(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The United Nations marks World Statistics Day on October 20 each year, underscoring the vital role that accurate statistics and reliable data play in accelerating global progress and shaping the future. Since its inception, statistics have formed the backbone of international efforts to address global challenges - from maintaining peace and promoting sustainable development to combating climate change and improving public health.
The global statistical community - comprising national and international statistical agencies - stands as a model of international cooperation, bringing together experts from around the world to emphasize the centrality of data-driven policymaking.
Accurate data enable governments, institutions, and individuals to understand societal complexities, identify priorities, and make informed decisions that advance development goals. The United Nations affirms that evidence-based knowledge is the cornerstone of sound policy formulation and measurable results.
Governments and organizations rely on statistical data to assess conditions in fields such as the economy, health, education, and population. Reliable data help identify actual needs, guide the allocation of financial and human resources, and increase the effectiveness of development planning. Without accurate data, planning becomes guesswork and progress uncertain.
Statistics also enhance transparency and accountability by enabling performance monitoring and measuring progress toward national and global development goals. They provide tools to evaluate success, detect shortcomings, and make timely adjustments to ensure that goals remain on track.
Experts stress that statistics are crucial for tracking progress on key priorities such as reducing poverty, improving education quality, and strengthening infrastructure. They enhance public trust by providing clear and transparent information, reinforcing accountability, and enabling citizens and the international community to evaluate performance objectively.
Reliable statistics are also indispensable to scientific research, which drives innovation and helps develop effective solutions to complex challenges in health, agriculture, industry, and the environment. In the face of global crises - such as climate change, pandemics, and poverty - the exchange of accurate data remains essential for coordinating international efforts and formulating effective global strategies.
Statistical data likewise underpin key sectors of development. Economic data support market analysis, fiscal and monetary policy formulation, and job creation strategies. In health, data help monitor disease patterns, plan vaccination campaigns, and improve medical services. In education, they guide efforts to raise achievement levels and target support to the most vulnerable groups. Socially, statistics are instrumental in identifying inequalities and directing programs that promote justice, equality, and poverty reduction.
The State of Qatar attaches great importance to the role of statistics in supporting national development and building institutional capacity. In this context, the Statistical Training and Data Center of the National Planning Council (NPC), in cooperation with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, organized in September a specialized training program titled "Economic Statistics for Managers: From Data to Decisions."
The initiative forms part of a broader series of programs implemented by the Center to strengthen national competencies and enable government leaders in economic sectors to utilize data and statistics effectively in policymaking.
At the conclusion of the program, Hessa Ali Al Maliki, Director of the Statistical Training and Data Center, affirmed that the initiative represents a key step toward enhancing the capabilities of national leaders in the field of economic statistics and data. She noted that the Center is committed to applying international best practices and creating a practical learning environment that supports skills development and raises efficiency at the national level, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy.
In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Alanoud Ali Al Maadid, Head of the Department of Finance and Economics at Qatar University, emphasized that statistics serve as a fundamental tool of development, as accurate data guide policy formulation, resource allocation, and the prioritization of national goals. She explained that evidence-based data enable the measurement of progress and the adjustment of policies in an objective and transparent manner.
Dr. Al Maadid pointed out that the absence of reliable statistics in areas such as infrastructure, economy, and trade often results in decisions based on intuition rather than evidence, leading to wasted resources, misdirected projects, and weak evaluation of growth and employment indicators. She added that investor confidence tends to decline when access to credible information is limited.
She also highlighted the importance of statistical data in mitigating natural risks and climate-related events, including earthquakes, heavy rainfall, floods, and rising temperatures. Historical and climate data, she noted, help identify natural patterns, develop risk maps, design early warning systems, and adopt more resilient building codes. Accurate data are equally essential in post-disaster response, facilitating effective relief operations, damage assessment, and reconstruction planning.
Regarding the institutions responsible for statistical operations, Dr. Al Maadid stated that national statistical agencies remain the main source of official data. She underlined the importance of professionalism, independence, transparency, and confidentiality, along with the adoption of standardized classifications and methodologies that ensure comparability. She affirmed that reliable statistics constitute the foundation for sound public policies and sustainable development in Qatar.
Dr. Al Maadid added that international cooperation plays a significant role in promoting the exchange of data and expertise, harmonizing methodologies, and improving the accuracy of global comparisons, thereby enhancing the quality of indicators and supporting evidence-based policymaking.
She noted that despite the growing importance of statistics, several challenges persist, including shortages of qualified personnel, limited funding, restricted data access, and low response rates in some field surveys. She called for continued investment in technological infrastructure, greater utilization of big data with privacy safeguards, and the reinforcement of professional independence to ensure data quality and credibility.
Experts around the world share similar views, emphasizing that the lack of financial and technical resources, weak institutional capacities, and inconsistent data standards in some regions hinder the availability of reliable statistics. They agree that trustworthy data form the backbone of any successful development process, transforming national visions into actionable plans that enhance well-being and drive sustainable progress. Strengthening statistical systems, enhancing institutional capabilities, and ensuring the reliability of data remain essential pillars for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.

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