On the occasion of the 4th World Statistics Day on October 20, 2025, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) celebrates the transformative power of data to drive progress, equity, and accountability across the world. The theme, “Driving Change with Quality Statistics and Data for Everyone,” emphasizes that the real value of data lies in how effectively it is used to improve lives.
Accessible, understandable, and actionable data empower everyone, from policymakers to citizens, to make informed decisions that support sustainable development.
“High-quality data are the cornerstone of sound policy and sustainable development. They enable governments and communities to make decisions grounded in evidence, transparency, and shared accountability” said Svein Osttveit, UIS Director.
UNESCO has long recognized the central role of statistics in global development. In 1946, just a year after its founding, UNESCO established an international statistical service on education, and by 1950, launched its first global survey of education statistics. Today, this legacy continues through the work of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), the official source of internationally comparable data in education, science, culture, and communication.
Data quality is central to this mission. Without high-quality data, decision-making is compromised, and the potential of data to drive positive change is diminished. That’s why the UIS places such importance on strengthening statistical systems and promoting standards that ensure data are accurate, consistent, and accessible. As we mark World Statistics Day, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to this goal and calls on all stakeholders to invest in robust data systems, foster collaboration, and promote the use of statistics for transformative change.
Through the UIS Data Browser, the UIS provides accessible, high-quality data for everyone, supporting evidence-based policies and actions. It also works closely with national statistical offices and ministries of culture, offering conceptual tools, guidance, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen national statistical systems.
On World Statistics Day, and every day, let us continue to harness the power of quality data to transform education, protect culture, advance science, and build a more just and sustainable world.
Read a message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Statistics Day.