News 2026

In recent years, the data landscape has evolved rapidly, creating for National Statistical Offices (NSOs) both significant opportunities for innovation and important challenges in maintaining data quality and reliability. In response to these developments, the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and the Ministry of Data And Statistics (MODS) are organizing a Regional Training on Data Science for Official Statistics, recognizing both the opportunities and the challenges associated with integrating Data Science methods and tools into NSO processes. 

The training aims to strengthen the capacity of heads of National Statistics Offices to lead their own organisations and position them in the larger data ecosystem. This training session follows similar sessions run successfully by PARIS21 and SIAP in the region. 

The United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Unit and the Secretariat for the Pacific Community, are organizing an Energy Statistics Training Workshop for Pacific SIDS. The Workshop will be held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 29 April – 1 May 2026.

National statistical systems are increasingly using administrative data to compile official statistics. Such data can be utilized to better meet the increasing demands for new statistics and indicators that are highly disaggregated. Administrative data is not collected for the primary purpose of compiling official statistics, and statisticians need to ensure that the data meets certain criteria before using it to produce official statistics.

The 2025 System of National Accounts (2025 SNA) and Balance of Payments and Integrated Investment Position Manual, 7th edition (BPM7) provide more visibility to digital activities, products and transactions in macroeconomic accounts given its tremendous impact on production, consumption, prices, trade, labour, and other aspects of the economy. Measurement issues associated with digitalization are elaborated in the 2025 SNA and BPM7, as well as in the accompanying guidance notes and manuals.

Identifying and responding to the needs of users for data and statistics is at the heart of the mission of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and national statistical systems. NSOs already undertake many activities interacting with different users such as preparing press releases to aid journalists and communicate with the public at large and organizing launch events/workshops to disseminate important results from surveys and censuses. In general, the NSO interacts with users towards the tail end of the statistical production process when the data is disseminated.