The IAOS was founded as a section of ISI in 1985 during the 45th Session of the ISI held in Amsterdam in celebration of its centenary. IAOS brings together producers and users of official statistics. The society is run by an Executive Committee elected for a period of 2 years. As of December 1999, the membership of IAOS totalled 507 members in more than 70 countries, including 35 institutional members.
Institutional members are mainly official statistical offices.