<Dl> <Dd> Look up statistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> Look up statistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary . </Dd> <P> The term statistics is ultimately derived from the New Latin statisticum collegium ("council of state") and the Italian word statista ("statesman" or "politician"). The German Statistik, first introduced by Gottfried Achenwall (1749), originally designated the analysis of data about the state, signifying the "science of state" (then called political arithmetic in English). It acquired the meaning of the collection and classification of data generally in the early 19th century . It was introduced into English in 1791 by Sir John Sinclair when he published the first of 21 volumes titled Statistical Account of Scotland . </P> <P> Thus, the original principal purpose of Statistik was data to be used by governmental and (often centralized) administrative bodies . The collection of data about states and localities continues, largely through national and international statistical services . In particular, censuses provide frequently updated information about the population . </P>

Why is the word statistics rooted in the latin for state