How Do You Find Health-related Statistics

Despite the fact that health realated statistics are ubiquitous, they are also notoriously hard to find. That is, there is usually no single source you can go to and hope to locate all relevant statistics for your topic. You may have to dig.

Who Collects Health-related Statistics?

There are many sources available for locating statistics. The sources can be grouped under:

• US Government
• state governments
• county or local governments
• United Nations (World Health Organization)
• international governments
• professional and non profit associations and organizations
• special interest groups

Organizations associated with diseases and disorders collect statistics about issues that concern them. Look for the term statistics in the sidebars or tabs across the top of the associations's home page. You could use your internet browser's built in Find in this Page feature to search for statistics on the association's home page. If there is a search textbox, try typing the word statistics in the box.

You can do an internet search for an association's full name and statistics. For example a search using these terms American Heart Association statistics brings up a page with cardiovascular disease and stroke statistics. If you are doing an internet search, be sure to validate the source of the statistics (see How to Understand Statistics)

Be skeptical of web sites with advertisements