African Statistics Day 2025
African Statistics Day, celebrated every year on 18 November, raises public awareness about the essential role of statistics in driving social and economic development across the continent. The 2025 edition is held under the theme:
“Leveraging innovations in data and statistics to promote a just, peaceful, inclusive and prosperous society for Africans.”
This theme aligns with the African Union Theme of 2025: “Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations.” The focus of this year’s celebration is on strengthening statistical systems and embracing modern technologies to ensure that data is timely, relevant, inclusive, and capable of supporting evidence-based policies that advance peace, justice, and prosperity.
Why Statistics Matter
Africa continues to face major development challenges. Hunger levels remain high, peacefulness has declined in several regions, and many countries face governance and security issues. Reliable, high-quality data is essential for understanding these challenges and designing appropriate policy responses.
Despite progress, significant gaps remain in reporting on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16—peace, justice, and strong institutions. Many countries still lack sufficient data to track their progress. Stronger national statistical systems are therefore critical to produce and report the necessary indicators.
Driving Innovation in National Statistical Systems
- Countries across Africa are increasingly adopting digital tools and emerging technologies to modernize data production. Examples include:
- Use of mobile platforms and artificial intelligence to support financial inclusion, social service delivery, and civic engagement.
- Biometric identification systems that streamline public services.
- Computer-assisted telephone interviews for governance data collection, as implemented by Ghana Statistical Services.
- Uganda’s Ministry of Justice improving its administrative data systems through greater interoperability.
- Global tools such as the SDG 16 Survey Initiative, jointly developed by UNDP, UNODC and OHCHR, which support countries in measuring SDG 16 indicators.
Innovation also depends on strong legal frameworks, sound statistical business architecture, and investments in research and development—particularly in areas such as big data, geospatial tools, and citizen-generated data.
African States are encouraged to expand investment in data innovation, support youth-led initiatives, and develop new statistical products that meet users’ needs while increasing the visibility and usefulness of data for sustainable development.
Join the Conversation
Participate in African Statistics Day 2025 celebrations and join discussions using the hashtags:
#AfricanStatisticsDay2025 | #DataForAfrica | #StatsInnovation
