About Us

Singapore adopts a decentralised statistical system. There are Research and Statistics Units (RSUs) in government agencies that are responsible for statistics on specific subject matters (e.g., manpower, banking, trade). 

The Department of Statistics (DOS) is the National Statistical Office and is responsible for statistics on the Singapore economy and population. 

Under the Statistics Act 1973, the Chief Statistician, as the head of the DOS, is empowered to collect and process data for statistical purposes. As the National Statistical Coordinator, he coordinates statistical activities in public agencies, provides advice on statistical matters, and develops and promotes the observance of national statistical standards. 

The Statistics Act 1973 is the primary piece of legislation that governs statistical activities conducted by DOS and the gazetted RSUs.

It safeguards the confidentiality of information collected from individuals and companies and spells out the legislative authority and responsibility of the Chief Statistician and directors of gazetted RSUs.

For more information, you may watch the video on ‘Your Data, Our Responsibility: The Statistics Act Explained’.

The Statistics Act empowers DOS with the legislative powers to collect individual data for compiling official statistics to support research and policy making for Singapore. In turn, DOS has the legal obligation to ensure that the data collected is safeguarded in accordance with the Act and used only for statistical purposes.

For more information, you may watch the video on ‘Your Data, Our Responsibility: The Statistics Act Explained’.