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The data provided in these tables are accompanied by definitions, sources and explanations of symbols. Tables derived from so many sources -- 12 major sources are listed in the explanatory material -- will inevitably cover a wide range of data quality. Official government data received by the responsible United Nations agency have been used whenever possible. In the many cases where there are no reliable official figures, estimates made by the responsible United Nations agency have been used. Where such internationally standardized estimates do not exist, the tables draw on other sources, particularly data received from the appropriate UNICEF field office. Where possible, only comprehensive or representative national data have been used.

Data quality is likely to be adversely affected for countries that have recently suffered from man-made or natural disasters. This is particularly so where basic country infrastructure has been fragmented or major population movements have occurred.

Data for life expectancy, crude birth and death rates, infant mortality rates, etc. are part of the regular work on estimates and projections undertaken by the United Nations Population Division. These and other internationally produced estimates are revised periodically, which explains why some of the data will differ from those found in earlier UNICEF publications.

Data for ORT use are undergoing review at WHO and UNICEF, so -- with few exceptions -- data appearing in Table 3 of The State of the World's Children 1995 have been repeated this year.