional data sets, try the following search strategies in the Library's Pathfinder catalog. Neither search strategy is perfect; we're working on it! NOTE: Neither of these strategies will work in the Melvyl® online catalog.
    Strategy 1: Search results include ICPSR and other new numeric data sets.
    Choose Advanced Search
    Select Genre/Physical Charac (exact) from the drop-down menu of search types
    Type data set in the search for box
    To narrow your search results by topic, type subject terms in the second search for box,
    & select subject keywords from the drop-down menu of search types.

    Strategy 2: Search results are limited to CD-ROMs in Doe Reference, where most of the social sciences data collections are held.
    Choose Advanced Search
    Limit your search by location: DREF
    Limit your search by publication format: Computer Files
    To narrow your search results by topic, type subject terms in the second search for box,
    & select subject keywords from the drop-down menu of search types.

  1. Econometrics Laboratory data sources (UC Berkeley, Econometrics Laboratory) - UCB Only A comprehensive listing of statistical and other data resources for economic analysis available via the web to UC Berkeley faculty and students. Includes links to U.S. Census sources, other federal statistics sources, international and foreign official sources, as well as a variety of social science and business data sources, and some locally developed datasets.
    http://elsa.berkeley.edu/eml/emldata.shtml
  2. Geographic Information Science Center (GISC)--Data (UC Berkeley)
    3. http://www.gisc.berkeley.edu/data/index.html
  3. GIS in the Earth Sciences & Map Library (UC Berkeley) Site includes selective list of GIS databases available in the library, as well as links to web sites with downloadable GIS data.
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/gis.html
  4. Integrated public use microdata series international (IPUMS International) (Univ. of Minnesota, Minnesota Population Center)  "World's largest collection of publicly available individual-level census data.  The data are samples from population censuses from around the world taken since 1960."
    5. http://international.ipums.org/international/
  5. ICPSR direct (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research) (Univ. of Michigan, Institute for Social Research) - UC Only Supplies data files for use with statistical software, such as SAS, SPSS, and Stata. The ICPSR data sets are cataloged in the Library's online catalogs.
    http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/
  6. UC Data: data archive & technical assistance (UC Berkeley, Survey Research Center) UC Berkeley's principal archive of computerized social science and health sciences data.
    7. http://ucdata.berkeley.edu/
    General Sources  Data in these sources are reported primarily by country.
  1. Background notes (U.S. Dept. of State) Provides information on geographic entities and international organizations and are updated periodically. Background Notes for some countries are currently unavailable.
    2. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
  2. CIA World factbook (U.S. CIA) Offers statistical and narrative descriptions by country.
    3. Online ed.: 1991-2007; http://library.louisville.edu/government/goodsources/factbook.html
    Paper ed.: 1981--; Main G122 U56a latest in Doe Reference
  3. Country studies  (U.S. Library of Congress)  The Country Studies Series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors.  Earlier paper editions are listed in the catalog as Area Handbook for....
    4. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html
  4. National censuses. National censuses are published in paper (primarily shelved in Doe Library) and on the web. To locate paper censuses, search the Pathfinder catalog by subject: [name of country] -- Census; you may limit your search by date of publication. To locate censuses on the web, visit the web site of the national statistical agency of the country in question. For a list of these web sites, see Statistical agencies in this guide.
  5. OECD statistics portal (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
    6. http://www.oecd.org/statsportal/0,2639,en_2825_293564_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
  6. Statistical agencies (International) (U.S. Bureau of the Census) Very useful site, providing links to the web sites of 100+ national statistical agencies, organized alphabetically by country.
    7. http://www.census.gov/main/www/stat_int.html

    Non-governmental Sources

  1. Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) country reports and profiles - UCB Only These narrative and statistical studies provide objective  and timely analysis and forecasts of the political, economic, and business environment in more than 180 countries. Annual profiles are updated by quarterly reports.
    2. Online ed.: 1996--; http://db.eiu.com/publications.asp
    Paper ed.: 1986/87--; Bus/Econ--call numbers vary
  2. ELDIS country profiles (Institute of Development Studies, Sussex)  Excellent site.  Includes sectoral profiles and links to other descriptive and statistical profiles, by country.
    3. http://www.eldis.org/country/index.htm
  3. Statistical record of women worldwide. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.
    4. Doe Refe, Moffitt Refe HQ1150 S73 1995
  4. World resources, a guide to the global environment. NY: Oxford Univ. Press; biennial. Each volume of this series focuses on an aspect of the global environment and trends in the world's natural resource base. The series is complemented by a data base diskette (WRD) in the Bioscience Library (G109 W67 1992 compu/d Reserve).
    5. EnvDesign HC59 W6671 latest 2 eds. in Reference; Main, latest in Doe Refe
  5. WWW virtual library: demography & population studies (Australian National Univ.) Includes a list of census and data facilities sites, as well as many links to regional 'virtual libraries.' International scope.
    6. http://demography.anu.edu.au/VirtualLibrary/

    United Nations

  1. Demographic yearbook. Statistical Office, United Nations; annual.
    2. Main JX1977 A369D4 Doe Refe--Govt/Stat
  2. Habitat atlas: graphic presentation of basic human settlements statistics. Updated version. Nairobi: United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), 1996. National data. Includes tables and maps.
    3. EnvDesign HT51 G72 1996
  3. Human development report (UN Development Programme) Includes tables of human development indicators.
    4. Online ed.: 1990-; http://hdr.undp.org/reports/view_reports.cfm?year=0&country=0®ion=0&type=1&theme=0&start=1
    Online ed. - UCB Only:  1990-1999; library networked workstations
    Paper ed.: EnvDesign HD72 H8 1992--, Reference; Main HD72 H8 1978--, latest in Doe Refe
  4. UN Statistics Division
    5. http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm

    -----. Information on national statistical systems List of 100+ web links to national statistical agencies, organized by region.
    http://www.un.org/Depts/unsd/sd_natstat.htm

    -----. Social indicators Some of the sectors included: population, housing, human settlements, water supply.
    http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/socind/

    -----. Statistical yearbook - CD-ROM Network - UCB Only
    Online ed.: 1980-; library networked workstations
    Paper ed.: 1948--; Main JX1977 A369 S74 latest in Doe Refe--Govt/Stat

    -----. Statistics and indicators on women and men Statistical sourcebook of the condition of women throughout the world.
    Online ed.: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/indwm/
    Paper ed.: Doe Refe HQ1154 W95 Govt/Stat
  5. World urbanization prospects 1999 | 2001 | 2003 NY: UN, Dept. of International Economic and Social Affairs
    6. Online ed.: 1999--
    Paper ed.: 1992--; EnvDesign HB848 E87  Latest in Reference

    World Bank

  1. Development data & statistics (World Bank Group) Full text socioeconomic and development data, by country and topic, as well as many other data sources.
    2. http://www.worldbank.org/data/
  2. Documents & reports  (World Bank) A search engine to over 27,000 full text World Bank publications.  Includes some city-specific information.
    3. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/
  3. World development indicators - UCB Only, Washington, DC: The World Bank. Contains World Bank data for 226 countries and regional groups, and 500 topical time series in subjects such as population, health, education, labor, infrastructure, and technology. Create custom spreadsheet tables or choose a preset table.
    4. Online ed.: http://devdata.worldbank.org/dataonline/
    Paper ed.: 1983, 1997--; Main HC59 W62 latest ed. Doe Refe--Govt/Stat
  4. World development report. NY: Oxford Univ. Press, World Bank.
    5. EnvDesign HC59.7 A1 W6 1992- Reference; Busi & Econ 1978- latest in Reference; Doe Refe latest in Govt/Stat


    Regional Data Sources  These sources are organized by region, and provide individual country as well aggregated data. See also Guide to Development Information as well as other sources in this guide.

  1. African development indicators. NY: UN Development Programme. 1992--.
    2. Selected data is available on the web: http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/adi/adi.html
    Main HC800 A1 A356 latest ed. Doe Refe--Govt/Stat
  2. ASEAN statistical yearbook. Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat.
    3. Main HA4590.8 A74 latest Doe Refe
  3. Countries and regions (World Bank)
    4. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/0,,pagePK:180619~theSitePK:136917,00.html
  4. International historical statistics: Africa, Asia & Oceania, 1750-1993, by B.R. Mitchell. 3rd ed.  NY: Stockton Press, 1998.
    5. EnvDesign HA4675 M55 1998 Reference
  5. International historical statistics: Europe, 1750-1993, by B.R. Mitchell. 4th ed. NY: Stockton Press, 1998.
    6. EnvDesign HA1107 M5 1998 Reference
  6. International historical statistics: the Americas, 1750-1993, by B.R. Mitchell. 4th ed. NY: Stockton Press, 1998.
    7. EnvDesign HA175 M55 1998 Reference
  7. Pacific Rim states Asian demographic data book, by J. Eric Oliver ... [et al.]. Oakland, CA: Pacific Rim Research Program, Office of the President, 1995.
    EnvDesign F855.2 O6 P3 1995 Reference
  8. Regional and national population information - Western Asia (UN, Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia) Includes national and regional data.
    9. http://www.un.org/popin/regional/escwa/
  9. Southern African development community  Contains brief profiles of individual countries with links to other web sources.
    10. http://www.sadc.int/
  10. Tendiencias economicas e sociais na America Latina e no Caribe em graficos = Economic and social trends in Latin America and the Caribbean in graphs = Tendencias economicas y sociales en America Latina y el Caribe en graficos. [Santiago de Chile]: CEPAL; Rio de Janeiro: IBGE: Corecon Rio, 1996.
    11. Doe Refe HC125 T44 1996 East Reading Room

    City Data Sources   Note that local data is sometimes also available on official city web sites and in national census reports.

  1. Best cities in Asia (Asiaweek)
    2. http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/asiacities2000/index.html
  2. Cities: statistical, administrative and graphical information on the major urban areas of the world. Barcelona: Institut d'Estudis Metropolitans de Barcelona, 1988. 5 vols.
    3. EnvDesign HT153 C551 1988 Reference
  3. Compendium of human settlements statistics. NY: United Nations. Includes data for selected cities.
    4. Main HD7287 U539 C6 latest in Doe Refe (Govt/Stat)
  4. East Asia and the Pacific: Urban indicators (East Asia & Pacific Region Urban Development Sector) (World Bank Group)
    5. http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/urban//regions/eap/eap.htm
  5. Encyclopedia of world cities, by Immanuel Ness.  2 vols.  Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1999.  Includes articles on 132 leading cities. Each article contains a map and statistical table.  Statistical categories include: location & environment; population & demography; economy; transportation; comunications; housing; health; and education.
    6. EnvDesign HT108.5 N47 1999 Reference
  6. Four thousand years of urban growth, an historical census, by Tertius Chandler. Lewiston: St. David's Univ. Press, 1987.
    7. EnvDesign HB2161 C45 1987 Reference
  7. Global urban observatory databases (UN HABITAT)  Includes information on urban population, economics, environment, infrastructure, urban settlement, housing, and local authorities. Includes links to the Global Urban Indicators Database, the Human Settlements Statistics Database, and others.
    8. http://ww2.unhabitat.org/programmes/guo/


    Campus Resources   Here are a few campus locations that have significant collections of statistics, or numeric or spatial data.
    Business & Economics
    Student Services Wing
    Haas School of Business
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BUSI/

    Doe Reference Center
    2nd Floor, Doe Library
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/reference.html

    Earth Sciences & Map Library
    50 McCone Hall
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/ 

    Econmetrics Laboratory
    549 Evans Hall
    http://emlab.berkeley.edu/eml/index.shtml 

    Environmental Design Library
    210 Wurster Hall
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/ 

    Geographic Information Science Center
    412 Wurster Hall
    http://www.gisc.berkeley.edu/index.html 

    		Library Data Lab
    208A Doe Library
    http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/datalab/

    Survey Research Center
    2538 Channing Way
    http://ucdata.berkeley.edu:7101/

    Compiled by Deborah Sommer
    City Planning & Landscape Architecture Librarian
    Environmental Design Library

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