There are numerous potential data resources in Economics & related fields, and many of these datasets are available for free. Please get in touch if you are not sure where to find the data you need.
Some useful general portals & databases for locating data in the social sciences (including Economics) are:
Provides annual data from 1815 onward (where available) for all countries. Nearly 200 demographic, political, legislative, economic and social science variables available in Excel format. CNTS is useful for broad cross-country comparisons requiring long time series data.
The resources listed below focus on Economics & Finance more specifically. Links to more specialised data sources within Economics can be located by exploring the geographical and topical tabs under More Resources.
The major international agencies are also important sources of data. Note that selected datasets from the IMF, OECD, and World Bank are available through the UK Data Service Data Explorer, which may be a simpler route to access data from IMF & OECD in particular.
IMF Data
The IMF data portal was updated in 2025 to provide easier access to data.
Important datasets from the IMF include:
Balance of Payment Statistics (BOPS) via IMF
Financial Soundness Indicators via IMF (2008-) useful for Tier 1 capital data at country level and other measures of financial stability.
See also the Library subscription databases Bank Focus database or Datastream (via LSEG Workspace) for data at bank level
Government Finance Statistics via IMF or UKDS (1990-)
International Financial Statistics via IMF or UKDS (1948-). Discontinued in 2025 with data published in existing datasets according to topic
International Trade in Goods via IMF and UKDS (formerly Direction of Trade Statistics - DOTS)
World Economic Outlook via IMF and via UKDS (1980-) offers forecast data
World Revenue Longitudinal Database (WoRLD) via IMF tracks government revenue trends in 193 countries since the early 1990s
As of 1 January 2020 all IMF publications are available through its portal IMF eLibrary
Major regular publications include:
Annual report on exchange arrangements and exchange restrictions 1997-
Global financial stability report 2002- Continuation of: International capital markets 1984-2001 HG 3881.I6
IMF staff country reports 1994- source of up to date economic reports by country, including the IMF Article IV reports 1998-
World economic outlook 1993- and in print 1981-2007 HC 59.W6
UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development)
National Accounts Main aggregates database from UN Data and UNSD (time series data available from 1970 for all countries of the world).
For historical accounts data, see: Yearbook of national accounts statistics 1957-1981 HC 1.Y4 and National income statistics 1938-1947 HC 58
Other longstanding flagship publications:
UN statistical yearbook 1948 and in print HA 1.S7 1931/32-2018
World social report 2020- Continuation of: World economic and social survey 1948-2019 (title varies)
Free access to time series data (1960-) for over 2000 indicators and 200+ countries, from the Bank's 70 datasets.
You can see a list of all the World Bank databases here
Flagship is the World Development Indicators database, but others include:
Country Policy & Institutional Assessment (CPIA)
Cross-Country Database on Fiscal Space - measures the ability of countries to service public debt (1990-2016)
Global Consumption Database
Global Financial Inclusion (Global Findex) - supported by the Gates Foundation, measures how people around the world manage their finances. Survey data at 3 year intervals, commencing 2011
Infrastructure Data - covers digital, energy, transport & finance
Microdata Library - comprising datasets from sample surveys of people in developing countries: their institutions, environment, communities, and economies; focusing on specific characteristics such as households, business enterprises, facilities, farms or even geographical areas such as villages or towns
Wealth Accounting - supplements GDP based measures of economic development with measures taking into account climate change & environment, energy & mining, human & social capital. Annual data 1970-
A key database is Datastream, which aggregates data from many sources, including national statistical agencies, central banks, international agencies, and commercial providers. Aside from millions of time series in Economics, it also covers equities, equity Indices, company accounts data, commodities, interest and exchange rate data, futures & options. It is accessed through LSEG Workspace. Datastream is a Library subscription database that you need to request access to. For further information & to request access, please click here
For support in using Datastream see the LSEG Learning Centre and other links on the Finance subject guide
Other general data sources that are sometimes useful for various purposes:
EMIS specialises in providing emerging markets intelligence, offering news, reports, analysis and data for industries and companies in over 120 countries. EMIS content comes from an impressive range of local sources plus licensed content from respected providers.
Some economic questions require data analysis at the micro level - individual or household data that is usually collected by survey. National statistical offices or national data archives can be good sources of this kind of data, for example UK Data Service in the UK, ICPSR in the US. For developing countries, some general sources/portals are listed below:
