Hi,

We regularly need to locate statistics for all 200 countries of the
world on either product populations or product consumption.

Examples are: 
* the number of cars on the road in each country last year (auto
population); 
the number of spas in each country last year (spa population);
* the number of cars sold last year in each country (auto consumption); or
the number of spas sold last year in each country (spa consumption).

You'll note that we need 200 individual numbers, not a single world total.

Can you tell us *what words* we should use in Google to search
for this kind of data, please? We presumably need key words related to
the product, statistics, all countries etc.?  Also to put the words in
inverted commas?

We look for one-stop suppliers of the data, not 200 different
suppliers (coz 200 different ones would use different statistical
methods, so the data aren’t comparable). That means the data come
mainly from UN agencies, worldwide trade associations & commercial
databases.

Richard Gould

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Request for Question Clarification by aceresearcher-ga on 05 Dec 2002 23:45 PST

richard1,

I can provide you with some excellent ways to find sources for
worldwide statistics broken out by country. Is it acceptable that many
of the sources listed by these searches will be "pay" services? Also,
can you provide a few more specific examples of the types of
statistics you will be seeking?

Thanks,

aceresearcher

---

Clarification of Question by richard1-ga on 06 Dec 2002 13:18 PST

Hi aceresearcher,

Thanks for your clarification request. 

1. What we're after is general search routines to use in Google to
seek data sources.  Whether those search routines identify free or
chargeable sources does not matter.

2. Some additional examples are:
* the number of masseurs in each country of the world
* the number of coffee-table tourist books sold in each country each
year
* the tons of natural sausage skin consumed in each country each year
* the number of college students who study abroad in each country each
year
* the number of people who seek a job in each country each year

Richard

Hello:

As you explained that you regularly locate statistical information on
200 countries, it seems vital to locate statistical database that
contain the required information. In my discussion I will provide:

1. Example of Search Terms used to locate the information.
2. How to easily and effectively use hundreds of different keywords.
3. Important Resources of Statistical Database.
4. Using Mega and local search engines to find the information.

     The information that you require can be obtained by the agencies,
organizations, and UN database. The best way to locate the information
on the search engine is by typing the correct keywords. For example I
used "US Educational Statistics" on Google to come out with a prime
source of Educational data from around the world. The address is
http://nces.ed.gov/
Similarly for motor vehicle or traffic statistics we can use "US
Traffic Statistics" to come out with
http://199.79.179.78/ref/biblio/highways/highways_statistics.html
Again, using similar keywords in Google we can easily locate Travel
industry or lodging industry statistics. For example using the keyword
"Hotel Industry Statistics" will provide us with a good resource at
http://www.tia.org/Travel/default.asp

      Please note that the above three terms used by me provided the
relevant source where I could locate the extensive database of
information. You should also notice that I use "" before and after the
keywords. The "" is used to come out with more relevant information.
You can also modify the keywords and there will be number of agencies
or organizations that will come out in your search results. There are
several keyword tools that provide you with lot of similar keywords if
you type a certain word. For example if you type US labor statistics
as a keyword, the program can give you different terms to use i.e. US
labor research, US labor database etc. The most useful tools in the
market are:
Keyword Tracker
http://www.wordtracker.com/
Overture Word Tracker
http://www.overture.com/d/USm/adcenter/tools/index.jhtml;jsessionid=BR2LR0UEKQKRZQFIEOQAPUQ
Keyword Research Tool
http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/keyword-research-tool.shtml
Keyword City
http://www.keywordcity.com/AboutKYC.html
Keyword Locator
http://riskfreemarketing.com/Member/key-words.asp
Goggle Directory Key Word Finder
http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Internet/Searching/Search_Engines/Specialized/Internet_Keywords/
Dmoz.Org Keyword Locator
http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Searching/Search_Engines/Specialized/Internet_Keywords/
Keyword Suggestion Tool List
http://www.marketzone.net/directory/default.asp?CategoryID=20
    
    Another way to find alternate keywords is to use Merriam Webster
Thesaurus at
http://www.m-w.com/thesaurus.htm OR use Microsoft Word Thesaurus. A
very nice example of using different keywords for your search is given
at
http://www.inboxrobot.com/search_syntax.php3

     There are some very useful worldwide and US statistical database
available for you to use. They are:
World in Figures
http://www.worldinfigures.org/glo/eng/
Global Stat
http://www.globastat.com/
UN Statistical Records by Nation
http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_infonation.htm
UN Statistic Division
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
Fed Statistical Database
http://www.fedstats.gov/
Labor Statistics
http://laborsta.ilo.org/
US Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbnew.html
US Stats
http://www.stat-usa.gov/
FAO Statistical Database
http://apps.fao.org/
A List of important Statistical Database 
Statistics Resource
http://www.ntu.edu.sg/library/stat/statna.htm

     While you search for anything on the internet, it is a good idea
to use mega search engines which are used to filter the search
listings of many search engines at once. That way you don’t need to
search for terms in multiple search engines. A list of Famous Mega
Search Engines is located at:
http://media24.fastclick.net/w/safepop.cgi?mid=15366&sid=5006&id=248856&geo=981000478&len=133&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.i-probe.com%2Fi-probe%2Fip_search_2.html&c=54

     Another way to look for regional information is to look in the
local search engines of each country. The most comprehensive list of
local search engines from around the world is located at:
http://www.twics.com/~takakuwa/search/search.html

      In short, the best way to look for your desired information is
to use the keywords wisely. It’s easy. Just switch the keywords around
with similar words.

      I am aware that the information that I provided does not exactly
meet the specifications in your question but I am sure that using the
above information you can come out with much more effective listings.
That is precisely why I didn’t provide you with listings of few
websites as it could limit your search capabilities.

      Please clarify if you don’t find the answer relevant. I will try
my best to come out with a more clear explanation. Thank You.

Sincerely,
leader-ga

This is not what was requested.  

The suggestion to use the phrase "Hotel industry statistics" is the
only helpful bit of advice.  It's helpful because it suggests using
"... industry statistics" will produce a list of relevant sites for
whatever industry is being researched.