# Official Sources

> Universal OSINT. Content reviewed 2026-10-16.
> Canonical page: https://universalosint.org/sources/

Start with a question, then choose a source. These twelve institutional starting points cover public statistics, the environment, international institutions, and responsible research.

Match the question to the source, not the source to a preferred answer.

[Statistics](https://universalosint.org/sources/#statistics)[Environment & response](https://universalosint.org/sources/#environment)[Institutions & methods](https://universalosint.org/sources/#institutions)

Directory reviewed 16 October 2026. Coverage, languages, downloads, and access terms vary by product. Public reading does not imply unrestricted reuse. Links are not endorsements.

## Statistics and development

### [UNdata](https://data.un.org/)

United Nations gateway to the UN data ecosystem. Start here to locate international statistics; identify the underlying agency and series.

**Check:** provider, available years, definitions, languages, and reuse terms for the selected dataset.

### [World Bank Open Data](https://data.worldbank.org/)

World Bank portal for development indicators across economies and years. Useful for finding a series and its original provider.

**Check:** estimates, revisions, country coverage, and indicator-specific licensing or exceptions.

### [Global SDG Indicators](https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal)

UN Statistics Division platform for sustainable development indicators. Geographic and temporal availability differ by indicator.

**Check:** national versus international series, units, missing observations, and access or download conditions.

### [SDG Metadata Repository](https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/)

UN Statistics Division collection of indicator methods supplied by responsible agencies. Read alongside the corresponding figures.

**Check:** document version, applicable definition, language, and methodological changes; metadata are not observations.

### [WHO Data](https://data.who.int/)

World Health Organization portal for health indicators and country information. Suitable for aggregate health questions, not personal diagnosis.

**Check:** modeled versus reported values, uncertainty, reference period, and product-specific terms.

### [FAOSTAT](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/)

Food and Agriculture Organization statistics on food and agriculture. Coverage and historical depth depend on the domain.

**Check:** units, estimation flags, commodity definitions, download options, and source rights.

### [ILOSTAT](https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/)

International Labour Organization labor statistics. Compare employment indicators only after reading population and measurement definitions.

**Check:** survey versus modeled series, comparability, available languages, and reuse terms. Automated access may be restricted.

## Environment and humanitarian response

### [Copernicus](https://www.copernicus.eu/en/access-data)

European Union Earth-observation program. Its access guide connects readers to satellite data and thematic services.

**Check:** product footprint, date, resolution, quality flags, registration requirements, and license.

### [Humanitarian Data Exchange](https://data.humdata.org/)

OCHA-managed platform hosting humanitarian datasets from multiple organizations, not only official national or UN producers.

**Check:** actual contributor, update date, geographic coverage, sensitivity, license, and any access restrictions.

## Institutions and research methods

### [UN Charter](https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter)

United Nations publication of its founding instrument, with links to chapters and amendments.

**Check:** relevant provisions and language version. The text alone does not establish how a specific dispute should be resolved.

### [UN Treaty Collection](https://treaties.un.org/)

UN Secretariat treaty resources, including depositary information and registered treaty texts. Collections have different scopes.

**Check:** parties, reservations, entry into force, document language, and latest status; signature is not always ratification.

### [Berkeley Protocol](https://www.ohchr.org/en/publications/policy-and-methodological-publications/berkeley-protocol-digital-open-source)

OHCHR and UC Berkeley guidance on digital open-source investigations concerning human rights and international law violations.

**Check:** publication language and specialist scope. Not general legal permission or a substitute for training; automated access may be blocked.

## Before using what you find

[Verify the evidence](https://universalosint.org/verification/), [read the metadata](https://universalosint.org/understanding-data/), and [check reuse rights](https://universalosint.org/open-knowledge/).

Original educational text: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Third-party sources retain their own terms.