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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is all this data from?
NationMaster compiles statistics from such sources as the CIA World Factbook, United Nations, World Health Organization,
World Bank, World Resources Institute, UNESCO, UNICEF and OECD.
How do I find the source for a particular statistic?
Refer to the 'Source' heading at the bottom of the graph. Or, to list the sources for all our statistics,
click on the Sources link at the top right of any page.
How can [insert small, poor country here] be a world leader in this?
Check whether the statistic is presented as a percentage of GDP. Poor countries have small GDP's and thus
their spending for a particular indicator can be high without the real figure being high.
How can your graph be valid when it's missing [insert large, important country here]?
First, check you haven't restricted it to a particular set of countries or regions by seeing if anything is
highlighted in the green "make your own graph" form.
Very few studies include all countries in the world, either because the data was not available, or because it
simply wasn't of interest to the source body. We do not combine resultsets because they have different methodologies,
samples and timesets. Our sources often do though, and they can do so because they are particularly qualified in the
relevant area.
The lack of a statistic for a country does not imply that they have none of the thing in question (airports, etc)
or even that it has never been measured. You should consider our graphs only as comparisons of the countries that
are included in the graph, not of all countries.
How can statistic X be valid when it doesn't match up to statistic Y? I did the math!
We use a variety of sources with differing methodologies and definitions. Consult the primary sources to get to the
bottom of any conflict. You can do this by looking at the 'Source' entry, at the bottom of any graph
How can statistic X be valid when it's two years old?
We always like to use the most up-to-date information. Often the statistic you see here is the newest you'll
find anywhere. There may be nothing more recent available because:
- Countries don't conduct national censuses every year. Australia,
for example, conducts its census every 5 years.
- The last study on the topic was conducted several years ago.
- The data has been collected, but not published yet.
- The data has been published, but not collated across a number of countries.
We invite you to look around - if you find something more recent, by all means let us know.
Why isn't England/New York/Bavaria included in this list?
We only report on countries, not smaller administrative regions.
Can I print out copies and use them as handouts in my class?
Yes, provided you keep the NationMaster logo on the page and cite us as the source of your information (if you have to provide
a list of citations or bibliography for your class). If you want to print out a graph, be sure to click on the printable version
link in the top right hand corner. For an
example of a printable page, click here.
Can I quote your information?
You can quote a few individual facts and figures, provided you link back to us.
Check our terms or request special permission. Please do not
steal entire graphs or Country/Category profiles. It's a violation of our copyright.
How often do you update your encyclopedia?
Roughly weekly - but the main encyclopedia page is updated daily.
How often do you update your stats?
We do this every few weeks.
Where do you get your funding from?
Nobody. We are independently owned and run.
Can I link to your site?
Yes. You are most welcome link to us without express permission. All links on NationMaster are supposed to be
permanent and we do our best to ensure they stay that way. So feel free to link to any page you like.
Can you link to my site please?
We don't do link exchanges. But you may be able to be included on one of our encyclopedia pages. Go to a
relevant encyclopedia article and click on Wikipedia, then "Edit This Page". Add your link and, provided it's not
deleted by another Wikipedia editor, your link will appear on NationMaster in time.
There's a mistake in one of your encyclopedia pages.
You can edit this yourself. See above.
Can I be a moderator in your forums?
Hang around the forums for a while, posting some quality messages, then we shall see.
Can I donate?
Absolutely. We greatly appreciate any donations. Click here.
How else can I support NationMaster?
You can always tell us of statistic sources. Or if you don't know any, spreading the word is
a great help. Tell your friends, put a link on your website, or nominate us for 'site of the week' somewhere. |
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