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OECD Factbook 2011-2012

Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics

image of OECD Factbook 2011-2012

OECD Factbook 2011/12 is a comprehensive and dynamic statistical annual publication from the OECD. More than 100 indicators cover a wide range of areas: agriculture, economic production, education, energy, environment, foreign aid, health, industry, information and communications, international trade, labour force, population, taxation, public expenditure, and R&D. This year, to commemorate the OECD 50th anniversary, the OECD Factbook features a focus chapter on 50 years of OECD statistics.

Data are provided for all OECD member countries including area totals, and in some cases for selected non-member economies (including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia & South Africa). For each indicator, there is a two-page spread: a text page includes a short introduction followed by a detailed definition of the indicator, comments on comparability of the data, an assessment of long-term trends related to the indicator and a list of references for further information on the indicator; the opposite page contains a table and a graph providing - at a glance - the key message conveyed by the data. A dynamic link (StatLink) is provided for each table where readers can download the corresponding data.

The OECD Factbook is also available as a smart phone app!

English Also available in: German

Size of GDP

Gross domestic product (GDP) is the standard measure of the value of the goods and services produced by a country during a period. Per capita GDP is a broad indicator of economic living standards. Each country calculates GDP in its own currency. In order to compare countries, these estimates have to be converted into a common currency. Often, the conversion is made using exchange rates, but these can give a misleading comparison of the volumes of goods and services produced. Comparisons of GDP between countries are best made using purchasing power parities (PPPs) to convert each country’s GDP into a common currency. PPPs are currency converters that equalise the purchasing power of the different currencies (see also Rates of conversion).

English Also available in: German

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