PURPOSE: The World Statistics Day is an international day to celebrate statistics. Created by the United Nations Statistical Commission, it was first celebrated on 20 October 2010. The day is celebrated every five year ana theme is chosen to raise awareness of the importance of statistics in all aspects of social and economic life among decision-makers, technical and fi­nancial partners, data producers, researchers, and the general public; to modernize national statistical systems to provide data and statistics to support efforts in sustainability and to Highlight the critical importance of governance and socioeconomic statistics.

FORUM: ’’Data for the SDGs.’’ World Statistics Day 2023. The United Nations Statistics Division is committed to the advancement of the global statistical system. We compile and disseminate global statistical information, develop standards and norms for statistical activities, and support countries' efforts to strengthen their national statistical systems. We facilitate the coordination of international statistical activities and support the functioning of the United Nations Statistical Commission as the apex entity of the global statistical system. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #20october, #Data4SDGs, #Statistics, #PowerOfData,  #GlobalGoals, #CitizenData.

EVENTS: The United Nations Statistical Division on October 20th will mark the World Statistics Day 2023. The United Nations World Data Forum 2023 was held on April 24-27 in Hangzhou, China to relate new developments on national data statistics. Population and housing census is one of the primary sources of data needed for formulating, implementing and monitoring policies and programmes aimed at inclusive socio-economic development. Over the past decades, methods adopted for the collection of population data have significantly evolved taking advantage of new data sources and technologies. The Thematic Area 1 of the UN World Data Forum 2023 covers exchanges of innovative experience in conducting census. While census technologies have to be based on national contexts, leveraging multiple data sources existing and rapidly developing information technology is a common direction for all. The Thematic Area 2 of the UN World Data Forum 2023 covers Migration statistics. Governments need more socio-economic data on forced displacement – here are three ways data innovation can help. As the number of people around the world forced to flee their homes exceeds 100 million, the need for data to underpin effective responses has never been more urgent. However, the transition from situational assessments to high quality socioeconomic microdata on forced displacement produced by national statistical offices will take time. In the interim, can innovative approaches accelerate and enhance the generation and use of socio-economic data on forced displacement to inform effective action? The consensus at a workshop held recently in the City in Copenhagen was ‘yes, it can’, and the most fruitful opportunities identified were rooted in complementing and reinforcing traditional approaches. Convened by the World Bank-UNHCR Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement, the workshop brought together 70 specialists from 20 international organizations, governments, and universities, to collectively brainstorm and chart ways forward. Through bringing people together on better data for sustainable development and innovation and partnerships for more inclusive data, the UN World Data Forum fosters a community that is well-placed to enhance and act on these insights. The UN World Data Forum 2023 not only convened directly relevant conversations, for example, Leaving no-one behind in official statistics: Inclusion of forcibly displaced in national surveys (TA1.18) and Diverse partnerships for inclusive data on migration (TA1.14), but also brought together teams working with innovative methods and data sources with relevant translational potential, for example, insights from the Data for Now Initiative (TA1.03) and Integrating population, displacement and geospatial data in humanitarian emergencies (TA1.07). We are sharing our findings here to invite discussion with the UN World Data Forum community to further develop these ideas into concrete plans for collaborative action A quick snapshot of the United Nations World Data Forum 2023 can be viewed here.

CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS: Be prepared for what is is coming; Get the calendar of UNSD Meetings and events!