Guides and databases: Black Studies: Data sources

Key databases for finding data and statistics

Caribbean Colonial Statistics from the British Empire, 1824-1950
Part of British Online Archives' Running the West Indies, 1678-1950 series, this collection features records for each colony prefaced by a brief introduction. The statistics include population returns, education reports, grants of land, imports and exports and prison records.
Cross-National Time-Series Data Archive (CNTS Archive)
The CNTS archive has 196 variables and contains data for over 200 countries from 1815 onward (excluding 1914-1918 and 1940-1945). Data covers economic, political, population and demographic variables. Emphasis is on domestic conflict (events occurring within a particular country), political, legislative and economic data.
Economist Intelligence Unit Country Reports Archive, 1952-1995
The Economist Intelligence Unit has published Country Reports since 1952, covering almost 200 countries. Each report presents detailed statistics alongside expert commentary and forecasting from the EIU’s analysts. This database presents the historical reports up to 1995. For current reports, access EIU Viewpoint.
EIU Viewpoint
Combines the EIU’s expert political insights, policy analysis and economic outlook with forward-looking forecasts and proprietary data. Includes EIU Country Reports.
ICPSR
You need to create an account in order to download data. ICPSR acquires, preserves, enhances, and distributes original social science research data for research and instruction.
ICRG Researchers' Dataset Table 3B (Political Risk)
The ICRG Researcher's Dataset - Table 3B provides annual averages of the 12 components of ICRG's Political Risk Ratings (Table 3B), as published in the International Country Risk Guide since 1984. Average ratings are provided for all countries covered by ICRG from 1984 through the last full calendar year.
OECD iLibrary
Index of publications from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Formerly SourceOECD.
LSEG Workspace (Eikon)
Access for UCL students and staff only. Contact the e-resources team to request a licence. Licences are initially for 1 week and may be reassigned after this depending on demand. Access includes SDC Platinum deal-making data add-on, to access SDC data, type SDC in the top search bar
Statista
Statista is an online portal for statistics consolidating statistical data on over 80,000 topics from more than 22,500 sources and covering over 170 different industries. UCL users do not have access to the Company database or the Global Consumer Survey. The Research AI assistant can provide useful insights into Statista data, but be aware of the limitations of using generative AI for your academic work.
UK Data Service
The UK Data Service is a comprehensive resource funded by the ESRC to support researchers, teachers and policymakers who depend on high-quality social and economic data. Registration is required if you wish to download, order or analyse data online, where this is possible. Use your UCL username and password.

Useful websites for finding data and statistics

ACLED - Armed Conflict Location and Events Dataset
A comprehensive public collection of political violence data for developing states. These data contain information on the specific dates and locations of political violence, the types of event, the groups involved, fatalities and changes in territorial control.
Afrobarometer
Publicly available data and statistics from a project that measures the social, political, and economic atmosphere in Africa. Surveys are conducted in more than 30 African countries and trends in public attitudes tracked over time. Notes on methodology and analytical tools are also provided.
Center for Security Studies: Datasets
CSS ETH presents a number of prominent sites that provide statistical information on a variety of economic, development and security-related topics.
Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC)
A platform for research on economic growth and development, largely based on the comprehensive databases on indicators which the Centre compiles and maintains.
United Nations Monthly Bulletin of Statistics Online
The database presents current monthly economic statistics for most of the countries and areas of the world. A selection of tables updated less frequently than the regular monthly tables is included. These tables present annual and/or quarterly data on a variety of subjects illustrating important economic trends and developments.
Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP)
A provider of data on organised violence and the oldest ongoing data collection project for civil war. It produces high-quality data, which are systematically collected, have global coverage, are comparable across cases and countries, and have long time series which are updated annually.

Data and statistics

Guide to data and statistics
Includes resource lists mainly in the social sciences, alongside support material and FAQs, but also pointers to finding data more generally. Also, there’s further information and guidance about analysing, visualising, referencing and managing data, as well as text and data mining.