Foreword

The Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS), adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1994 and endorsed by the General Assembly in 2014, provide the global foundation for ensuring the independence, integrity, and accountability of official statistics. These Principles remain essential for building and maintaining public trust in data, especially as national statistical systems respond to growing and increasingly complex data needs.

National statistical systems today operate in a dynamic environment shaped by rapid technological advancement and the proliferation of new data sources. Upholding the FPOS is critical to ensure official statistics remain credible, relevant, and responsive to society’s evolving information demands. In recognition of the importance of supportive institutional environments, the Statistical Commission endorsed the development of implementation guidelines aimed at both policymakers and producers of official statistics.

These Guidelines for Producers of Official Statistics provide practical recommendations to enhance production, dissemination, and governance of official statistics in adherence to the FPOS. They offer guidance on upholding professional independence, ensuring data quality and methodological rigor, strengthening coordination within the NSS, and integrating innovative data sources while maintaining confidentiality, transparency, and ethical standards. By promoting adherence to these Principles, producers of official statistics contribute to a resilient, trusted, and adaptive statistical system that supports evidence-based decision-making across government, business, and society.

We extend our gratitude to Ms. Margarita F. Guerrero, Consultant and former Director of SIAP and the ESCAP Statistics Division, for her leadership in preparing these Guidelines. We also acknowledge the valuable contributions of regional commissions, international organizations, and national statistical authorities, whose active participation significantly shaped the content. Lastly, we express our sincere appreciation to the Expert Group on National Quality Assurance Frameworks, whose engagement was instrumental in ensuring that these Guidelines align with the United Nations National Quality Assurance Frameworks (NQAF).

The Guidelines for Producers of Official Statistics are intended to be a living document. As official statistics evolve in response to changing demands and constant challenges in the data landscape, the Guidelines will be periodically updated to reflect best practices and experiences across the global statistical community. The FPOS Consultative Advisory Board, established during the fifty-sixth session of the Statistical Commission when the Guidelines were also endorsed, will be responsible for their regular review and continued refinement to ensure their ongoing relevance. An e-learning (🔗) based on the content of the Guidelines has also been developed in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to facilitate broader understanding and practical application by producers of official statistics.

Director
Statistics Division
Department of Economic and Social Affairs