Official statistics

Nowadays, statistical information is an important part of our lives in politics, the economy and science and even in our everyday lives. Official statistics have to meet the growing demands of an ever-growing number of users. The need for quantitatively precise information continues to grow and the use of statistical analysis is widespread. Official statistics have to supply customised information rapidly to facilitate decision making.

Official statistics have limited resources. Consequently, they have to make the best use of cutting-edge technology, to constantly improve data collection and dissemination methods and to forge new partnerships. In particular, they have to develop online communication for surveys and the dissemination of information, to modernise administrative processes in order to automatically collect data from registers and administrative data and, lastly, to strengthen cooperation with its partners within and outside the government administration.

In today's globalised world, the appeal of statistics is to be able to compare figures with one another. This means that the definitions and methods used for the production of statistics have to be standardised. This standardisation is only possible if the producers of statistics work as part of a network, both at national and international level. The creation of a network involving all parties also enables an efficient production of statistics through the optimal use of available resources .