Statistics we can trust
Almost every country in the world has its national statistical office. The world statistics is based on the UN Fundamental principles of Official Statistics declared by resolution 68/261 to ensure delivering of impartial and relevant data.
The growing demand for data and focus on official statistics resulted in declaring 20 October as the World Statistics Day by the UN General Assembly resolution 64/267 in June 2010. In 2015 it was decided to celebrate World Statistics Day every five years: in 2015, 2020 and so on.
World Statistics Day
20 October
- 2010Statisticians from all over the world celebrated their professional holiday for the first time in 2010 under the theme "Service. Professionalism. Integrity".01
- 2015On 3 June 2015 the UN General Assembly officially designated 20 October 2015 as the second World Statistics Day under the theme "Better data, better lives". The resolution also noted the importance of statistics as well as celebration for countries.02
- 2020The third World Statistics Day will be celebrated on 20 October 2020 with the theme "Connecting the world with data we can trust". This theme reflects the importance of trust, authoritative data, innovation and the public good in national statistical systems.03
- Mikhail MishustinPrime Minister of the Russian Federation
- António GuterresSecretary-General, United Nations
- Stefan SchweinfestDirector, United Nations Statistics Division
- Shigeru KawasakiChair of the United Nations Statistical Commission
6 questions for the
world's famous statisticians
world's famous statisticians
For the World Statistics Day Rosstat asked six questions to the world's famous statisticians about their path in this science, favorite jokes about statisticians and major myths about statistics.
Jokes from statisticians
Two statisticians were traveling in an airplane from Lisbon to Moscow. About an hour into the flight, the pilot announced that they had lost an engine, but don't worry, there are three left. However, instead of 5 hours it would take 7 hours to get to Moscow.
A little later, he announced that a second engine failed, and they still had two left, but it would take 10 hours to get to Moscow.
Somewhat later, the pilot again came on the intercom and announced that a third engine had died. Never fear, he announced, because the plane could fly on a single engine. However, it would now take 18 hours to get to Moscow.
At this point, one statistician turned to the other and said, "Gee, I hope we don't lose that last engine, or we'll be up here forever!"
A little later, he announced that a second engine failed, and they still had two left, but it would take 10 hours to get to Moscow.
Somewhat later, the pilot again came on the intercom and announced that a third engine had died. Never fear, he announced, because the plane could fly on a single engine. However, it would now take 18 hours to get to Moscow.
At this point, one statistician turned to the other and said, "Gee, I hope we don't lose that last engine, or we'll be up here forever!"
I keep a cartoon in my wallet which my family gave me over 30 years ago with the following message "Don't use meaningless statistics - just multiply everything by your wife's birthday". It's a reminder of the importance of our job as official statisticians to be professional and follow scientific approaches.
A statistician boarded a plane. As a good statistician, he had checked the probability of there being a bomb on the plane before he boarded. The probability was very small but did exist. Then he took a bomb on the plane with him because, as a good statistician, he knew that the probability of there being two bombs on the plane was virtually zero. In this way, he felt comfortable and safe on the plane.
Statistics knows everything except the most important thing. For example, how did it happen that Charlie Chaplin entered the Chaplin look-alike contest in Monte Carlo and he came in third.
Everyday logics and the collision of statistics can sometimes be funny, but it does cause problems as well. If you have three observations of your own about a matter, it is easy to interpret that these observations apply to all other cases as well. At times this calls for much explanation with statistics. For example, the price of coffee has not gone up everywhere even if the price of a cup of coffee in the nearest café has changed.
Statistics History
In 1746 the German scientist Gottfried Achenwall proposed to replace the title of the course "Science of State" by "Statistics". This is how the science of "statistics" was born. The word "statistics" originates from the Latin "status" which means a state of affairs.
Starting from 1802 the "state of affairs" has been monitored in Russia on a regular basis. The first statistical service was established already in 1811and became one of the first statistical offices in the world.
Starting from 1802 the "state of affairs" has been monitored in Russia on a regular basis. The first statistical service was established already in 1811and became one of the first statistical offices in the world.
History of
Russian Statistics
Russian Statistics
8 September 1802
Written reporting of ministries introduced
20 November 1811
Statistics Division of the Ministry of Police
4 March 1858
Central Statistical Committee under
the Ministry of Internal Affairs
the Ministry of Internal Affairs
January 1897
The first population census in the Russian Empire
25 June 1918
Central Statistical Office
December 1926
The first population census in the USSR
11 May 1927
Central Statistical Office of the USSR
17 July 1987
Goskomstat of the USSR
18 November 1991
Goskomstat of Russia
October 2002
The first population census in
the Russian Federation
the Russian Federation
9 March 2004
Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat)
October 2010
Russian population census
April 2021
Russian population census
The first digital Russian population census will be held in April 2021. In addition to the traditional interviewing with the census officers respondents will be able to complete survey either online via "Gosuslugi" portal or at the multifunctional centers "My documents" and at the permanent census stations.
The first general census in Russia was held in January 1897.
Portrait of a modern statistician
In the past the word "statista" was used for statesmen. Following renaming of "Science of State" into "Statistics" a person who collects, processes, analyzes and provides statistical information has been called statistician.
What characterizes modern statistician, how many people work in the national statistical services, who mostly choose a career of a statistician - men or women? Scroll through to learn more!
What characterizes modern statistician, how many people work in the national statistical services, who mostly choose a career of a statistician - men or women? Scroll through to learn more!
Happy World Statistics Day!
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