Selected Indicators Compared

Abstract

This chapter brings together some of the information contained in the national chapters to show comparisons of key indicators across countries. However, not all of the statistics used are wholly reliable when compared in this way. The main problems are familiar, and relate to the different ways in which the data is collected and the different definitions applied in order to produce the statistical series. Some of these differences are explained in the Appendix, but further discussion is also given below, especially where it significantly affects international comparisons.