This tutorial provides an answer to questions often raised by Eurostat author/production units on the distinction between their dedicated section(s) on the Eurostat portal and Statistics Explained:

  • what are the main differences between a dedicated section and Statistics Explained as dissemination channels?
  • which information should be disseminated via a dedicated section and which via Statistics Explained?
  • how should they be interlinked?

The answers, elaborated below, can be summarised as follows:

  • a dedicated section is a mini-portal for a specific statistical topic or policy area, a set of links to content stored elsewhere without content of its own except brief introductions;
  • Statistics Explained is an online publication platform for published content (which may, but need not be also available as paper/PDF): statistical description/analysis and background information, in the form of text accompanied by tables, graphs and maps.

Dedicated section

The defining characteristics of a dedicated section are:

  • no own content except brief and general introductions where and if needed;
  • portal = set of links to content elsewhere:
  • data in database, 'most popular' or main tables;
  • metadata (esms files, methodological manuals, ...);
  • the most relevant part of Statistics Explained (not to its Main page!);
  • downloadable PDF publications;
  • a selection of highly relevant external links (other European Commission sites, OECD, UN, ECB, WHO, ...).
  • specific and flexible:
  • a dedicated section can be created or dissolved according to policy and users' needs;
  • not necessarily corresponding to stable hierarchy of statistical (sub)themes, although in practice there is a degree of overlap;
  • as a result, the list of dedicated sections changes fairly often, and has a more ad hoc and temporary character than statistical themes.

Statistics Explained

The relevant characteristics of Statistics Explained:

  • publication platform for all Eurostat's published content (to a large extent replacing paper-only publications of the past):
  • statistical articles presenting description and analysis of data;
  • background articles on methods, nomenclatures, context, ...;
  • online publications (= briefly introduced table of contents linking to individual articles);
  • glossary items.
  • links to further information in Statistics Explained (See also), Eurostat portal (database, main tables, dedicated section, ...) or other websites (including other Commission websites): portal but only secondary function

Practical guidelines

To organise the dissemination on a particular statistical topic, taking into account the different nature and aims of a dedicated section versus Statistics Explained articles, production units are urged to follow these recommendations:

  • do not put content on the dedicated section, except for relatively short introductions; the dedicated section should be a 'one-stop shop' where users can access all information on a particular topic through links to content stored elsewhere;
  • Statistics Explained is one of the places where content is available (others are: the online database, the main (most popular) tables, metadata files, statistical and methodological PDF publications, external websites);
  • interlink mutually at a deep level:
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