As a representative of Austria, Statistics Austria is involved in all statistically relevant bodies of international institutions, such as the United Nations and the OECD. These include:
The United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) is the highest international statistical body. The commission was established in 1947. It assembles the Presidents and Directors General of statistical offices from all over the world to coordinate and set common international standards, concepts and methods.
UNSC is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) and oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). The UNSC consists of 24 UN member states, which are elected by UN ECOSOC on the basis of a geographical key.
Austria will be a full member of the UNSC Statistical Commission from 2026 to 2029. The election took place on 4 April 2025 at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is the result of the committed and constructive work of Statistics Austria at international level. As part of its UNSC membership, Statistics Austria will contribute current thematic focus areas - above all the modernisation of official statistics, the use of AI and the topic of data stewardship. Austria was last an elected UNSC member from 1980 to 1983 and has held observer status since then.
At the annual assemblies held in New York, Austria is represented by Director General Tobias Thomas. Furthermore, Statistics Austria is also represented in several working groups of the UNSC.
How can National Statistical Institutes ensure transparency, quality and ethical standards when using artificial intelligence and machine learning? Statistics Austria organised a high-level side event on the occasion of the 56th session of the UN Statistical Commission in New York to discuss these and similar questions at the highest level. The broad participation of chief statisticians from all over the world shows that the topic is of global importance.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was established in 1947 by the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). Austria has been a member since 1955.
The UNECE Conference of European Statisticians (CES) brings together more than 60 countries to steer statistical work in the UNECE region and beyond. It meets once a year, alternately in Geneva and Paris. At the annual meetings Austria is represented by Director General Tobias Thomas.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) came into force in 1961 with the aim to work for better policies for better lives. Austria is one of the founding states of the OECD.
The main responsibilities of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy (CSSP) include coordinating OECD statistical policy, providing statistical advice to other OECD bodies, improving the quality of statistics and managing the work and budget program of the OECD Statistics Directorate.
The plenary session takes place once a year alternately in Geneva and Paris, back to back with the UNECE CES. Austria is represented in the meetings by the Director General Tobias Thomas.
In addition to the engagement with the ESS, UN and OECD, Statistics Austria collaborates amongst others with the organisations listed below: