“Administrative data” refers to information collected primarily for administrative (not research) purposes, usually by governments, institutions, or organizations. It’s often gathered as part of routine processes like registration, service delivery, or record-keeping.

Examples of administrative data: Health sector: Hospital admissions, discharge records, billing data. Education: Enrollment records, test scores, attendance. Social services: Welfare payments, unemployment benefits, housing assistance. Tax and employment: Income tax records, employment history. Key features: Collected continuously or regularly Usually large-scale and longitudinal Not originally intended for research, but very useful for it Common uses: Policy evaluation Statistical analysis Planning and resource allocation Academic research