Speaking at the opening session of the UN World Data Forum on Monday, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted the life-saving impact that data can have, noting that better data and forecasting could have averted many deaths from natural disasters.

“While it is clear that the data revolution is having an enormous impact, it has not benefited everyone equally,” 

The United Nations World Data Forum 2018 is set to kick off on 22 October in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, bringing together nearly 2,000 data leaders from more than 100 countries.

The data experts -- from national statistical offices, the private sector, NGOs, academia and international and regional organizations -- will gather 22-24 October to collaborate and tackle data gaps and challenges, launch new initiatives and identify mechanisms to increase financing and support for better data for sustainable development.

With over 80 sessions and parallel events, the Fo

Everything that happens, happens somewhere, but how do we know what is happening where? when? and why? The answers lie in geospatial information. That means information that pinpoints the location of geographic features, such as settlements, mountains or lakes, on the Earth and describes their relation to other features. It allows us to create a digital image of our world, in which all social, economic and environmental activity takes place.

Geospatial information is a blueprint of what happens where.

The United Nations Statistics Division and the World Bank today launched a strategic guide to help governments, especially in low and middle-income countries, develop, access, and use geospatial information to make effective policies and more accurately direct aid and development resources, ensuring no one is left behind.

The Integrated Geospatial Information Framework, a first of its kind guide approved today by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), makes concrete recommendations on establishing national geospatial information

A fast-changing climate, conflict, inequality, persistent pockets of poverty and hunger and rapid urbanization are challenging countries’ efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a UN report launched in New York today.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2018 found that conflict and climate change were major contributing factors leading to growing numbers of people facing hunger and forced displacement, as well as curtailing progress towards universal access to basic water and sanitation services.

For the first time in

The United Nations World Data Forum has launched the programme and registration for its 2018 Forum, taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 22-24 October. Over 1,500 data experts from more than 100 countries are expected for the Forum, including national statisticians, data scientists from the private sector and academia, international organizations, and civil society groups.

The world is not on track to meet the global energy targets for 2030 set as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but real progress is being made in certain areas – particularly expansion of access to electricity in least developed countries, and industrial energy efficiency, according to the latest report by five global authorities on energy, including the Statistics Division of UN DESA.



“Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report,” launched at the Sustainable Energy for All Forum today, is t

On our path to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 169 targets and 232 global indicators to track the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the global data community is facing one of the greatest challenges of all times. And to meet it, a “revolution” of the current statistical system is underway.

More than 120 chief statisticians and data experts from across the world joined together in a jam-packed UN Headquarters conference room, as the 49th Session of the UN Statistical Commission kicked off on 6 March 2018. At the core of the Commission’s work – to produce better data to help people around the globe live better lives.