Box 1: The Singapore Statistical System Singapore Department of Statistics National Statistical Authority, responsible for statistics on the Singapore economy and population; Designated as National Statistical Co-ordinator under Statistics Act Gazetted Research and Statistics Units Responsible for statistics on specific subject matters under the parent ministry’s purview; Empowered to issue requisition for data under Statistics Act Non-Gazetted Research and Statistics Units Responsible for statistics on specific subject matters under the parent ministry’s purview; Collect data under administrative regulations or other Acts

The Singapore Department of Statistics has the widest scope of responsibility in the statistical system, being the national statistical authority for official statistics on the Singapore economy and population. In a few government ministries and statutory boards, Research and Statistics Units (RSUs) are established and gazetted to conduct surveys and compile statistics on specific sectors or subject matters. For most other ministries and statutory boards, informal statistical units undertake statistical compilation mainly as a by-product of the administrative and operational functions of the parent organisations. Details on the key responsibilities of the Singapore Department of Statistics and the RSUs are given in the sections below.

The decentralised statistical system has effectively met users’ needs for comprehensive economic and social statistics in the last twenty-five years. There is closer contact and greater interaction between statistical personnel and data users in specific ministries and statutory boards, leading to more relevant statistics being collected and analysed. As administrative databases and records are increasingly being tapped for statistical purposes, an increasing range of statistics has been compiled on more timely and cost-effective basis. With the specialisation of statistical personnel in specific subject matters, the Singapore Department of Statistics and the RSUs are able to stay focused and provide statistics that are of good quality. There is a high standard of professionalism in the statistical system for official statistics.

That the decentralised system continues to function with enduring strength augurs well for Singapore. This is partly due to the co-ordinating role that the Singapore Department of Statistics undertakes in the statistical system, and partly due to legislative changes which promote the adoption of national statistical standards. Part I of this publication presents the current statistical system, the Statistics Act and other relevant legislations, and national statistical co-ordinating mechanism. A brief history of the development and other changes in the statistical system is also presented.

	The Present Statistical System
	Integrity of the Singapore Statistical System
	Legislation for Statistical Data Collection
	Co-ordination of Statistical Activities
	A History of Singapore's Statistical System