How We Source Our Numbers
Every figure on this site is traceable. This page explains where the numbers come from and what they do and do not measure.
The rule
If an article contains a percentage, a dollar amount, or a count, that article carries a
sources list in its metadata, and every source has a public URL. If we could not
find a source, we did not use the number — we wrote "almost nothing", "a few dollars" or "an
afternoon" instead.
Primary source: World Bank Open Data
Most of our national comparisons come from World Bank Open Data, which publishes internationally comparable indicators with a cited year. The indicators we use most:
| Indicator | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Gross savings (% of GDP) | National saving, not household saving |
| Household consumption (% of GDP) | Private consumption as a share of output |
| Urban population (%) | Share living in urban areas |
| Population ages 65+ (%) | Age structure |
| Electricity use (kWh per capita) | Average consumption, not a household's bill |
| Cereal yield (kg per hectare) | Agricultural productivity |
What these numbers are not
A national average is not a household. "Gross savings" is an economy-wide measure and says nothing directly about what one family puts aside. "Electricity use per capita" counts industry as well as homes. We use these figures to describe a setting, not to infer a particular kitchen.
Prices
Where we quote a price, it is a range for a typical city in a stated year, and we label it as an editorial estimate. Prices vary by city, season and vendor. Check the current figure before you rely on it.
Health content
For traditional practices, we cite the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health where a page exists. We describe what a practice is and what it is claimed to do, we distinguish comfort from treatment, and we never state that a traditional practice treats a disease.
Corrections
If a number is wrong or out of date, write to corrections@wisecashguide.com and we will fix it.