
Meeting development challenges with trusted data
World Statistics Day reminds us that to ensure social and economic growth, support for data-backed policymaking is needed.

Using urban mobility and big data to track the pandemic
An analysis of data from popular transit applications indicates that there is a relationship between increased mobility and COVID-19 cases, but more information is needed to make a definitive link.

Here’s how we used satellite data to map poverty in Thailand and the Philippines
Innovative, new methods are needed to estimate poverty due to the high costs and long time frame of traditional methods.

How do we capture the digital economy in statistics?
By some estimates, the digital economy now accounts for trillions of dollars. But policymakers and companies still lack the data needed to fully understand it.

Charting Sri Lanka's aging population
These charts illustrate how Sri Lanka’s elderly population is increasing while the number of working-age people to help support them is declining. Forward-thinking policies are needed to address the challenges arising from this imbalance.

Data and the artificial intelligence gold rush: Who will win?
The exponential growth of data and artificial intelligence is creating a tug-of-war between data for profit and data for the common good. In this struggle, it is fundamental that we protect our basic human data rights.

Taking ownership: Better data is needed on women’s assets in Asia
Collecting sex-disaggregated data on asset ownership is an important step in achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in Asia and the Pacific.

Harvesting the good data that Asia’s farmers need
Area frame sampling – which compiles objective agriculture data using geographic areas and advanced technology – is increasingly being used in Asia to help farmers prepare for climate change and extreme weather.

How much does our family background determine our chances of (socioeconomic) success?
Parental characteristics are not the sole determining factor of one’s future mobility prospects in Asia and the Pacific.

Technological innovation is a game-changer for agricultural statistics
Both emerging and existing technologies should complement each other to bolster agricultural data quality.