Statistics Belgium - Mission and Tasks

Mission and Tasks

Its main mission can be summarized in three words: collecting, processing and disseminating relevant, reliable and commented data on Belgian society.

“Collecting” means to seek information among economic and social actors. Data are collected directly or indirectly. For surveys respondents are directly interviewed by interviewers. Indirect data collection refers to the use of administrative files (NSSO, VAT, Crossroads Bank for Enterprises…). This method is increasingly used and reduces the response burden and costs for enterprises and individuals.

“Processing” primarily means to assess data in a critical way. Results are then checked and validated by assessing their quality and their plausibility. Finally summary tables are drawn using basic data. By aggregating and comparing different types of data, Statistics Belgium adds value to initial figures.

“Disseminating” means to make collected data available to the widest public (in accordance with the rules on personal privacy):

• Authorities (all Belgian political authorities at any level, but also international authorities and organisations);
• Enterprises (all enterprises regardless of their size or their interests);
• Society (researchers, journalists, professors, students and others)

Statistics Belgium disseminates statistical information on:

• Households (population figures, household budget, time use, holiday habits…);
• Industry, construction, trade and other services (data from surveys among enterprises);
• Economic situation such as indexes (e.g. consumer price index) and economic indicators on industrial production, investments, export, employment, retail activity, services sector…