The adapted version of the website for people with disabilities was developed by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Government of Sweden.
The adapted version of the website for people with disabilities was developed by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Government of Sweden.
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The Legal Entity of Public Law – the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) carries out its activities autonomously. It is an institution established to produce and disseminate statistical information in accordance with the Georgian legislation. The National Statistics Office of Georgia is established by the Law of Georgia on Official Statistics adopted on 31 May 2023.
Besides, the activities of Geostat are based on the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics:
Principle 1: Relevance, Impartiality, and Equal Access
Official statistics provide an indispensable element in the information system of a democratic society, serving the Government, the economy and the public with data about the economic, demographic, social and environmental situation. To this end, official statistics that meet the test of practical utility are to be compiled and made available on an impartial basis by official statistical agencies to honour citizens’ entitlement to public information.
Principle 2: Professional Standards, Scientific Principles, and Professional Ethics
To retain trust in official statistics, the statistical agencies need to decide according to strictly professional considerations, including scientific principles and professional ethics, on the methods and procedures for the collection, processing, storage and presentation of statistical data.
Principle 3: Accountability and Transparency
To facilitate a correct interpretation of the data, the statistical agencies are to present information according to scientific standards on the sources, methods and procedures of the statistics.
Principle 4: Prevention of Misuse
The statistical agencies are entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics.
Principle 5: Sources of Official Statistics
Data for statistical purposes may be drawn from all types of sources, be they statistical surveys or administrative records. Statistical agencies are to choose the source with regard to quality, timeliness, costs and the burden on respondents.
Principle 6: Confidentiality
Individual data collected by statistical agencies for statistical compilation, whether they refer to natural or legal persons, are to be strictly confidential and used exclusively for statistical purposes.
Principle 7: Legislation
The laws, regulations and measures under which the statistical systems operate are to be made public.
Principle 8: National Coordination
Coordination among statistical agencies within countries is essential to achieve consistency and efficiency in the statistical system.
Principle 9: Use of International Standards
The use by statistical agencies in each country of international concepts, classifications and methods promotes the consistency and efficiency of statistical systems at all official levels.
Principle 10: International Cooperation
Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in statistics contributes to the improvement of systems of official statistics in all countries.
Taking these principles into account, Geostat closely cooperates with international and local organizations in order to effectively produce official statistics. The purpose of international cooperation in the field of statistics is to establish international practices and methodologies and to share relevant experience on the basis of agreements and arrangements concluded with international organizations operating in this field. Cooperation with local organizations implies collaboration and coordinated work between Geostat and bodies producing statistics for the purpose of efficient statistical production.
The reform of the National Statistics Office should ensure a high degree of autonomy of the statistical authority. Declaring autonomy is essential for the statistical service to gain a mandate of trust and to carry out its core function without interference – providing useful, high-quality information to the public, decision-makers, analysts, and policymakers within government and beyond.
The Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, developed by the United Nations Statistical Commission, state that “To retain trust in official statistics, the statistical agencies need to decide according to strictly professional considerations, including scientific principles and professional ethics, on the methods and procedures for the collection, processing, storage and presentation of statistical data.” Consideration of these principles was a main guiding factor in the development of the Law of Georgia on Official Statistics and, accordingly, in the establishment of Geostat.
The main functions of Geostat are as follows:
Geostat is led by an Executive Director, who at the same time serves as the Chairman of Geostat Board. The Executive Director is appointed by the Prime Minister of Georgia for a term of 4 years. The Executive Director has one or more deputies. In the absence of the Executive Director, one of the deputies perform his/her duties.
Functions of the Executive Director are as follows:
In order to ensure the effective functioning of Geostat, the Executive Director is authorized, taking into account the recommendations of the Geostat Board, to invite foreign or local experts on the basis of relevant contracts.
A Board operates within Geostat, consisting of 9 members and a Chairman. Of the Board members, 3 represent public institutions: 1 from the National Bank of Georgia, 1 from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and 1 from the Ministry of Finance of Georgia. Their nominations are submitted to the Prime Minister of Georgia for approval by the heads of the respective institutions. The remaining 5 members are not public servants and are appointed by the Prime Minister in accordance with the Law of Georgia On Official Statistics.
The Board’s activities are diverse and include:
• Producing recommendations related to statistical activities;
• Reviewing and approving Geostat’s annual activity report;
• Reviewing statistical standards and methodologies developed by Geostat;
• Preparing recommendations or recognizing international standards and methodologies;
• Drafting and approving the Statute of the Board, including procedures for operation and decision-making.
The authority of a Board member or the Executive Director may be terminated on the following grounds:
• Personal resignation;
• Recognition by a court as legally incapacitated, missing, or deceased;
• Entry into force of a guilty court verdict;
• Death.
Additionally:
For Board members who are public servants:
a) violation of anti-corruption legislation;
b) termination of service in the relevant public position.
For Board members who are not public servants:
a) expiration of term;
b) failure to perform duties for 2 months without valid reason;
c) appointment to a public office
For the Executive Director:
a) violation of anti-corruption legislation;
b) expiration of term.
Termination of a Board member’s authority is carried out by order of the Prime Minister. The Executive Director is dismissed by the Prime Minister.
Following legislative amendments in 2015, an Advisory Board was established within Geostat. It consists of at least 9 members with practical or academic experience in statistics or related fields. The Advisory Board is chaired by the Executive Director. Members are appointed by the Executive Director for the duration of her/his term.
Functions of the Advisory Board include:
a) providing consultations and recommendations on statistical activities;
b) analyzing the draft Statistical Work Program and producing recommendations;
c) conducting scientific analysis of statistical standards and methodologies;
d) discussing modern statistical methods and advising on methodological improvements;
e) performing other activities defined by the Law on Official Statistics and the Board’s Statute.
The Advisory Board’s decisions are advisory in nature.
Another producer of official statistics is the National Bank of Georgia, which produces statistics in accordance with international standards under its organic law.
State and local government bodies, legal entities under public law, and other administrative bodies produce official statistics in line with methodologies and standards approved or recognized by the Board.
Geostat ensures coordination among statistical producers, produces recommendations on standards and methodologies, coordinates data exchange among administrative bodies, and promotes effective implementation of approved standards.
Geostat is authorized to request and obtain all necessary statistical and other information (including confidential data) from administrative bodies and from physical or legal persons.
Administrative bodies are obliged to provide such information upon request in accordance with the law.
Registered legal entities in the Register of Entrepreneurs and the Register of Non-entrepreneurs (Non-commercial) must provide requested information (including confidential data) to Geostat in written or electronic form. Failure to do so results in liability under the Administrative Offenses Code of Georgia.
Statistical data are public, except when they allow identification of a statistical unit.
Data are stored in material form until full publication and electronically for 3 months after publication (except census data).
Within its Statistical Work Program, Geostat:
• provides statistical data free of charge in electronic form to all users;
• provides printed publications for a fee (except for administrative bodies).
Statistical work performed outside the Program is governed by contracts, and revenues are defined accordingly.
Data collected for official statistics are confidential if they allow identification of individuals or entities. Disclosure or non-statistical use of confidential data is prohibited, except where permitted by law.
Identification data and related questionnaires must be destroyed or stored separately in accordance with legal requirements.
Employees of Geostat are prohibited from using or disclosing confidential statistical data for any non-official purpose, including personal, academic, or scientific use.
Geostat must ensure dissemination of reliable statistical data.
Violation of these provisions by employees leads to disciplinary responsibility.
Depending on the severity of the violation and damage caused, the Executive Director may impose disciplinary measures such as: warning, salary deduction, or dismissal.
