Statistical Service – Historical Overview

Founded in 1950 as a small administrative unit, upgraded after the independence of Cyprus in 1960 and until January 2000 called the Department of Statistics and Research. It is administratively subordinated to the Ministry of Finance, but maintains its autonomy in technical matters and has the sole responsibility for the selection of methodology, techniques, definitions and procedures for the implementation of statistical activity programs, as well as for the publication of the statistical data it produces.

Milestones in the History of the Statistical Service

Before 1950: The first statistics

Although there was no government department responsible for the production of statistics before 1950, statistics for Cyprus existed from earlier years and were mainly compiled from administrative records such as the registry, customs foreign trade forms, education, agriculture records, etc. These data were published mainly in the Annual Report on Cyprus of the colonial British Administration. In 1881, the first Population Census for Cyprus was conducted by the then British Administration and has been conducted almost every decade since then.

1950-1959: Few statistics

For the first time there was a specialized department for statistics, as a small administrative unit of the then British Administration. In the 1950s, few statistics were produced, mainly on foreign trade, prices, agricultural production, population, demographics and economic accounts.

1960-1973: First years of the Republic of Cyprus

In 1960, with the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, the small administrative unit was upgraded and renamed to the Department of Statistics and Research. With the upgrade, inventories and surveys began to be conducted on a systematic basis, such as for example the Population, Business and Agriculture censuses.

In the years that followed, the Department of Statistics and Research began to expand its contacts with International Organizations, while also adopting classifications, methodologies and definitions of the United Nations Statistical Office. At the same time, the statistics produced by the Department were the basis for the preparation of Government Development Programs (five-year programs).

The year 1968 is an important milestone in the history of the Statistical Service, as the first Statistical Law was adopted and entered into force, based on which the responsibilities of the Department of Statistics and Research were defined as the central body for the production of official statistics and statistical information in Cyprus.

1974-1979: Turkish invasion, occupation, division

During the period after the Turkish invasion and the division of the island in 1974, the Department of Statistics and Research had to adapt its work based on the new needs for statistics that emerged. Thus, the Department compiled statistics and estimates in relation to the loss of productive resources in the occupied territories and then assisted the Government's work for reconstruction, by producing statistics for the Government controlled areas of Cyprus. In addition, the Department provided statistical support to the Government during the negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus problem.

1980-1997: Reconstruction, Development course

Since 1980, the Department of Statistics and Research has been one of the pioneering government departments that has sought and succeeded in introducing computer technology to conduct its work and research.

In the years that followed, the Department expanded its work significantly, establishing regular surveys and short-term indicators. At the same time, it began to actively participate in conferences abroad (UN, FAO, ILO, ECE, etc.), thus giving the statistical presence of Cyprus in the international arena. Openings to the society also followed, with the Department of Statistics and Research informing organized groups in relation to the statistics that were compiled, participating in committees, providing consulting services to other bodies, conducting specialized research, using the media for dissemination of data and communication with the public, etc. The Department of Statistics and Research was one of the first government departments with a website in 1997.

For the purpose of harmonizing the statistical system of Cyprus with the corresponding European one, in the period 1992-1993 the first contacts of the Department of Statistics and Research with the European Union (EU) were made, through the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).

1998-2008: European integration and modernization

In 1998, with the beginning of the negotiations for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union (EU), the implementation of programs for harmonization of the data and methodologies of Cyprus with the corresponding European ones began.

In 2000, the new Statistical Law (No. 15 (I) of 2000) entered into force. This law, which is no longer in force, replaced the previous law of 1968 and was fully harmonized with the provisions of the respective laws in force in the EU Member States. Under this law, the Department of Statistics and Research was renamed to the Statistical Service to comply with the corresponding EU services. The law defined the legal framework for the collection, processing and dissemination of statistical data and included general provisions concerning the statistical system of Cyprus. It also defined the responsibilities of the Statistical Service and redefined its role as the central body for the production of official statistics.

The Statistical Service thus acquired an upgraded role and function in the wider statistical system, as well as a coordinating role for all statistics produced in Cyprus, both by itself and by other Services (eg Central Bank, Ministry of Agriculture, Police, Civil Aviation, etc.).

In 2004, with the accession of Cyprus to the EU, the work of the Statistical Service expanded due to new obligations from EU regulations and directives and as a result, the number of inquiries conducted by the office has increased significantly. Among the new obligations of the Statistical Service was the active participation in committees, conferences and working groups of the EU (mainly Eurostat), in Luxembourg and Brussels.

In the years that followed, the Statistical Service continued to improve its operation by adopting the European Statistics Code of Practice, upgrading citizen service (such as website, citizen guide, automatic email notification, European Statistical Data Support service center, weekly diary of announcements), developing direct and regular communication with all users of statistics, participating in research programs and developing collaborations with research centers in Cyprus and abroad.

In 2008 the Statistical Service had to face another challenge, the accession of Cyprus to the eurozone. The Statistical Service timely prepared a strategic plan for the smooth transition from the Cypriot pound to the euro, which was successfully implemented.

2011: Population Census

The 2011 Census can be described as a milestone in the course of the Statistical Service. In October 2012, the Statistical Service was awarded the Innovation Award 2011 for the wider Public Sector, by the Federation of Employers and Industrialists, for the development of the innovative Cyprus Blaise Integrated Census System (CY-BICS), which was developed specifically for the 2011 Population Census. With the implementation of this system, a significant reduction in the cost of conducting the Census was achieved as well as the very timely publication of the results. At the same time, the high quality of the data was ensured.

2013 - 2016: Economic Adjustment Programme (Memorandum)

In 2013, the ongoing economic crisis forced Cyprus to join the Economic Adjustment Programme, to provide financial assistance to Cyprus by the European Stability Mechanism. In March 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Troika (European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank) and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, a group of Troika experts would make regular visits to Cyprus to monitor the progress of the economy. The Statistical Service was called upon to support the Government's work in enforcing and evaluating measures, by providing official statistics in various sectors of the economy and society. The official statistics produced formed the basis for the evaluation of the measures taken by the Government and for the subsequent course.

On March 31, 2016, the government of Cyprus officially withdrew from the Memorandum of Understanding with the Troika after a period of three years. The assessments of the Cypriot economy, however, would not stop and will continue to be done every six months until 75% of the loan taken by Cyprus is repaid. Therefore, the Statistical Service has continued and still continues to support the work of the Government by providing high quality statistics, both in general and in particular for the purposes of evaluating the Cypriot economy.

2018: Commitment on Confidence in Statistics

The Council of Ministers in its meeting on October 16, 2018, with decision no. 85,964, endorsed the Commitment on Confidence in Statistics. The ultimate goal of the Commitment is to further enhance public confidence in official statistics and, therefore, includes provisions on actions that the government undertakes to improve or maintain the appropriate conditions for the implementation of the European Code of Practice for Statistics (Code). The Commitment is a statement of support for the existing laws and policies implemented by the Statistical Service in order to fulfill its obligations under the Code. It also assures the citizen about the independent and objective nature of the production of statistics by the Statistical Service. With the approval of the Commitment, the government ensures the professional independence of the Statistical Service and recognizes the value of official statistics as a common good.

With the publication of this Commitment, the Cypriot Government assumes responsibility for the country's level of compliance with the Code, in particular in relation to the institutional framework (eg professional independence) and to those provisions contained in the Code but outside of the responsibilities and control of the Statistical Office, such as, for example, adequate resources.

2020: COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its response measures, the Statistical Service had to face several challenges, mainly in terms of how data collection is conducted. In particular, access to administrative files was strengthened to reduce the administrative burden on respondents, while the process of data collection via the internet was further promoted. In addition, where possible, on-site interviews for research purposes were replaced by telephone interviews. In order to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society and the country's economy, many survey questionnaires were modified accordingly. In several cases there has been a need to adjust the methodology for producing statistics, following Eurostat recommendations to all Member States, to take the impact of the pandemic into account.

Despite the difficulties and peculiarities, the challenges were addressed effectively, with flexible arrangements, and as a result there were no deviations in the implementation of the statistical programme, nor any negative effects on the quality of official statistics.

2021: Official Statistics Law of 2021 (Ν.25(Ι)/2021)

On March 18, 2021, the new Official Statistics Law of 2021 (Law 25 (I) / 2021) entered into force. The purpose of the new law is to review and modernize the legislation governing the development, production and dissemination of official statistics in Cyprus. This law replaces and repeals the Statistics Law of 2000 (Law 15 (I) / 2000). Its provisions are also in line with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 on european statistics, with an emphasis on its latest amendment by Regulation (EU) 2015/759.

Today:

The Statistical Service continues to carry out its work in the best and most efficient way possible. A constant effort is made to upgrade the quality of the services it offers and to adapt it to the various social, political and economic conditions that prevail in our country.

Directors of the Statistical Service

1. Mr. Simos Vasileiou (1960 – 1962)

2. Dr. Theophilos Kakoullos (1962 - 1963)

3. Dr. Haris Menelaou (1963 – 1979)

4. Dr. Evros Demetriades (1981 – 1998)

5. Mr. Pambis Philippides (1998 – 2007)

6. Mr. George Chr. Georgiou (2007 – 2017)

7. Mr. Stavros Karagiorgis (2018 – Present)

Last Update: 28 April, 2021.