The coronavirus is ravaging across the world, causing death, serious illness and changing life as we know it. Beyond the obvious human toll of this fast spreading desease; how is it affecting different aspects of public and private life like individual incomes, employment, the well-being of women and children and access to public services?

A new report released this week, "How COVID-19 is changing the world: a statistical perspective", is trying to answer these questions.

As the dangerous COVID-19 pandemic besets the world, statisticians and data experts around the globe have entered a race against time.

Since ancient times, governments around the world have counted their populations. By counting everyone, communities can determine the needs of their people; where to build homes, schools, hospitals and where to invest in food supply, jobs and transportation. In this way, societies can progress. During the 2020 round of censuses, the majority of countries carry out their census. This year, censuses are scheduled to be carried out in 68 countries and territories.