Compare an indicator across countries
Set population, period and definition; record the OECD series, open the World Bank entry, then check the producer of the UN System Data Commons table.
Documents to open in this workflow
This order suggests a starting point; revisit a step if identifiers, dates or versions disagree. Access and reuse terms depend on each service.
OECD Data Explorer
Explore OECD socioeconomic series and indicators with their dimensions and metadata.
What to record
Dataset, series code, dimensions, frequency, unit, adjustment and extraction date.
Source-specific check
Keep active filters; changing age, unit or adjustment changes the comparison even when the title is unchanged.
Open source portalWorld Bank Open Data
Find development indicators by country, period and subject in the World Bank portal.
What to record
Indicator code, country, year, unit, original producer and downloaded file.
Source-specific check
Distinguish countries from regional aggregates; an aggregate is not necessarily a simple country average.
Open source portalUN System Data Commons
Explore the common United Nations system data and statistics gateway; identify the producer of each indicator.
What to record
Indicator, producing agency, country, period, unit, version and table URL.
Source-specific check
Trace the original source; inclusion in a shared portal does not automatically harmonise methods.
Open source portal
Matching condition
Align indicator code, population, unit and territory; find each portal’s original producer.
If results disagree
Do not average conflicting figures: compare definitions, vintages and reuse of one source.
Output to produce
Matrix of series and origins.
Separate documentary evidence, demonstrated links between documents and remaining inference. State the owner and review trigger.
Supporting methods
Producer references
Matching table to complete
This is a blank template, not a research result. Record the exact item and observation for each source before making the decision.
| Source | Document or exact URL | Date and version | Observation and passage | Scope and limit | Link established or unestablished |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OECD Data Explorer | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
| World Bank Open Data | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
| UN System Data Commons | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
Frequently asked questions
What link should be checked before matching results?
Align indicator code, population, unit and territory; find each portal’s original producer.
What if sources appear to contradict each other?
Do not average conflicting figures: compare definitions, vintages and reuse of one source.
Do the listed portals provide independent confirmation?
Not necessarily. Identify the producer and underlying document. Two interfaces distributing one item can check transcription but do not establish a fact independently twice.