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? 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. 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.