Welcome to the UK Data Service
Trusted access and training to use the UK's largest collection of economic, population and social research data for teaching, learning and public benefit.
Highlights
Supporting researchers to make positive changes to people’s lives
The UK Data Service has released a new film that explains the value of its key services to researchers around the world and how it supports their work to make positive changes to people’s lives. With over 10,000 datasets in our collection, we help over 52,000 researchers worldwide to drive impactful social and economic research.
UK Data Service celebrates reaching 10,000 data collections landmark
The UK Data Service has hit a significant milestone in its history, with the number of data collections we make available reaching the 10,000 mark. Over the past six decades, the UK Data Service and its forerunners have supported research by simplifying findability and access to social, economic and population data.
Perspectives on Engagement and Impact: a UK Data Service event for Early Career Researchers
How can early career researchers turn their findings into real-world change? On Wednesday 11 February 2026, the UK Data Service will host a unique event at the People’s History Museum in Manchester to explore exactly that. Researchers will also connect with peers and stakeholders.
Upcoming training and events
Our impact
Gender Equality Index UK case study
This new Impact Case Study looks at the Gender Equality Index UK: the first index to systematically measure and analyse the socioeconomic outcomes of women and men across all 372 local authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UK data infrastructure: challenges, opportunities — and a cornerstone
Professor Alison Park, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), discusses the importance of UK social science data infrastructures and outlines some of the opportunities and challenges they face.
10,000 data collections: nearly six decades of data impact
This year, the UK Data Service reached an incredible milestone — over 10,000 data collections are now discoverable through our Data Catalogue. But what is the journey to this milestone? What does it matter? And how does it set the stage for the next chapter of data innovation and impact?
Watch our data skills training webinars
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Watch and learn all the latest data skills from our free webinars, training and video tutorials.
Introduction to secondary analysis for qualitative and quantitative data
This free workshop will take you through the research process of a secondary analysis project, including an overview of the methodological and ethical issues. Includes a guided walk-through of some of our data catalogue pages, and get to explore a downloaded dataset and test your knowledge of the research cycle.
An introduction to Social Network Analysis
Social Network Analysis is an exciting computational method that allows us to study social systems by visualising and interrogating the relationships among individuals or groups. This technique allows us to answer questions about the ins-and-outs of social interaction and information flow, such as how ideas or behaviours spread through a population.
Ignite discovery: elevate your research with data deposits
Deposit your research data free, in our ESRC funded data catalogue.
Latest news
Love Data Week 2026: Where’s the data?
Every year, Love Data Week invites us to celebrate the role of data in our lives and the people who work tirelessly to make it accessible. This year’s Love Data Week, which takes place from 9-13 February, will feature a vast number of events hosted by universities, non-profit organisations, government agencies, businesses and individuals across […]
Early Career Researchers look forward to the UK Data Service’s Impact event
Early Career Researchers from all over the UK will be attending the Perspectives on Engagement and Impact event on 11 February, 2026, which has been designed to help researchers learn from peers and stakeholders how their work can be used to drive impact. The free event will be packed full of engaging activities, including an […]
Understanding Society Wave 15 data now available from the UK Data Service
The latest wave of data from Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study is now available from the UK Data Service. Wave 15 gives a rich overview of life in the UK, including new content on families and the environment. You can access the full release via our data catalogue. What is Understanding Society? Understanding Society […]
Who makes us special?
Our podcast series, The Experts’ Expert, showcases some of the unique work we do to enable evidence-led research for public benefit.
