1. Source of data

The statistics and indicators presented in this publication are primarily compiled from publications published by the United Nations and its specialized agencies. The selected publications are mainly statistical yearbooks and special global studies carried out by the responsible United Nations agencies. However, between these two sources, preference has been given to the latter since the global studies generally provide data that are subject to international comparability.

The basic data used by the United Nations organizations for their global studies are normally based on the administrative records or the national census/survey data conducted in countries. However in some instances, the organizations have adjusted the available data or prepared new ones. The adjustment was needed in order to maintain a consistency among country data (e.g. conforming to a standard concept or referring to the same reference period etc.). However, in some cases, new estimates were prepared to fill gaps in the time series of data needed.

The United Nations special global studies used in the publication are the World Population Prospects 1950-2050: The 1998 Revision and the World Contraceptive Used: As Assessed in 1998 prepared by Population Division of the United Nations Secretariat (UN), the Economically Active Population 1950-2010 prepared by Bureau of Statistics of the International Labour Office (ILO), the Compendium of Statistics on Illiteracy prepared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Estimates of Maternal Mortality prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Among the statistical yearbooks used, the Demographic Yearbook published by Statistics Division of the United Nations is the main source of data. It provides a number of statistics and indicators on women and men although the data are usually not available for all ESCAP countries and in some cases, do not refer to the same year needed. The other yearbooks used are the Statistical Yearbook and the Yearbook of Labour Statistics prepared by UNESCO and ILO respectively.

In addition to the above sources of data, the data are also compiled from reports or from internet websites prepared by WHO, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The data are also supplemented by national sources or other United Nations organizations, wherever appropriate.