About the Business Statistics Programme
Business statistics provide information on the structure, economic activity and dynamic performance of businesses. With the increasing globalization and digitalization of our economies, users are demanding broader measures of business characteristics and economic performance linking the economy to society and to the environment.
The Business Statistics Programme of the United Nations Statistics Division adopts a broad and integrated approach to business statistics in order to meet these new challenges and respond to policy and users needs with regard to business dynamics, demography and entrepreneurship statistics, globalization, digitalization, well-being and sustainability, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. An integrated approach to business and trade statistics means that their compilation is, to the largest extent possible, integrated and harmonized with economic, socio-demographic, environment and multi-domain statistics. The Business Statistics Programme covers the development of methodological guidance and best practices, the development of global databases, capacity building in business statistics and coordination with relevant stakeholders.
Methodology
The United Nations Statistics Division develops standards and methodologies to support national statistical authorities and other producers of statistical data in the collection, compilation, and dissemination of business statistics. These efforts are carried out in collaboration with countries, international organizations, and the United Nations Committee of Experts on Business and Trade Statistics, under the approval of the United Nations Statistical Commission.
UNSD's work in business statistics aims to enhance the quality, comparability, and accessibility of business statistics, ensuring they effectively capture economic activity, structural changes, and global business dynamics.
International Coordination
UNSD works with the UN Regional Commissions, international organizations and relevant experts groups in the area of business statistics. UNSD also serves as a secretariat of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Business and Trade Statistics (UNCEBTS) and is an active member of the Wiesbaden Group on Statistical Business Registers.
Capacity Development
Under the guidance of UNCEBTS, UNSD works with regional and national partners in delivering a series of capacity development projects in various forms, including webinars, workshops, etc. These projects are designed to promote the development of statistical business registers (SBRs), to introduce the output of the UNCEBTS to all countries, and to provide a platform for sharing best country practices in using SBRs to produce timely business statistics.
- Regional Workshop on Statistical Business Registers and Industrial Classifications, Amman, Jordan 25-27 June 2024
- Regional Course on Statistical Business Registers, Chiba, Japan, 11-14 March 2024
- Webinar series on the Global Initiative on Unique Identifiers for Businesses
- Webinars on Indicators on business performance related to well-being and sustainability (26 April, 31 May & 13 September)
Data
UNSD, in collaboration with other international organizations, currently collects and disseminates information on national and global statistical business registers (SBRs), including the Multinational Enterprise Information Platform (MEIP) and the Country Progress Report (CPR). These information provides a summary of current status of SBR implementation across the globe and offers valuable insights into global economic activity and enterprise structure. Future work programme may include the collection and dissemination of a broad array of business statistics to support the analysis of business trends, economic performance, and the advancement of statistical systems.
- Multinational Enterprise Information Platform
- Country Progress Report on Statistical Business Registers
Publications on Business Statistics
Topics
Events and Workshops
- Global Assessment on Statistical Business Registers 2025
- Global Assessment on the Use of Unique Identifiers for Businesses
- Regional course on Statistical Business Registers (Japan, March 2024)
- Regional Workshop on Statistical Business Registers and Industrial Classifications (Jordan, June 2024)
