University community programs has shown us that there is a lack of knowledge about the methodology and day-by-day work in the public sector planning activities in São Paulo's cities. The problems already begin when one is up to get the data for the social and demographic diagnosis. This pape r presents some ofthe main sources of social and demographic indicators for public sector planning - census, Pnad, Rais and others surveys and administrative records - showing their characteristics, limitations and specially, their inexplored analitical potential.Desconhecimento da metodologia e da prática no processo de formulação de políticas públicas. Relação das principais fontes de indicadores sociais e demográficos para planejamento no setor público.