We are constantly bombarded by statistical indicators, from weather reports to election results and stock market trends. Many of these indicators govern our lives. This book demystifies the scientific or pseudo-scientific aura that surrounds indicators and shows how they can be usefully applied for practical purposes. It explains in simple terms what indicators are, how they are developed from statistics with special objectives in mind, and the ways in which they should be interpreted. The book covers a wide range of disciplines within the social sciences, from economics, health, and education, to a more specialised discussion of culture, human rights and peace research. No other book on indicators is as comprehensive or as clear in its explanations of general theory and techniques.