Statistics
Statistics are your place for quick numbers. They might answer the questions "how much" or "how many." Statistics result from data that have been interpreted then synthesized into a usable form.
Statistics can be in the form of numbers or percentages and they are frequently presented in a table or graph.
A statistical table might look like this one from the Statistical Abstract of the United States:
Or a table from Statista:
Data
What are data?
Data are plain facts, usually raw numbers. Think of a spreadsheet full of numbers with no meaningful description. In order for these numbers to become information, they must be interpreted to have meaning.
Data can be anything - numbers, spreadsheets, audio files, maps, etc.
Who creates data?
Data can come from a government census or organization surveys or research studies.
Data - singular or plural?
- Datum (singular form) - a piece of information
- Data (plural form) - multiple pieces of information