Session 38
Telling the Statistical Story
5 June 2026
10:30 – 11:45
ŠIBENIK IV
Presentation title
It’s Time to Create a Museum of Statistics
Statistics have long been the backbone of policymaking, economic planning, and social research.
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Yet, unlike many other fields that celebrate their heritage through dedicated museums—such as the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Museum of Chocolate, the Mushroom Museum, or numerous institutions devoted to history, technology, and modern art—there is still no public space that explains how statistical thinking has evolved. This abstract proposes the creation of a Museum of Statistics, an institution designed to preserve, interpret, and showcase the development of standards, methodologies, and statistical tools.
Standardization has played a central role in shaping modern statistics. Early classification systems, harmonized definitions, and later international statistical standards made it possible to compare data across regions, sectors, and time periods. A museum could present how these standards emerged and changed over time, helping visitors understand why statistical categories evolve and how these shifts influence public policy and everyday decision making.
The tools used to collect and process data have also transformed dramatically. Early statisticians worked with manual tabulation, mechanical calculators, and punch card machines. Today, analysts rely on digital databases, automated data pipelines, and advanced computational systems. These technological changes were closely linked to the development of standards: as tools became more complex, the need for harmonized procedures, metadata structures, and quality frameworks grew. A museum could illustrate this parallel evolution, showing how technology and standardization together shaped the modern statistical system.
Although statistics play a big role in modern life, many people find it hard to distinguish real, official statistics from the informal “statistics” shared online. A Museum of Statistics could help bridge this gap. The museum would use historical tools, documents, interactive displays, and modern visualizations to offer a clear and accessible learning space for everyone. It would demonstrate how data has influenced governance, economic development, and social progress around the world.
In a time defined by data abundance, misinformation, and growing public interest in how numbers shape daily life, the absence of a museum dedicated to statistics is increasingly noticeable. Establishing a Museum of Statistics would preserve the legacy of data collection, promote statistical literacy, and encourage meaningful public engagement with the role of numbers in society. Now is the ideal moment to introduce such an institution—one that honours the past while preparing future generations for a data driven world.
Žaklina Čizmović
Croatian Bureau of Statistics
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As the Head of the Quality, Statistical Standards, and Geoinformation System Development Department, Žaklina Čizmović works on improving statistical standards and geoinformation systems. She has a master's degree in economics and is an expert in statistics and quality management. Žaklina has led important projects to align Croatian statistical practices with EU standards. She played a key role in setting up the Quality System in the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and led the development of a system to improve the quality and management of statistical surveys. Her work ensured that statistical processes are efficient and reliable. At the European level, Žaklina contributed to updating the Code of Practice for European Statistics and helped improve the NACE Rev. 2.1 classification, making economic data more accurate and useful. She also focuses on geoinformation systems and subnational statistics, recognizing the importance of location-based data in modern analysis. Her efforts have improved the quality
Presentation title
Increasing Trust in Official Statistics: A Core Aim of the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria’s Communication Strategy
Trust in official statistics is a fundamental prerequisite for evidence-based policymaking, democratic governance, and informed public debate.
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In recent years, national statistical offices across Europe have faced growing challenges related to misinformation, declining trust in institutions, and increasing public demand for transparency and accessibility of the institutional activities and the results of their work. In this environment, National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (BNSI) understand that the statistical quality cannot be fully understood or appreciated without adequate levels of statistical education and literacy among users. In this context, explaining statistical quality to diverse audiences has become a strategic priority for statistical authorities.
In response to these evolving challenges and in order to remain aligned with European and international trends in official statistics, BNSI has developed and implemented into a practice a dedicated Communication Strategy. The strategy is designed to strengthen trust in official statistics by improving the clarity, accessibility, and relevance of statistical information for different user groups. It places particular emphasis on integrating statistical education and literacy into communication activities, acknowledging their key role in fostering informed use and correct interpretation of statistical data.
The main objectives of the BNSI Communication Strategy include enhancing public understanding of statistical concepts and quality principles, promoting transparency regarding statistical processes and methodologies, supporting equal access to official statistics, and encouraging active dialogue with users. Through targeted communication tools, educational initiatives, and user-oriented and pro-active dissemination practices, the strategy aims to increase confidence in official statistics and to reinforce the role of BNSI as a trusted provider of high-quality, impartial statistical information.
Particular attention is paid to the alignment of national communication efforts with the European Statistics Code of Practice, especially those related to professional independence, impartiality, and accountability.
The paper demonstrates that statistical education plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between data producers and users. The findings suggest that improved statistical literacy enhances users’ ability to assess data quality, reduces misinterpretation, and strengthens confidence in official statistics. As a conclusion, explaining quality through education and literacy is an essential component of the BNSI Communication strategy and a sustainable pathway to increasing trust in official statistics.
Atanas Atanasov, Antoaneta Ilkova
National Statistical Institute
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Assoc. Prof. Atanas Atanasov, PhD is the President of the BNSI since July 2022. In 2015 he defended his PhD thesis on ‘Econometric methods for seasonal adjustment of statistical time series’, field of study ‘Statistics and Demography’ – BAS, Economic Research Institute. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Statistics and Econometrics in UNWE. He has extensive academic experience: since 2018 he has been Associate Professor at the ‘Statistics and Econometrics’ Department at the UNWE – Sofia. Previously - Assistant Professor at the same department. He has many years of experience in the private sector as a Managing Partner. Leader and expert in over 130 projects in the field of statistics. He has consulted for numerous international and national institutions: the World Bank, the Administration of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Finance, the Court of Auditors, etc.
Antoaneta Ilkova is director of ‘Multi-Domain Statistics, Methodology and Registers’ Directorate, at the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (BNSI).
She has a long career in the BNSI as she has a vast experience in statistics, having held various positions in BNS over the last 25 years.
Antoaneta has been responsible for different domains of statistics: communication with stakeholders and dissemination of statistical information, statistical literacy, quality management, development of new methods and technologies for production of official and experimental statistics, implementation of GSBPM, implementation of SDG 2030 at national level, etc.
Antoaneta represents the BNSI in the European Statistical System and UN in a number of statistical working groups concerning methodology, statistical registers, dissemination and communication.
CO-AUTHOR:
Presentation title
"Integrating Statistical Education and Literacy to Combat Credibility Crises in Misinformation Eras: An Applied Perspective from Egypt"
In a digital environment characterized by the rapid flow of information, official statistics face an existential challenge known as the "Crisis of Credibility" It is no longer sufficient for data to be technically accurate if it lacks public trust and remains vulnerable to manipulation (Broomell & Kane, 2021).
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This study explores the role of integrating Statistical Education (as a methodological foundation) and Statistical Literacy (as a critical skill) in bridging the gap between "production accuracy" and "user trust" (Gal, 2019). Using a descriptive-analytical approach based on international quality standards (2016–2024), such as the UNSD framework, the study reveals that "Statistical Illiteracy" is the primary vulnerability exploited by Misinformation to distort official facts. (OECD, 2022). (Nguyen & Helles, 2022).
This paper presents the experience of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) as a national applied case study, illustrating the transition from the traditional role of a data producer to a more advanced role as a "Guardian of Statistical Truth," in alignment with international standards for official statistics and United Nations recommendations (United Nations, 2023). This transformation is achieved through the following pathway:
Operationalizing Institutional Procedural Transformation: Through the adoption of "Active Communication" strategies to monitor and debunk statistical rumors on social media platforms (UNECE, 2021), in parallel with methodological simplification by transforming complex Metadata into visual formats (Infographics) to enhance "Statistical Immunity" and reduce the cognitive load for the general public (OECD, 2023), ultimately empowering users to detect visual deception and identify sampling biases and manipulation in misleading data visualizations as a fundamental pillar of modern statistical literacy (Tufte & Cairo, 2022; Gal, 2019).
The study concludes that investing in society’s statistical awareness is the "Third Pillar" of data quality. It recommends integrating "Statistical Digital Immunity" programs into national digital transformation strategies to ensure sustainable trust in official data as a fundamental cornerstone for policymaking and sustainable development.
Yasmin Hassan Ali
Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS)
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"I am a Senior Economist and Statistician at the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egypt, where I have built a distinguished career since 2006. With nearly two decades of expertise, I play a pivotal role in the Sustainable Development Unit, overseeing the monitoring of national indicators and developing integrated databases in collaboration with ESCWA. Throughout my tenure, I have been instrumental in transitioning statistical frameworks toward a 'Statistical Guardianship' model, aligning national outputs with international quality standards. I contributed significantly to the 2nd and 3rd National SDG Reports (2019, 2023) and spearheaded 'Active Communication' strategies to safeguard data integrity against digital misinformation. My current research focuses on building public 'Statistical Immunity' through innovative data visualization and methodological simplification. My extensive background in international reporting and statistical standards allows me to contribute effectively to enhancing the credibility and transparency of official statistics globally."
Presentation title
Statistical Education and Literacy as Foundations of Quality in Official Statistics
Quality in official statistics and data-driven decision-making is not solely determined by methodological rigor and institutional frameworks, but also by the level of statistical education and literacy among data producers, users, and decision-makers.
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This paper explores the role of statistical education and statistical literacy in explaining, understanding, and strengthening the concept of quality in official statistics. It argues that quality cannot be effectively communicated or fully appreciated without a shared understanding of basic statistical concepts, definitions, principles, limitations, and appropriate use of data.
The paper conceptualizes statistical literacy as the ability to critically interpret statistical information, understand measures of uncertainty, assess data sources, and recognize the implications of methodological choices. From this perspective, quality dimensions such as relevance, accuracy, coherence, comparability, and timeliness become meaningful only when users possess sufficient knowledge to interpret them correctly. Statistical education thus serves as a bridge between standardized technical quality frameworks and their practical application, enabling users to distinguish between data quality, fitness for purpose, and misuse or misinterpretation of statistics.
The paper highlights the dual role of statistical education. Internally, within statistical institutions, continuous learning strengthens staff competence, supports consistent application of quality standards, and fosters a culture of professional responsibility and innovation. Externally, education and outreach activities enhance users’ ability to engage with statistical products, provide informed feedback, and build trust in official statistics. Educational initiatives, including academic curricula, training programs within statistical systems, academic collaboration and user-oriented communication tools, have been identified as mechanisms for translating complex quality concepts into accessible and applicable knowledge.
The paper also examines challenges in integrating statistical education into quality strategies, such as varying levels of user knowledge, resource constraints, the complexity of multi-layered administration, the need for deeper integration of quality practices across decentralized units, sustaining motivation over time and the risk of oversimplification. It emphasizes the need for tailored approaches that address different audiences, from policymakers and journalists to students and the general public. By embedding statistical literacy into formal education systems and lifelong learning frameworks, institutions can create a more informed statistical ecosystem.
Ultimately, the paper argues that explaining quality through statistical education and literacy enhances transparency, supports evidence-based decision-making, and strengthens confidence in statistical outputs. Investing in statistical education is therefore not an auxiliary activity, but a core component of sustainable quality management in statistics and data governance, which contributes to the spread of statistical culture in general.
Edin Šabanović
Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Edin Šabanović is Assistant Director at the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He works on strategic development of official statistics, quality management, alignment with ESS standards and sample design. He is experienced in conducting surveys, coordinating complex statistical processes, and data analysis.
Edin holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Sarajevo (BA) and a Master`s degree in statistical analysis and cybernetics in economics from the University of Belgrade (RS) and the University „Džemal Bijedić“ Mostar (BA).
Edin Šabanović is an Assistant Professor at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology and the International University of Sarajevo. He teaches Statistics, Econometrics, and Research Methods. His academic interests include statistical data analysis, econometric modeling, missing data analysis, sampling design, poverty analysis. Through his dual engagement in public administration and higher education, he contributes to bridging theory and practice and to capacity building in the field of official statistics.
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