Abstract

Is there a quantitative relationship between democracy and official statistics? What are the National Statistics Offices (NSOs)? Why does the NSO exist? What is its role? Why do the NSO disseminate their statistics free of charge? How can a democratic country organize an election without official statistics? How close are the NSO staff close to politicians? What qualifications do NSO staff possess? In a world increasingly shaped by data, the importance of official statistics often remains in the shadows, even within NSOs. Yet, these statistics (like employment rates, gross domestic product and pandemic data) are the lifeblood of democracy, influencing policymaking, media narratives and electoral choices. In this work, the vital nexus between official statistics and democracy is highlighted by quantitative data and historical prospective. The correlation between democracy and official statistics is high, and there is good country performance of statistical systems that are more likely in a democratic country. I found out that the correlation between democracy and official statistics is seventy per cent. NSOs’ responsibility should be high and abuse should not be tolerated. This paper not only underscores the global significance of official statistics, but also aligns with the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and the Sustainable Development Goals.