LibGuides: Data & Statistics: Statistics and Aggregate Data

Quick definitions and concepts

Statistics and Aggregate Data

Statistics are the products of data analysis. Common forms of statistics include: tables, charts, graphs, reported numbers or percentages in a publication. If you’re looking for a quick number, you want a statistic. A statistic will answer “how much” or “how many”. A statistic repeats a pre-defined observation about reality. (Source: Data vs.Statistics, MSU Libraries).

Aggregate data are statistics that are organized into a data structure and stored in a database or data file. The data structure is based on tabulations organized by time, geography or social content. (Source: DLI Survival Guide).

Quick links

Here are a few quick links to commonly-used sources of aggregate data & statistics (note that some may require a York login to access):

Canadian Census Analyzer Access census profile data at varying levels of geography, plus microdata and postal code conversion data, for census years 1961, 1971, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021.
CANSIM (CHASS version) Canadian time-series data
Data (Statistics Canada) Catalogue of data available from Statistics Canada, including data tables, data profiles, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualizations.
Federated Research Data Repository You can use the Federated Research Data Repository (FRDR) to find research datasets originating from researchers affiliated with Canadian institutions
Historical Statistics Sources List of print and online resources that can be used to find historical statistics that are over 20 years old
ICPSR Inter-university Consortium of Political and Social Research -- archive of largely US social science survey microdata
odesi Source of Statistics Canada public-use microdata files, aggregate statistics tables, and a variety of public opinion poll datasets. Also includes metadata for ICPSR and Statistics Canada master files.
Open Data - City of Toronto Official source for Toronto open data from City divisions and agencies. Explore datasets through data visualizations, data stories, blog articles and more.
Open Data Portal - Government of Canada Data about Government of Canada services, financials, national demographic information, high resolution maps, and numerous other topics.
Real Time Remote Access Service (Statistics Canada) Real Time Remote Access (RTRA) is an online tabulation tool that use used to extract results from masterfile subsets in the form of tables.It is possible to calculate frequencies, means, percentiles, percent distribution, proportions, ratios, and shares, but there is no direct access to the microdata. This is available to York University researchers only.
Scholars GeoPortal Geospatial discovery tool that provides access to large scale geospatial datasets about Ontario and Canada that can be used for mapping or analysis. These datasets encompass both vector and raster data on a variety of topics such as land-use, transportation networks, census geography, aerial imagery, geology, and more.
SimplyAnalytics Create and download thematic maps, tables, reports and geospatial data using Canadian and American demographic, business, and marketing variables. It is only available to members of the York University community.Canadian data sources include: Adjusted Census Data, Demographic Estimates, Household Spending, PRIZM, and COVID-19 Outbreak data. American data sources include: U.S. Census Bureau Data, Community Demographic Estimates, Consumer Expenditure Estimates, Uniform Crime Reporting and NOAA Climate Divisional Database.
Statista Online portal providing data on the global digital economy, industrial sectors, consumer markets, public opinion, media, demography and macroeconomic trends. Quantitative data from 425 economic sectors in 50 countries (including Canada) are provided with a range of infographic tools for analysis and visualisation.
UN Data Gateway to data generated and/or distributed by United Nations statistical agencies
World Bank Free and open access to data about development in countries around the globe

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