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United Nations (UN)

United Nations (UN)

The United Nations (UN) was established in 1945 by 51 countries. Today, it has 193 member states. Its mission is to maintain international peace and security, promote cooperation among nations, and advance social progress, higher living standards, and human rights. The UN headquarters is located in New York. The main bodies of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.

Within the UN system, there are specialized programs, commissions, and agencies, including ILO, FAO, UNESCO, WHO, and UNICEF, as well as affiliated institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In the field of global statistics, an important role is played by the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), which operates within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), as well as by regional economic commissions, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

United Nations Statistical Commission (UNStatCom)

The United Nations Statistical Commission is the highest decision-making body of the global statistical system regarding the coordination of international statistical activities. It was established by ECOSOC Resolution 8 (I) on 16 February 1946, and its first regular session was held in 1947. The Commission approves international standards and recommendations, sets the work priorities of the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), and coordinates activities with specialized agencies. It also supports the development of statistical capacity in countries, particularly in developing nations. The Commission meets once a year in New York.

The UN Statistical Commission currently has 24 member states, elected by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) based on equitable geographical distribution, with a term of four years. According to a 2024 resolution, the number of members will gradually increase to 54 by 2028, while maintaining its technical character. In 2024, Poland—for the first time in over 30 years—was elected to the Commission as a representative of the Eastern Europe region. Poland’s term will run from 2025 to 2028.

Statistics Poland participates in the sessions and consultations of the Commission, contributes to the development of standards, and provides data to UN databases and agencies.

Experts from Statistics Poland are active in the High Level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda (HLG PCCB) (2021–2025), the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG SDGs), the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics (UN CEBD), as well as in UN GGIM initiatives on integrating statistics and geospatial information. Through this involvement, Poland helps shape global data-based guidelines and practices.

Selected decisions and programs of the UN Statistical Commission

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

The UNECE was established in 1947 as one of the five UN regional commissions. It brings together 56 countries from Europe, North America, and Asia. Its aim is to facilitate economic cooperation and integration in the region and to strengthen the economic relations of regional countries with the rest of the world. UNECE supports sustainable development and prosperity through policy dialogue, negotiating international agreements, developing norms and standards, exchanging and applying best practices and technical knowledge, as well as technical cooperation—particularly for countries undergoing transition. The Commission also establishes standards and conventions that facilitate international cooperation within the region and beyond.

Conference of European Statisticians (CES)

The CES is a regional UN platform operating under UNECE. It brings together the leadership of national statistical offices in the region and international organizations, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Partners from outside the region also participate in its work. The purpose of CES is to improve and harmonize statistics, reduce reporting burdens, exchange experiences, and develop standards and guidelines for the UNECE region. The plenary session is held annually in Geneva. Between sessions, work continues in working groups and seminars. CES can adopt standards recommended for use in the region. Representatives of GUS participate in the plenary sessions as well as in the work of groups and seminars coordinated by the UNECE Statistical Division in Geneva.

Selected UNECE/CES Working Groups:

Why is this important?

  • The UN Statistical Commission sets global standards and a common data language, covering ethical principles, methods and classifications, and frameworks for the secure exchange of information. UNECE/CES translates these into practical actions in Europe—developing guidelines, coordinating the work of working groups, and supporting the implementation of recommendations (e.g., UN GGIM: Europe, HLG-MOS).
  • For Statistics Poland, this means contributing to the creation of standards and their implementation nationally, actively participating in expert work, and ensuring better coordination with UN agencies and regional partners.
  • In practice, this results in consistent definitions and comparable indicators, faster and secure data exchange, improved coordination with UN agencies and regional partners, and a stronger voice for Poland in discussions on the development of statistics.
  • For data users, this means greater comparability, as well as higher quality and usability of statistics in public policy, research, and public debate.

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