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Reading a figure about a country requires its definition, period and reference population.

Getting started

Choose an indicator, open its source and compare countries only when units and periods are compatible.

Before deciding

Distinguish data, commentary and opinion. A change in an indicator does not alone establish an event’s cause.

Choose a source and keep useful references

Compare resources

Eurostat provides European statistics; Our World in Data presents global analyses and visualisations. Trace the original source behind each chart.

Prepare your research

Note definition, unit, period, territory and missing data. For two countries, check denominator and method before interpreting a difference.

Practical questions

Can a count and a percentage be compared?

Find the denominator and relevant population first. A percentage expresses a proportion, a count a quantity; specify unit, period and territory to make the comparison interpretable.

Do two curves moving together prove a cause?

The pattern suggests a question for investigation. Look for the method, alternative factors and analytical limitations; visual similarity alone does not establish that one phenomenon produces the other.

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