A LITTLE HISTORY OF STATISTICS
The word statistics originatinates from the New Latin phrase statisticum collegium as well as the Italian word statista. The German Statistik, primarily brought about by Gottfried Achenwall in 1749, initially nominated the analysis of data on the state, representing the "science of state" (then named political arithmetic in English). It took the meaning of the grouping and cataloguing of data in general at the start of the 19th century. Sir John Sinclair establish it into the English language.
Therefore, the initial foremost function of Statistik was data to be used by governmental and administrative personnel. The compilation of data on states and localities goes on today, mostly via national and international statistics services. Especially, censuses offer frequent information on the population.