Country Profile of Belarus
Main statistical agency
Main statistical agency name
National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus
Web address
www.belstat.gov.by
Position in the government
The National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat) is a republican government authority in the field of state statistics pursuing the state policy in the field of state statistics, and excercising regulation and administration, as well as coordination of activities of other government agencies and other organizations in this field.
Belstat is governed by the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, laws of the Republic of Belarus, acts of the President of the Republic of Belarus, other normative legal acts, and is independent in carrying out state statistical activities.
Belstat is a government agency holding the rights of a legal person and is directly subordinate to the President of the Republic of Belarus.
Organizational structure and finance
The system of Belstat comprises the central office of Belstat, territorial bodies of state statistics, as well as state organizations subordinate to Belstat (hereinafter referred to as subordinate organizations).
The activities of Belstat are financed from the republican budget, proceeds of activities carried out in the manner prescribed by the legislation, and other sources not prohibited by the legislation.
Belstat consists of the following structural subdivisions: Main Department of Planning and Organisation of State Statistical Observations, Main Department of Summary Information and International Co-operation, Main Department of National Accounts, Main Department of Industrial Statistics, Main Department of Trade Statistics, Main Department of Paid Services, Transport, Communications,
Science and Innovation Statistics, Main Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment Statistics, Main Department of Investment and Construction Statistics, Main Department of Finance Statistics, Main Department of Labour and Demographic Statistics, Main Department of Price Statistics, Main Department of Information Technologies, Department of Living Standards Statistics and Household Survey, Department of Statistical User Services, Population Census Department, Accounting and Control Department, Legal Division, Personnel Division, Division for State Secrets Protection, and Main Department of Financial, Economic and Organisational Support.
Multi-annual or annual work program
The bodies of state statistics carry out their activities in accordance with the annual Programme of Statistical Activities which is approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus.
The National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus also develops a medium-term Programme of State Statistics Improvement in the Republic of Belarus for the 5-year period. At present two medium-term programmes are being implemented:
- State programme of the development of the Integrated Information Resource of state statistical bodies for the years 2007-2011, which is approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus; and
- Programme of state statistics development for the years 2006-2010 approved by Belstat.
Main duties
The main tasks of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus are as follows:
1. Development of scientifically grounded statistical methodology and its improvement in accordance with the national and international standards in the field of statistics;
2. Collection, processing, compilation, accumulation, storage and protection of statistical data (information) on the basis of statistical methodology;
3. Submission of summary statistical data (information) to the President of the Republic of Belarus, National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus, republican bodies of state administration and other state organisations subordinate to the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, to regional and Minsk City executive committees.
4. Dissemination of summary statistical data (information) among other users.
Brief history and other relevant background information
Brief history and other relevant background information
The official establishment and development of the bodies of state statistics in the country started since 23 August 1920, the main task of which being related to the implementation of stocktaking as the major tool of planning, economic management and plan execution control in all sectors of the national economy.
During their history, the bodies of state statistics were subject to several reforms and their name altered. Especially big reform in state statistics, its organization and methodology, took place in connection with acquiring by the Republic of Belarus of the national sovereignty in 1991. In accordance with the Republican programme, large-scale measures were taken to improve statistics with regard to the new conditions and its transfer to the international standards.
The establishment of 23 August as a professional holiday – the Day of State Statistics Workers – was a high appraisal of the activities of the personnel of state statistics bodies.
By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of August 26, 2008 No. 445 the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis of the Republic of Belarus was re-organized into the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
Legal basis
Legal basis
The Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Statistics” was for the first time adopted on February 10, 1997.
Changes in the country's economy and the necessity to further develop state statistics, improve its methodology and follow international standards required the revision of the fundamental document in the field of state statistics.
On 28 November 2004, an amended Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Statistics” was adopted. The law explicitly regulates the relationship between the bodies of state statistics, respondents and authorized state bodies (organizations) maintaining state statistics on issues falling under their competence.
The new Law provides a comprehensive outline of the main principles of keeping state statistics. Such principles as professional independence, rationality in choosing the modes to collect primary statistical data, scientific validity, reliability and objectivity of statistical data (information), relevance and timeliness of statistical data (information), confidentiality of primary statistical data, accessibility and openness of summary statistical data are added.
The English version of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Statistics” of 28 November 2004 is available at: http://belstat.gov.by/homep/en/about/lawtext.htm.
Other producers of official statistics
Other producers of official statistics
In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Statistics”, besides the bodies of state statistics, state statistics is maintained by authorized state organisations within the bounds of their competence according to the forms of decentralised state statistical observations to be approved by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. These organisations include: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, etc.
Statistical advisory bodies
Statistical advisory bodies
Pursuant to the regulation of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 16 May 2003 No. 647, the Inter-Agency Council on State Statistics has been set up.
The Council is an advisory body coordinating the activities in the field of the organisation of state statistical observations based on the scientifically grounded statistical methodology.
The council is headed by the Chair – a Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, and consists of the Deputy Chair, a secretary, and 8 members representing public bodies, research community, and respondents.
Data collection
Most recent population census
State statistical observations
Pursuant to the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Statistics”, respondents provide primary statistical data according to the forms of state statistical observations.
On conducting state statistical observations, the submission of primary statistical data by respondents is mandatory and is carried out on a free-of-charge basis.
The most recent population census was conducted on 24 October 2009.
Access to administrative data
According to the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Statistics”, the bodies of state statistics has the right to receive, in the manner prescribed by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, the information from the Single State Register of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs, other registers (records) and databases that are maintained by the government agencies and other state organisations.
Data confidentiality
Pursuant to the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Statistics”, primary statistical data are confidential and shall be used solely and exclusively for the compilation of summary statistical data (information). Dissemination of primary statistical data is permitable given the written consent of the respondent who submitted these data.
Data dissemination
Release calendar (existence, when and how published)
Annually, the catalogue of statistical publications is published. It contains the list of statistical databooks and bulletins to be published in the upcoming year. The titles are provided with brief description both in Russian and English. The publications are intended for a wide range users of statistical information. The English version of the catalogue can be found at: http://belstat.gov.by/homep/en/publications/main.html
Advance release calendar within the framework of the IMF Special Data Dissemination Standard is available at: http://dsbb.imf.org/Applications/web/sddsctycatarclist/?strcode=BLR. Summary data disseminated within the IMF SDDS can be found at: http://www.belstat.gov.by/homep/en/specst/np.htm.
Main publications
Statistical databooks to be issued in 2010:
Statistical reference book "Belarus in Figures, 2010”
Regions of the Republic of Belarus, 2010
Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus, 2010
Belarus and CIS countries, 2010
National Accounts of the Republic of Belarus
Social conditions and living standards in the Republic of Belarus
Foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus
Quarterly estimates of Gross Domestic Product
Women and men of the Republic of Belarus
Small and medium-sized business in the Republic of Belarus
Paid services provided to population in the Republic of Belarus
Agriculture in the Republic of Belarus
Prices in the Republic of Belarus
Investments and construction in the Republic of Belarus
Housing and utilities in the Republic of Belarus
Finance of the Republic of Belarus
Languages of main publications
Russian, English
How are data disseminated (Paper, CD Rom, Website, online databases, databanks)?
The data are disseminated on paper and via the website at: http://belstat.gov.by
Availability of microdata for research purposes
Anonymised (depersonalised) microdata are available for research purposes.
|