# Where can I get USA historical econ/demo statistics?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 22, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219 "2007-02-22T13:58:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219/1 "2007-02-22T13:58:57Z")

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I am writing a small piece on Social Security. I would like to compare the figures which underly future projections for the program to historical norms and recent historical data. The Social Security data is [here](http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR/TR06/II_assump.html#wp95349), but I have no idea where to find the historical data, can anyone point me in the right direction?

(Please keep this GQ, no comments about SS, or the politcis of it.)

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219/2 "2007-02-22T14:32:54Z")

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Have you checked out the [Census Bureau](http://www.census.gov/)?

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**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219/3 "2007-02-22T15:19:32Z")

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I went exploring a little. I can’t find what I’m looking for, maybe I am just weak at their search engine.

I think I would settle for just having Productivity (total US economy) for as many years back as I can go.

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**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219/4 "2007-02-22T15:21:47Z")

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[http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/](http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/)

Almost complete Census data back to 1790. Includes population and many of the economic-related censuses (Census of Manufactures and others).

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**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219/5 "2007-02-22T16:47:06Z")

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I’m finding what I need at the Beareaux of Labor Statistics. I think I won’t use the more demographic information after all. Thanks for the help!

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**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-usa-historical-econ-demo-statistics/393219/6 "2007-02-22T16:50:57Z")

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It is hard to find anything on the Census website, but try the Statistical Abstracts of the US, located [here](http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/) . They have data from 1878 on.