Google Public Data Explorer Breaks It Down for Students, Wonks, Stat Lovers
Nicholas Kolakowski
Getting Started
The opening screen of Google Public Data Explorer. Clicking “Explore the data” will launch you into a page of datasets, from which an analysis can begin.
Seeing the Datasets
Google Public Data Explorer first offers you a collection of broad datasets.
Breaking Down the Data
Each datasets screen allows you to break the data down even further by age, sex or other metrics.
Public Data
Public data can be correlated with a Google Map, which lets users see how a particular dataset (such as unemployment) plays out across a country or state.
Adjusting the Graphs
Users can adjust colors and size of graphs using the tabs at right.
Data Selection
Clicking on the tabs to the left allows users to select which data they want to focus on.
Time Options
Graphs offer “Time Options” (lower left) to widen or narrow the timeframe under examination.
Large Number Sets
Google Public Data Explorer catalogs a large number of data sets.
Multiple Sources
Google Public Data Explorer incorporates data from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, the California Department of Education, Eurostat, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Granular Control
Google Public Data Explorer allows for granular control over data, allowing results to be filtered in a wide variety of ways.
Public Data
Google already integrates statistical data from the World Bank, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau into its Google Search results. Those public-data sources are also used in the Google Public Data Explorer.
Bing and Wolfram Alpha
Googles latest competitor, Microsofts Bing, incorporates statistical data from the Wolfram Alpha Website (shown here) into its search results. As time progresses, both Google and Microsoft will likely leverage more public data from more sources into their offerings.