# United Nations Statistical Commission

The United Nations Statistical Commission (StatCom) is a Functional Commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, established in 1946. The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). Its 24 member states are elected by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of the following geographical distribution: African states (5), Asian States (4), Eastern European States (4), Latin American and Caribbean States (4), Western European and other States (7). In 2024, the Economic and Social Council decided to progressively increase the number of members in the Commission from 24 to 54 until 2028, which aims to enhance representation and inclusivity. Member states are usually represented by their chief statistician. Since 2000 the Commission meets every year. As set forth by the Economic and Social Council, in the terms of reference, the Commission fulfils the function of “the primary body responsible for the management of statistical information and governance of statistics and data”. In doing so, it acts as the “apex forum for discussions, knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices on statistics and data across all domains, to develop and maintain international statistical standards and norms, tools and methodologies, to support and bolster the development of sustainable national statistical systems, to develop and build the capacity of national systems, to for the professional community of official statistics, and to ensure continued innovations to adapt to the changing statistical and data system”.

## The Bureau

The officers are the Chairperson, 3 Vice-chairpersons and the Rapporteur, elected for a one-year period by the members of the Commission at the beginning of a session. Since 1999, its role is more of a steering one; the Chairman may seek for complementary assistance from other members (Friends of the Chair).
       Chairpersonship
       Year Session Country Chair 2025 56th  Switzerland Georges-Simon Ulrich 2024 55th  Switzerland Georges-Simon Ulrich 2023 54th  Hungary Gabriella Vukovich 2022 53rd  Hungary Gabriella Vukovich 2021 52nd  Japan Shigeru Kawasaki 2020 51st  Japan Shigeru Kawasaki 2019 50th  Kenya Zachary Mwangi 2018 49th  Kenya Zachary Mwangi 2017 48th  Brazil Wasmália Bivar 2016 47th  Brazil Wasmália Bivar 2015 46th  United Kingdom John Pullinger 2014 45th  United Kingdom Jil Matheson 2013 44th  Hungary Gabriella Vukovich 2012 43rd  Hungary Gabriella Vukovich 2011 42nd  Oman Ali Bin Mahboob 2010 41st  Oman Ali Bin Mahboob 2009 40th  South Africa Pali Lehohla 2008 39th  South Africa Pali Lehohla 2007 38th  Mexico Gilberto Calvillo Vives 2006 37th  Mexico Gilberto Calvillo Vives 2005 36th  US Katherine Wallman 2004 35th  US Katherine Wallman 2003 34th  Hungary Tamás Mellár 2002 33rd  Hungary Tamás Mellár 2001 32nd  Japan Shigeru Kawasaki 2000 31st  Botswana Guest Charumbira 1999 30th  Botswana Guest Charumbira 1997 29th  Mexico Carlos Jarque 1995 28th  United Kingdom Bill McLennan 1994 Special session  Poland Jozef Olenski 1993 27th  Netherlands Willem Begeer 1991 26th  Netherlands Willem Begeer 1989 25th  Argentina Luis Alberto Beccaria 1987 24th  Ghana Emmanuel Oti Boateng 1985 23rd  Ireland Tom Linehan 1983 22nd  Hungary Vera Nyitrai 1981 21st  US Joseph W. Duncan 1979 20th  Soviet Union Mikhail Antonovich Korolev 1976 19th  India V. R. Rao 1974 18th  United Kingdom Claus Moser 1972 17th  France Jean Ripert 1970 16th  France Jean Ripert 1968 15th  Australia Keith Archer 1966 14th  Norway Petter Jakob Bjerve 1965 13th  Norway Petter Jakob Bjerve 1962 12th  Ireland Donal McCarthy 1960 11th  Ireland Donal McCarthy 1958 10th  New Zealand George Wood 1956 9th  India P.C. Mahalanobis 1954 8th  India P.C. Mahalanobis 1953 7th  United Kingdom Harry Campion 1951 6th  United Kingdom Harry Campion 1950 5th  Netherlands Philip Idenburg 1949 4th  Netherlands Philip Idenburg 1948 3rd  Canada Herbert Marshall 1947 (August) 2nd  Canada Herbert Marshall 1947 (January) 1st  Canada Herbert Marshall 1946 Nuclear session  US Stuart A. Rice