Country Profile of Kiribati
Main statistical agency
Main statistical agency name
Ministry of Finance
Web address
www.spc.int/prism/Country/KI/Stats/
Position in the government
The National Statistical Office (NSO) reports to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Organizational structure and finance
The National Statistics Office (NSO) in Kiribati is responsible for producing official statistics. Operating under the Statistics Act as a division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MFEP), the NSO is responsible for economic and social statistics, including the 2000 Census of Population and Housing.
Main duties
To collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, agricultural, social, economic and general activities and condition of the people of the Gilbert Islands
To coordinate with departments of the Government the collection, compilation, analysis and publication of statistical records of administration
Generally to organise a coordinated scheme of social and ecnomic statistics relating to the Islands, in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance
It shall be the duty of the Government Statistician to make such arrangements and to do all such things as are necessary for the performance of his duties under this Ordinance
Legal basis
Legal basis
The activities undertaken by the Kiribati 'National Statistics Office' (NSO) is governed by the Statistics Act of 1997 [CAP. 96] of the Republic of Kiribati, and all staff are governed by the National Conditions of Service.
Other producers of official statistics
Other producers of official statistics
Other agencies engaged in data collection include the taxation and customs authorities and the Kiribati Provident Fund (KPF), while the ministries of Health, Education, and Fisheries produce statistics in their respective areas of responsibility.
Statistical advisory bodies
Statistical advisory bodies
No regular consultation mechanisms are in place, and a need exists for close coordination with data users and other key stakeholders. Moreover, since numerous administrative data sources exist (some of which are not computerized), frequent contacts are required at a working level to promote timely receipt of data for producing statistics.
Data collection
Most recent population census
7 November 2000
Access to administrative data
Where in the collection of statistical information relating to any matter set in schedule 1 the Government Statistician is of opinion that there can be obtained from any Government records or documents or from any records or documents belonging to any local authority information sought in respect of such matter, any person who has the custody of any such record or document shall grant access thereto to the Government Statistician or any authorised officer.
Data dissemination
Release calendar (existence, when and how published)
There are advance release calendars in place but sometimes publications are not ready by the scheduled time. The Statistics Office remains committed to the principle of meeting timetables, and notes that there has been no adverse public reaction to any previous slippages.
As key data become available, they are released, but the data tend to be subject to serious delays. The NSO provides technical notes and analysis for the more technical publications on the CPI, Census, national accounts, and balance of payments. However, the national accounts and balance of payments have lagged in recent years, owing to a lack of qualified staff, for which staffing action is required.
Main publications
The NSO holds a briefing annually to present key statistics to a broad range of data users. As noted above, however, no regular publication program or other forum exists for the exchange of views between data users and the NSO. While key data are disseminated to the Minister and senior officials, some data users expressed difficulty in accessing data: GDP data, for instance, are available on request, but there is no national accounts publication. Also, the balance of payments publication has not been produced since December 1995.
Trade 2002
Kiribati Statistical Yearbook 2002
Report on the 2000 Census of Population
Government Finance Statistics (GFS)
Retail Price Index 2001
Immigration Statistics 2001
Household Income & Expenditure Survey 1996
Balance of Payments 2001
Languages of main publications
English.
How are data disseminated (Paper, CD Rom, Website, online databases, databanks)?
Paper, Website.
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