Central Statistics Office (CSO)

http://statsmauritius.gov.mu

The CSO falls under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. It is responsible for all statistical activities, with a few exceptions like fisheries and health statistics which fall under the responsibility of the respective Ministry, and banking and balance of payment statistics for which the Bank of Mauritius is responsible.

The Office has decentralised its activities through the creation of Statistical Units in many government ministries. These Units are staffed by officers on the establishment of the CSO but directly servicing their respective ministries in all statistical matters. There are some 50 officers of the office posted in various Ministries/Departments.

Gradually increasing to meet the growing and diversifying demand for official statistics over the years, the technical staff has now reached about 213 as follows:

1 Director of Statistics

3 Deputy Directors

5 Principal Statisticians

5 Senior Statisticians

34 Statisticians

43 Senior Statistical Officers

122 Statistical Officers

Besides staff of the Statistical Cadre, the Office has a pool of administrative staff who provide the necessary supporting services.

The Statistics Advisory Council shall set up priorities and programmes of work to be adopted by the Central Statistics Office.

o General organisation of a consolidated scheme of social/economic statistics

o Coordinating and monitoring statistical activities in government and statutory bodies

o Conduct of national censuses and surveys

o Regular publication of Economic and Social Indicators, various statistical digests and adhoc statistical reports

o Participation in international conferences/seminars/meetings

The "Central Statistical Office" (CSO) was created in July 1945, in consequence of a recommendation made by the "Commission of Enquiry into the disturbances which occurred in the North of Mauritius in 1943". The primary function of the Office was to collect, improve, co-ordinate and analyse statistical information regarding every branch of the economic activity of the country.

Following the introduction of the Statistics Act 2000, the Office is now known as the "Central Statistics Office". The scope of its activities has gradually been extended to cover a large range of statistical activities.

The overall framework governing the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics is embodied in the Statistics Act which was first passed on the 7 April 1951. This Act was repealed on 2 April 2001 and replaced by the Statistics Act 2000, proclaimed on 2 April 2001. The new Act is posted on CSO's website http://statsmauritius.gov.mu. Section 5 of this Act empowers the Director of Statistics to, inter alia,

o take any Census in Mauritius;

o collect, compile, analyse, abstract, publish and otherwise disseminate statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, financial, agricultural, social, demographic, economic activities and general conditions of the people of Mauritius;

o co-ordinate and monitor statistical activities in all Ministries and Government Departments, local authorities and statutory bodies;

o collaborate with Ministries and Government Departments in the collection, compilation, analysis, publication and dissemination of statistical information including statistics derived from the activities of those Ministries and departments;

o organise a co-ordinated scheme of social and economic statistics, and statistics of sustainable development relating to Mauritius;

o ensure the independence, accuracy, relevance, integrity, timeliness and professional standard of statistical information produced by the Central Statistics Office;

o ensure the security and confidentiality of information collected under this Act;

o cause the statistics collected under this Act to be compiled, tabulated and analysed and, subject to this Act, cause the statistics or abstracts of them to be published and disseminated, with or without observations thereon, in such manner and by such media as he may determine.

The Act gives the Director of Statistics the sole responsibility for deciding the procedure and method to employ in the provision of, and the extent, form, and timing of dissemination of any statistics produced by the CSO.

The Statistics Act puts an obligation on respondents to furnish information required by the CSO. In fact Section 15 of the Act stipulates, inter alia, that any person who

o hinders or obstructs an authorised officer in the execution of any powers under the Act,

o refuses to fill up and supply the particulars required in any return, form or other document, lawfully left with or sent to him

o knowingly makes any statement which is untrue shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 20,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

- Health Statistics; are collected, compiled and published by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. An annual digest covering population and vital statistics, morbidity and mortality, health infrastructure, sanitation and food hygiene, etc. is published by the Ministry.

- Balance of Payments and Monetary Statistics. The Bank of Mauritius is responsible for the compilation of the balance of payments and monetary statistics. It also produces a wide range of money and banking statistics such as reserve money, monetary ratios, circulation of money, commercial banks' assets and liabilities, etc. All these statistics are published in the Monthly Bulletin and the Annual Report of the Bank.

- Fisheries statistics. Fisheries statistics are collected and compiled by the Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC) of the Ministry of Fisheries. Data on marine resources, aquaculture, marine sciences, marine parks & reserves, and fisheries protection service are published in an annual report.

The Statistics Act 2000 provides for the establishment of a Statistics Advisory Council. The functions of the Council are to advise the Minister with regard to -

i. the improvement, extension, co-ordination and harmonisation of statistical activities in Mauritius;

ii. any gaps and deficiencies in the provision of statistical services in Mauritius;

iii. the actual and perceived integrity of, and public confidence and trust in, statistics produced in Mauritius;


iv. the setting up of priorities and programmes of work to be adopted by the Central Statistics Office;

v. the promotion of an environment which is supportive of the collection, production, dissemination and use of statistics;

vi. the maintenance of confidentiality and security of individual information;

vii. the maintenance of independence, accuracy, relevance, integrity, timeliness and professional standard of statistical information produced in Mauritius;

viii. any matter referred to it by the Minister relating to statistical activities and provision of statistical services in Mauritius.

The Council comprises members with experience in statistical matters, broadly representative of groups or interests concerned with the production and use of statistics, including Ministries and Government Departments, employers, labour unions, specialists in information technology, economic, financial and banking interests, social interests, users and producers of statistics, academia and consumer organisations.

2 July 2000

The main sources used by CSO to obtain information for the compilation of official statistics consist of (i) censuses, (ii) sample surveys and (iii) administrative records.

As a result of their routine administrative activities, most government ministries and departments generate various types of information that can be used as primary sources for statistics, depending on their relevance, consistency, coverage, completeness and accuracy. The main organisations whose record systems are exploited routinely to yield substantial statistical outputs are:

o Mauritius Revenue Authority (trade, income tax and VAT statistics)

o Central Civil Status Division of the Prime Minister's Office (vital statistics)

o Passport and Immigration Office (statistics of international travel and tourism)

o Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity & Senior Citizen Welfare and Reform Institutions (pension contributions and benefits)

o National Transport Authority and Traffic Management Unit (road transport statistics)

o Ministry of Education (education statistics)

o Ministry of Local Government (licensing statistics)

o Ministry of Finance (Government Finance statistics)

o Judicial department (judicial activities)

The Statistics Act 2000 makes provision to ensure confidentiality of information supplied by respondents. Any officer who, without lawful authority publishes or communicates to any person otherwise than in the ordinary course of his employment any information acquired by him in the course of his employment shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 50,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

The CSO does not publish any individual return or part of it. Besides, no report, abstract or other document, containing particulars comprised in the return or answer so arranged as to enable identification of the particulars with any person, undertaking or business, shall be published, admitted in evidence or disclosed to any Ministry or Government Department unless the previous consent in writing has been obtained from the person making the return or giving the answer.

Posted at the beginning of each year on website at http://statsmauritius.gov.mu

List of Economic and Social Indicators
(Topic & Frequency of Publication)

Agricultural and Fish Production: Bi-Annual

Business Activity Statistics: Annual

Construction Price Index: Quarterly

Consumer Price Index: Quarterly

Continuous Multipurpose Household Survey: Main Results Annual

Crime Statistics (Police Department): Annual

Education Statistics: Annual

Energy and Water Statistics: Annual

Environment Statistics: Annual

Export Processing Zone: Quarterly

External Trade: Quarterly

Import & Export Price Indices: Quarterly

International Travel & Tourism: Quarterly

Labour Force,Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly

National Accounts Estimates: Quarterly

Population & Vital Statistics: Bi-Annual

Producer Price Index - Manufacturing: Quarterly

Producer Price Index - Agriculture: Quarterly

Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators: Bi-Annual

Quarterly Index of Industrial Production (QIIP): Quarterly

Quarterly National Accounts: Quarterly

Road Transport and Road Traffic Accident Statistics
(Island of Mauritius): Bi-Annual

Social Security Statistics: Annual

Survey of Employment and Earnings in Large
Establishments: Annual

Wage Rate Index: Annual

List of Reports

A. Regular Reports

1. Annual Digest of Statistics

2. Business Activity Statistics

3. Digest of Agricultural Statistics

4. Digest of Crime, Justice and Security Statistics

5. Digest of Demographic Statistics

6. Digest of Educational Statistics

7. Digest of Energy and Water Statistics

8. Digest of Environment Statistics

9. Digest of External Trade Statistics (formerly External Trade Statistics)

10. Digest of Industrial Statistics

11. Digest of International Travel and Tourism Statistics (formerly International Travel and Tourism Statistics)

12. Digest of Labour Statistics (formerly: Bi-annual Survey of Employment and Earnings in large Establishments)

13. Digest of Productivity and Competitiveness Statistics (formerly Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators)

14. Digest of Public Finance Statistics

15. Digest of Road Transport and Road Accidents Statistics (formerly Road Transport and Road Accidents Statistics)

16. Digest of Social Security Statistics

17. Digest of Statistics on Rodrigues (formerly Abstract of Statistical data on Rodrigues)

18. Mauritius in Figures (pocket size)

19. National Accounts of Mauritius


B. Occasional Reports

1. 2000 Housing and Population Census
(a) Results
Vol. I Housing and Living Conditions
Vol. II Demographic and Fertility Characteristics
Vol. III Economic Characteristics
Vol.IV Educational Characteristics
Vol. V Household Characteristics
Vol. VI Geographical and Migration Characteristics
Vol.VII Disability Characteristics

(b) Analysis Reports
Vol. I Census Methodology
Vol. II Housing and Household Characteristics
Vol. III Population Data Evaluation and Projections
Vol.IV Population Distribution and Migration
Vol. V Disability
Vol. VI Health and Quality of Life, Morbidity and Mortality
Vol.VII Education: Characteristics, Prospects and Implications
Vol.VIII Economic Activity Characteristics
Vol.IX Nuptiality and Fertility
Vol.X Population Ageing and the Elderly

2. Household Budget Survey 2001/02 & The Updated Consumer Price Index,Methodological Report
Household Budget Survey 2001/02, Analytical Report

3. Census of Economic Activities: 2002
Vol. I Small Establishments - Methodological Report
Vol. II Small Establishments - Analytical Report
Large Establishments - Analytical Report

4. Labour Force Sample Survey 1995

5. A Guide to the Central Statistics Office


The CSO also disseminates data solely on its website through the following

1. Monthly trade statistics
2. Monthly Consumer Price index
3. Monthly Social Security Statistics
4. a “dashboard” which contains a selection of main statistics produced by the Office, the Bank of Mauritius and the Stock of Exchange of Mauritius, is updated monthly
5. MDGs database
6. Quarterly wage rate index

English

Paper, CD-rom, website.

1. The Statistics Act 2000 permits the Director of Statistics to disclose information from Censuses and Surveys in the form of individual statistical records provided that all identifying information such as name and address has been removed and the information is not likely to enable the identification of any particular person or undertaking or business to which it relates.

2. Any person/organization willing to acquire raw data from Censuses/Surveys should make an official request for the data stating clearly the purpose of study and the items of interest.

3. The Director of Statistics will examine the request, and if found to be compliant with the provisions of the Statistics Act 2000, will seek the approval of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.

4. Once approval is obtained, the person/organisation making the request is required to:

(a) make a declaration of secrecy before a Magistrate or the Director of Statistics.
(b) sign an agreement that he/the organization will comply with the provisions of the Statistics Act 2000.
(c) call at the office to complete all necessary procedures.

5. Every person/organization to whom any statistical records are disclosed shall:

(a) not attempt to identify any particular person or undertaking or business;
(b) use the information for research or statistical purposes only;
(c) not disclose the information to any other person or organization not associated with the research or statistical work being undertaken.
(d) maintain a register of all persons who have access to the information; ensure that such persons agree to comply with the Statistics Act 2000 and provide a copy of this register to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on request;
(e) not copy in whole or in part, any of the information, provided that this restriction shall not apply to that part where it is necessary to make copies for research or statistical purpose;
(f) deposit with the CSO two copies of any work based on the information;
(g) not use the information in the pursuit of any commercial or income generating venture;
(h) when required by the Director of Statistics, return to the CSO the information and all copies of the information (if any) and
(i) comply with any decisions given by the Director of Statistics relating to the information.