An archive photo
MINSK, 6 March (BelTA) – The 57th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission has taken place in New York. Belarus was represented at the event by First Deputy Chairman of the National Statistical Committee (Belstat) Timofei Zhigarev, BelTA learned from Belstat.
As part of the session’s program, Timofei Zhigarev took part in discussions on a number of key areas of strategic importance for the development of national statistical systems and international cooperation. These included the report of the expert group on measuring well-being, statistics on agriculture and rural areas, environmental and climate change statistics, as well as the report of the working group on data governance.
Particular attention at the session was paid to the report of the expert group on measuring well-being.
In his address, Timofei Zhigarev emphasized that work is already underway in Belarus to develop a national system for measuring sustainable well-being. “We envisage the development of a national index based on a balanced set of indicators that complement GDP,” he noted. “Belstat thus confirms its commitment to monitoring well-being based on the analysis of indicators that extend beyond the traditional framework of GDP.”
According to the Belarusian side, the international system for measuring well-being will become an important benchmark for improving social and economic policy aimed at a real increase in the living standards of citizens.
During the discussion of statistics on agriculture and rural areas, Belstat expressed full support for the approval of the guiding principles for the World Program for the Census of Agriculture 2030. Timofei Zhigarev stressed that the concepts and definitions contained in the document will be useful for countries when planning and conducting agricultural censuses, and adherence to the guiding principles will ensure international comparability of the results obtained. At the same time, the Belarusian side put forward a proposal aimed at optimizing statistical activities: “Countries where regular, systematic statistical observation ensures 100% coverage of the activities of agricultural organizations should be given the opportunity to integrate already available data into the census results,” Timofei Zhigarev stated. Such integration would eliminate duplication of information requests, reduce the burden on respondents, and cut financial and labor costs. Belarus counts on the support of this initiative from the UN Statistical Commission and its colleagues.
At the session on environmental and climate change statistics, Timofei Zhigarev noted Belarus’ significant progress in this area. Following the guiding principles for the implementation of the global set of climate change statistics and indicators, Belstat approved and published a national set of climate change-related statistical indicators in 2025.
“This set includes 72 indicators that are harmonized with the basic principles of environmental statistics development, the system of environmental-economic accounting, indicators for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as reporting indicators under the Paris Agreement. At the same time, Belstat supports the initiatives of the UN Statistics Division and the expert group concerning the revision of the global set and the basic principles for developing environmental statistics, which will make it possible to improve the national set of statistical indicators related to climate change and expand its scope of application,” Timofei Zhigarev emphasized.
As part of the Report of the Working Group on Data Governance, the first deputy chairman of the National Statistical Committee noted that in 2025 Belarus took part in a global survey on data governance and the national statistical system conducted under the UN auspices.
The survey results indicate that Belarus is at a fairly high level regarding data governance: “Since last year, Belstat has been involved in activities related to state data management at the legislative level. We have developed standard structures for state data, metadata, and classifications, ensured the adaptation of our own software products for maintaining a state data catalog and a unified classification system, and begun inventorying the data contained in all state information systems and resources. It should be emphasized that the framework document on data governance for official statistics being developed by the group will only be useful if the specific functions of statistical services as data stewards are defined,” Timofei Zhigarev stated.
As part of the global survey on data governance and national statistical systems, the UN Statistical Commission’s working group collected information from 108 member states on institutional mechanisms, legal and strategic frameworks, the use of new data sources and technologies, as well as related challenges in terms of coordination, resources, capacity, and international cooperation.
As part of the session’s program, Timofei Zhigarev took part in discussions on a number of key areas of strategic importance for the development of national statistical systems and international cooperation. These included the report of the expert group on measuring well-being, statistics on agriculture and rural areas, environmental and climate change statistics, as well as the report of the working group on data governance.
Particular attention at the session was paid to the report of the expert group on measuring well-being.
In his address, Timofei Zhigarev emphasized that work is already underway in Belarus to develop a national system for measuring sustainable well-being. “We envisage the development of a national index based on a balanced set of indicators that complement GDP,” he noted. “Belstat thus confirms its commitment to monitoring well-being based on the analysis of indicators that extend beyond the traditional framework of GDP.”
According to the Belarusian side, the international system for measuring well-being will become an important benchmark for improving social and economic policy aimed at a real increase in the living standards of citizens.
During the discussion of statistics on agriculture and rural areas, Belstat expressed full support for the approval of the guiding principles for the World Program for the Census of Agriculture 2030. Timofei Zhigarev stressed that the concepts and definitions contained in the document will be useful for countries when planning and conducting agricultural censuses, and adherence to the guiding principles will ensure international comparability of the results obtained. At the same time, the Belarusian side put forward a proposal aimed at optimizing statistical activities: “Countries where regular, systematic statistical observation ensures 100% coverage of the activities of agricultural organizations should be given the opportunity to integrate already available data into the census results,” Timofei Zhigarev stated. Such integration would eliminate duplication of information requests, reduce the burden on respondents, and cut financial and labor costs. Belarus counts on the support of this initiative from the UN Statistical Commission and its colleagues.
At the session on environmental and climate change statistics, Timofei Zhigarev noted Belarus’ significant progress in this area. Following the guiding principles for the implementation of the global set of climate change statistics and indicators, Belstat approved and published a national set of climate change-related statistical indicators in 2025.
“This set includes 72 indicators that are harmonized with the basic principles of environmental statistics development, the system of environmental-economic accounting, indicators for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as reporting indicators under the Paris Agreement. At the same time, Belstat supports the initiatives of the UN Statistics Division and the expert group concerning the revision of the global set and the basic principles for developing environmental statistics, which will make it possible to improve the national set of statistical indicators related to climate change and expand its scope of application,” Timofei Zhigarev emphasized.
As part of the Report of the Working Group on Data Governance, the first deputy chairman of the National Statistical Committee noted that in 2025 Belarus took part in a global survey on data governance and the national statistical system conducted under the UN auspices.
The survey results indicate that Belarus is at a fairly high level regarding data governance: “Since last year, Belstat has been involved in activities related to state data management at the legislative level. We have developed standard structures for state data, metadata, and classifications, ensured the adaptation of our own software products for maintaining a state data catalog and a unified classification system, and begun inventorying the data contained in all state information systems and resources. It should be emphasized that the framework document on data governance for official statistics being developed by the group will only be useful if the specific functions of statistical services as data stewards are defined,” Timofei Zhigarev stated.
As part of the global survey on data governance and national statistical systems, the UN Statistical Commission’s working group collected information from 108 member states on institutional mechanisms, legal and strategic frameworks, the use of new data sources and technologies, as well as related challenges in terms of coordination, resources, capacity, and international cooperation.
During the 57th session of the UN Statistical Commission, participants from various countries around the world exchanged experiences, shared best practices, and worked together on decision-making on current topics over several days.
Photo courtesy of the Belarusian National Statistical Committee
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