TEHRAN – World Statistics Day 2025, celebrated every year on October 20, highlights the critical role of reliable data in global progress.
Statistics are fundamental not only to the work of the United Nations, but also to addressing global challenges such as peacekeeping, sustainable development, climate change, and public health.
The global statistical community is the epitome of international cooperation, bringing together experts from all regions to establish standards, share methodologies, and ensure accurate and timely data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Reliable statistics enable policymakers, businesses and the public to navigate complexity and make informed decisions, uncover important issues and drive meaningful change.
Reliable data supports effective policymaking, economic planning, and social development, especially in today’s complex world. Trust in statistical systems fosters transparency and ethical use of data, and collaboration across countries and experts fosters innovation and best practice.
Equally important is building data literacy within the community and making statistics accessible and understandable to everyone. This empowerment helps bridge the gap between data producers and users, promoting inclusivity and better policy outcomes. Evolving technology and new tools continue to expand the possibilities for data collection, analysis, and visualization, providing new opportunities to advance sustainable development and social equity around the world.
In 2010, the General Assembly designated 20 October as the first-ever World Statistics Day, under the general theme “Celebrating the many achievements of official statistics”, recognizing that the production of reliable and timely statistics and indicators of countries’ progress is essential for informed policy-making and monitoring of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
The General Assembly decided to designate 20 October 2015 as the second World Statistics Day and to celebrate 20 October every five years as World Statistics Day, with the general theme “Better Data, Better Lives”.
This year, the day will be held under the theme ‘Driving change through quality statistics and data for all’, emphasizing that access to quality data is a right for all citizens and a cornerstone of effective governance.