Household sample surveys are a key source of statistics in many countries. The United Nations Statistics Division has been involved in promoting household surveys through the production of methodological publications and encouraging integrated household survey programmes.

For example between 1981 and 1995 a National Household Survey Capability Programme (NHCP) was promoted to help interested developing countries obtain through household surveys and in conjunction with data from censuses and administrative records a continuous flow of integrated statistics on a wide range of subjects needed for policy formulation, planning and programme evaluation.

The United Nations Statistics Division is in the process of producing two handbooks on household sample surveys. The first, Household Sample Surveys in Developing and Transition Countries, presents the "state of the art" of several of the most important aspects of household surveys in developing and transition countries. These include sample design, survey implementation, non-sampling errors, survey costs, and analysis of survey data. The second, Designing Samples for Household Surveys: Practical Guidelines, will provide, once finalized, an important practical and hands on reference tool for statisticians and other experts involved in designing and implementing multi-stage household sample surveys.