Eurostat
ec.europa.eu/eurostat
The statistical office of the European Union, providing free access to harmonized statistics across all EU member states.
Why it is useful
The most reliable source for European comparative statistics because the data is collected under harmonized methodologies — country-level government statistics agencies often use inconsistent definitions that make direct comparison misleading. For anyone researching EU economies, demographics, trade, or social policy, it is the standard source used by academics and policymakers.