Conference of the 95th anniversary of the Estonian Statistical System

The conference takes a look at the development of statistics in Estonia, gives an overview of how the production of statistics has changed in the past century and discusses the future of the Estonian Statistical System.

The Director of the United Nations Statistics Division, Stefan Schweinfest, and the Director General of Eurostat, Walter Radermacher, have both sent a video address to the conference.

Stefan Schweinfest said that “statistics is a public good that helps the government, the private sector, researchers, all citizens and the international community to better understand the world around us and to better shape the future. Thus, an investment in solid and sustainable statistics is always an investment in the future.”

Walter Radermacher commended that the Peer Review of 2015 showed that Statistics Estonia is on the same level with the best statistical offices in the European Union.  “The peer reviewers concluded in their report that Statistics Estonia has made further impressive improvements over the intervening period and that it now compares favourably, not only with other smaller statistical offices, but with all national statistical institutes throughout the EU. This is indeed an achievement that the Estonian Statistical System can be proud of.”

Andres Oopkaup, the Director General of Statistics Estonia, noted that, in these 95 years, the Estonian Statistical System has had to adapt to the changes occurring in society several times and now it is yet again time to adapt. “Today’s conference enables us to look back on what we have done and will certainly inspire us in the future,” said Oopkaup. “The world around us is changing quickly and we have to change as well – the expectations towards Statistics Estonia include less asking and more data analysis.

On 1 March 1921, the State Statistical Central Bureau of the Republic of Estonia was established with Albert Pullerits as its leader. This date can be considered the birthday of Estonian statistics. This year, the Estonian Statistical System is celebrating its 95th anniversary.

Read the programme of the conference.

The live broadcast of the conference can be watched on the website of Statistics Estonia (www.stat.ee) on 25 April 2016 starting from 10 a.m.