Why should I provide data to CYSTAT?

Your participation is important

The statistics we produce are based on data provided by you. Therefore, your contribution is very important to the production of official statistics and consequently in the future of our country, since our statistics are part of the decision-making process by the government, companies and other organizations, in a wide range of social and economic issues which concern Cyprus. In other words, you play a most important role in the future of Cyprus and all this, with your participation in our surveys.

Participation in CYSTAT's surveys

If you have been selected in a sample survey conducted by CYSTAT (your household or the company in which you work), you must have been notified by CYSTAT in one of the following ways:

• Formal letter by mail.
  

• Notification via e-mail, from the official address of the Statistical Service (name@cystat.mof.gov.cy).
  

• Telephone communication by an authorised staff member of CYSTAT.

Is it mandatory to provide data to CYSTAT?

Mandatory provision of information

The provision of data to CYSTAT is mandatory.

Specifically, according to Article 13 (2) of the Official Statistics Law of 2021, the provision of data for statistical purposes by any person is mandatory, to the extent that this data is absolutely necessary for the production of official statistics.

Non-compliance with the provision of data to CYSTAT is an offense. Specifically, in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 (1) of the Official Statistics Law of 2021, a person who:

(a) refuses, omits or neglects to provide data to the Statistical Service or to other national authority;

(b) does not comply with the deadlines set by the Statistical Service or other national authority for the collection of data;

(c) provides false, incomplete or inaccurate data to the Statistical Service or other national authority; or

(d) refuses the access of the Statistical Service or other national authority to administrative records or private records for the purpose of using them for statistical purposes,

is guilty of an offence and, in case of conviction, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve (12) months or to a fine not exceeding five thousand euros (€5.000) or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Is the information I provide confidential?

Statistical confidentiality

Maintaining the confidentiality of your information is very important to us. For this reason, CYSTAT implements strict measures regarding the confidentiality of the data it collects, while it has established legal safeguards to ensure the confidentiality of the data produced. Statistical legislation provides for severe penalties in the event of an offense related to breach of data confidentiality (fine and / or imprisonment), while all of CYSTAT staff make an affidavit on the confidentiality of the data it manages, which is binding for life. 

Provisions regarding the protection of statistical confidentiality are set out in Article 16 of the Official Statistics Law of 2021. More information on the protection of confidential data by CYSTAT and statistical confidentiality can be found at the relevant webpage on our portal.  

How do I know that the people who contact me are from CYSTAT?

Telephone contact

You can verify if the number calling you is used by CYSTAT for data collection by entering it into the Telephone Number Confirmation service.

Personal contact

CYSTAT staff carry a badge with the special ID of CYSTAT, which certifies the authorization given to them under legislation, to collect information. You have the right to request that you see this ID before you work with CYSTAT staff to provide data. If you have any doubts, you can contact CYSTAT offices:

• Central Office (Lefkosia)
• Lefkosia District Office
• Larnaka District Office
• Lemesos District Office
• Pafos District Office

Why was I included in CYSTAT's surveys?

Sample selection for CYSTAT's surveys: 

• The Statistical Service conducts a large number of sampling surveys. This means that, in order to have a representative picture of our economy or society, we first need to have a representative sample of the population we are studying.

• For the selection of the sample in each survey, specific sampling criteria are used, which are determined according to the needs of the survey. Usually, in the case of households, the criteria used are related to the area of the household (urban - rural, provinces and smaller areas of each province), while in the case of enterprises, the criteria used usually concern their size (in terms of employment) and their economic activity.

• For business surveys, due to the small size of Cyprus and the criteria used in the selection of samples based on instructions from Eurostat (usually the size and economic activity), there is unfortunately an increased probability for some enterprises to be selected in a sample for more than 1 of our surveys. We understand that this creates an increased burden on businesses, but it is statistically necessary for the data produced to be representative of our economy. However, we are constantly exploring solutions to alleviate this problem, such as the use of administrative sources, where possible and the possible consolidation of some surveys. 

Where can I find more information about the data requested by CYSTAT?

Related Links - More Information:

• More information about the survey in which you participate.

• Questionnaire of the survey in which you participate.

• Detailed methodological information about the survey in which you participate.

• CYSTAT's right of access to data (incl. Personal data).

• Personal Data Protection at CYSTAT.