Library Guides: Women's & Gender Studies: Statistics

Demographics & General Stats

Here are links to some comprehensive statistical sites, mostly from the U.S. government:

American FactFinder
Provides access to data about the United States, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas, compiled from several censuses and surveys.
Historical Statistics of the United States
Presents the numerical history of the United States. It contains more than 37,000 annual time series of quantitative historical information covering virtually every quantifiable dimension of American history, all from the earliest times to the present.
Statistical Abstract - 2012
Authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.
National Institute of Mental Health Statistics
Statistics currently available on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental disorders for the population of the United States, in addition to information about possible consequences of mental illnesses, such as suicide and disability.

Women's & Gender Studies Specific Data

Pew Research Center
Studies and surveys on demography, domestic policy, economics, elections, energy and environment, global attitudes/foreign affairs, immigration, internet and technology, legal, news media, politics and elections, public opinion, religion, research methodology, and social trends
The Woman Stats Project
Database with the largest crossnational compilation of data, statistics, and maps on the status of women worldwide. Organized by country, this resource has over 350 variables for 176 countries.
Explore the Data - State of Women in America
Interactive table accompanying the report “The State of Women in America: A 50-State Analysis of How Women Are Faring Across the Nation.” Explore economic, leadership, and health statistics pertaining to women in the US.
Office on Women's Health - Fact Sheets
Fact sheets, infographics and more on women's health
CDC - Intimate Partner Violence
Reports, statistics and additional links on violence against women of all ages. Check out the Summary reports from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey for more.
YRBSS: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Research on middle schoolers and high schoolers - broken down by sex, with the ability to focus on sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and more.
National Equity Atlas
It is a comprehensive resource for data to track, measure, and make the case for racial equity and inclusive prosperity in America’s regions, and states, and nationwide. The Atlas contains data on demographic change, racial and economic inclusion, and the potential economic gains from racial equity for the largest 100 cities, largest 150 regions, all 50 states, and the United States as a whole.
ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research)
ICPSR allows you to search studies and the data it archives, as well as articles that cite that data.

Citing Your Data

It is increasingly important to cite your data sources, just like you would normally cite a journal article that you used to support your research. If you use a statistic, your readers should be able to find where you got it from, and decide for themself if the study was trustworthy.

ICPSR has a great page with examples, and a video on how and why you should cite data.