Publications

The World Statistics Pocketbook, 2016 edition (Series V, No. 40), presents one-page profiles of 229 countries or areas of the world, covering more than 50 indicators over various years from 2005 to 2016 collected from more than 20 international statistical sources. For the economic indicators, in general, three years - 2005, 2010 and 2014 - are shown. Due to space limitations, data for one year only are shown for the indicators in the social and in the environment and infrastructure categories. For 5 social indicators, a year range (2010-2015) is shown.

The topics covered include: agriculture, balance of payments, education, energy, environment, food, gender, health, industrial production, information and communication, international finance, international tourism, international trade, labour, migration, national accounts, population and prices.

This issue is an update of the previous edition, released in 2015, entitled World Statistics Pocketbook 2015 edition (Series V, No. 39).

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The special case of small island developing States (SIDS), within the context of sustainable development, was first formally recognized by the international community at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA), agreed at the first Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS in 1994, then the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS adopted in 2005, and most recently the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in 2012, continue to highlight the sustainable development challenges faced by SIDS.

This special issue of the United Nations annual World Statistics Pocketbook provides a compilation of basic social, economic and environmental indicators that together comprise a framework for assessing, in quantitative terms, each State's current development situation. Its issuance coincides with the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in Apia, Samoa in September 2014.

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The technical notes contain brief descriptions of the concepts and methodologies used in the compilation of the indicators as well as information on the statistical sources for the indicators. Reference to primary sources of the data is provided for readers interested in longer time-series data or more detailed descriptions of the concepts or methodologies.

Prepared by the United Nations Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the World Statistics Pocketbook responds to General Assembly resolution 2626 (XXV), in which the Secretary-General is requested to supply basic national data that will increase international public awareness of countries' development efforts.