Adoption of International Standards

The C&SD follows closely the definitions, concepts and methods on statistical matters and classification systems promulgated by international organisations such as the United Nations, International Labour Organisation and International Monetary Fund in compiling statistics. The adoption of internationally accepted standards helps ensure a definite level of quality in the statistics compiled and comparability with statistics of other economies. Major international standards adopted are listed below :

  International Standards Adopted
Population Census Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses (Revision 3), UN
Demographic Statistics Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System (Revision 3), UN
Labour Statistics Conceptual Framework Recommended by the ILO
National Accounts Statistics The System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA), EC, IMF, OECD, UN and World Bank
Balance of Payments Statistics Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (Sixth edition), IMF

2013 External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users, IMF

OECD Benchmark Definition of Foreign Direct Investment (Fourth edition), OECD

Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey Guide (Second edition), IMF

The Coordinated Direct Investment Survey Guide 2015, IMF
Price and Household Expenditure Statistics

Consumer Price Index Manual: Concepts and Methods (2020), ILO, IMF, OECD, Eurostat, UNECE and World Bank


Resolution concerning Household Income and Expenditure Statistics (2003), ILO
External Merchandise Trade Statistics International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions 2010, UN
Trade in Services Statistics Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010, UN, Eurostat, IMF, OECD, UNCTAD, WTO, and World Tourism Organisation
Sectoral Statistics
UN's International Recommendations for
  • Industrial Statistics 2008
  • Construction Statistics
  • Distributive Trade Statistics 2008
Science and Technology Statistics
OECD's methodology manuals on
  • Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development - Frascati Manual
  • Guidelines for Collecting, Reporting and Using Data on Innovation – Oslo Manual
  • Using Patent Data as Science and Technology Indicators - Patent Manual
  • The Measurement of Human Resources Devoted to Science and Technology - Canberra Manual
  • Proposed Standard Method of Compiling and Interpreting Technology Balance of Payments Data - TBP Manual
Manual for the Production of Statistics on the Information Economy, UNCTAD


EC - European Commission
Eurostat - Statistical Office of the European Communities
IMF - International Monetary Fund
ILO - International Labour Organisation
OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
UN - United Nations
UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNECE - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
WTO - World Trade Organisation