Methodology
Traceable by design.
This page is generated from the central data-lineage registry. Definitions, boundaries, years, release routes and revision policies are treated as part of the data rather than optional footnotes.
1 · Register
Lineage before values
Every published series receives a stable ID, publisher, statistical scope, update entry point, extraction location and comparability note before formal data is added.
2 · Source
Record dated releases
Individual bulletins, APIs, datasets and atlas editions receive separate source IDs with publication dates, retrieval dates and archive paths.
3 · Preserve
Keep original meaning
Original unit, stored unit, conversion rule, reference year and geographic scope remain attached to the series and its data points.
4 · Validate
Reject orphaned data
Automated checks require formal points to resolve to registered series and source records before publication.
Registry rules
Rules currently enforced
- 01
Every published data series must have one lineage record here before publication.
- 02
Individual indicator files may contain source_id references, but the update route and same-scope instructions belong here.
- 03
Do not create a new lineage record for every yearly observation. Use one record per stable statistical series and list year-specific source instances separately.
- 04
If a source changes methodology, scope or publisher, create a new series_id instead of silently continuing the old series.
- 05
International comparison series must record dataset version, download date and methodology URL.
- 06
Source URLs, table names, row labels, units and conversion rules must be sufficient for another editor to reproduce the update.
Series status
Publication state remains explicit
Context-only and pending series can support explanation without being presented as final comparison data.
active
Current series used for formal publication or regular updates.
active snapshot archived
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2014 2025
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived snapshot
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active 1961 2024
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived historical domestic series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2021 2025
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived from archived snapshot
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived archived snapshot
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active presentation derived published observations
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived historical international comparison
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived view
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active from shared archived snapshot
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active structured comparison
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived annual releases
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived actual years
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived foreign government estimate
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived international estimate
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
context only
Registered for explanation but kept separate from headline comparisons.
active archived two year structure
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active presentation derived complete window
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active comparison derived complete set
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active with explicit gap
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active sparse published values
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active source separated
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active registered before ingestion
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2014 2020
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived same snapshot comparison
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2013 2024
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active same snapshot comparison
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active 2010 2023
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active official annual communique
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived historical series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived official series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
crosscheck only
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active preliminary
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active verified official extract
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived from verified official extract
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active presentation derived non contiguous
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active presentation derived complete common years
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active presentation derived public five year window
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active binary archive verified
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived binary archive verified
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived two year series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active official two year comparison
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived multi year series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active official three year comparison
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived three year structure
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active official headline
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived long term series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active comparison with source boundary
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
historical sparse published values
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active method vintage
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active comparison container
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active same release derived
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2023 2025
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2022 2022
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2014 2021
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived 2022 2024
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active presentation derived broad coverage
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active official observation series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active international comparison series
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active presentation derived fixed set
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active derived reference threshold
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active official projection snapshot
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active archived vintage
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active latest snapshot
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active context
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
active official publication snapshot
Restricted or provisional use until outstanding audit requirements are resolved.
Current registry includes 2 context-only series and 1 pending or cross-check series.
Update examples
What another editor needs to reproduce an update
annual · latest 2025
China annual total electricity generation
China national total electricity generation as published in the annual National Economic and Social Development Statistical Communique.
- Publisher
- National Bureau of Statistics of China
- Stored unit
- TWh
- Release window
- Late February following the reference year
- Update steps
- 7
annual dataset refresh · latest 2021
Global manufacturing value added in current US dollars
Country-year manufacturing value added in current US dollars from World Development Indicators.
- Publisher
- World Bank
- Stored unit
- current US$
- Release window
- Rolling revisions throughout the year
- Update steps
- 5
annual · latest 2025
China high-speed railway operating length
Year-end national high-speed railway operating length reported in annual transport industry statistical bulletins.
- Publisher
- Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China
- Stored unit
- km
- Release window
- May to June following the reference year
- Update steps
- 5
annual · latest 2025
Shanghai GDP at current prices
current prices
- Publisher
- Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau and Shanghai Survey Office of the National Bureau of Statistics
- Stored unit
- trillion yuan
- Release window
- March following the reference year
- Update steps
- 5
Release cadence
Frequencies in the registry
754annual56irregular29annual dataset refresh9annual derived after wdi refresh6snapshot regenerated when registered source series update4quarterly3annual with FAOSTAT QCL updates3selected annual benchmark observations
Comparison rule. International rankings use one dataset edition and one common definition wherever possible. City comparisons keep administrative boundaries and reference years visible. A material methodology or coverage break creates a new series ID instead of silently extending the old series.