National statistics > What is national statistics

The Slovenian national statistics from 2008 to 2012

Main objectives

National statistics provides the public administration bodies and organisations, the economy and the general public with quality and timely data on the situation and movements in the economic, demographic and social spheres and in the areas of the environment and natural resources. These data are comparable in time, among places and internationally. Data for national needs and international dissemination are provided at optimal costs. Taking into account the statistical confidentiality, it keeps building the users’ trust and keeps strengthening the professional autonomy.

The main objectives of the Medium-term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008-2012 are:

• providing quality and user-friendly national statistics,
• flexibility of the response of national statistics to the needs and requests of users by using new sources of data and developing statistical methods,
• strengthening trust in national statistics and gaining a higher profile in Slovenia and abroad
• caring for the trust and cooperation among providers of statistical data and rationalisation of the collection of statistical data, primarily by using administrative sources,
• advanced professional training and the creation of new innovative approaches to improve working and processing efficiency,
• improving organisational culture and motivating employees,
• active participation in the domestic and international statistical environment,
• continuing the development of the national statistics system.

Strategic guidelines

To reach the above mentioned objectives strategies with detailed goals in the following fields were defined:

1. further development of national statistics:

• strengthening the national statistics system, including authorized producers,
• further development of cooperation with users and data providers, including keepers of administrative records,
• signing of written agreements with all keepers of administrative records and other databases which are sources for national statistics,
• reducing administrative burdens and cost,
• active participation in the development of the European Statistical System, statistics of the OECD and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE),
• further provision of technical assistance to the countries of the Western Balkans and beyond in accordance with the opportunities available.

2. further reduction of administrative burdens:

• reducing burdens on enterprises, with an emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises,
• reducing burdens on the population and households by using substitute, primarily administrative sources,
• reducing burdens on providers and producers of national statistical data, with better organisation of the process and the use of modern information technology,
• providing a balance between users' needs and burdening of data providers.

3. maintenance and improvement of the quality of statistics:

• to maintain professional independence of the national statistics system and the authorization for data collection at least at the current level,
• the fulfilment of the needs of both users of data and providers of data is balanced,
• the quality of statistical products and services is assessed and published for the majority of statistical products in a user-friendly manner,
• renewal of the process of statistical data processing brings better quality and efficiency,
• all employees should follow the values of quality, lifelong learning and development.

4. data protection:

• professionally qualified personnel, who are aware of the importance of data protection and statistical confidentiality, acts with quality and uniformly,
• statistically protected aggregated statistical data and microdata,
• technical equipment, organisational rules and procedures which prevent unauthorised access to data,
• adequately arranged business premises.

5. cooperation with reporting units and reduction of their burdens:

• all at one place and the possibility of choosing a method of communication with SORS,
• simple and understandable communication between reporting units and SORS,
• taking into account the response from reporting units,
• increasing the speed of response to contact from reporting units.

6. data dissemination and communication with users:

• satisfied users,
• improvement of statistical literacy,
• recognisability and good reputation of SORS trade mark, trust of users and actual use of statistical data,
• efficient preparation, promotion and transmission of data and information.

7. information technology update:

• well computerised and efficient statistical process, supported by general user-friendly information solutions,
• efficient and satisfied internal and external users of information services,
• competent IT experts,
• electronic storage and archiving.

8. human resources management:

• high competence of employees will be ensured with an adequate procedure for selecting the best candidates, definition of necessary knowledge, organisation and consistent implementation of continuous training, education and stimulation of employees for lifelong learning,
• motivation of employees will be stimulated by making their work satisfying, with management and adequate working conditions,
• flexibility in the response of employees to new content and technological challenges will be achieved with the stimulus of internal mobility of employees, building of an organisational memory in the form of documented working processes in the production of statistical data,
• excellent flow of information at all levels of the organization, and with the domestic and international environments via the internet will be ensured by means of modern ICT (intranet) and other contemporary tools and organisation of work,
• SORS will make efforts to ensure that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia confirms the personnel plans with a structure and scope of human resource potential which will be adequate in terms of numbers and expertise.

9. financial resources management:

• ensuring adequate funds for the implementation of statistical surveys,
• balancing costs and benefits in the implementation of tasks,
• acquiring as much funding from external sources as possible for the implementation of projects.

The most important activities in the statistical areas

With reliable statistical data on economic, social and environmental conditions, national statistics provides companies and citizens with the facts necessary for the evaluation of their status by comparing the situation in the national and international arenas, and for the evaluation, assessment and adoption of initiatives. In establishing the priorities, SORS has taken into account the content of draft statistical programme EU 2008–2012, the content of other national and international programmes and national needs established in extensive public debates through statistical advisory committees and the Statistical Council of RS. Particular attention in the implementation of tasks will be aid to the meeting of the obligations of the European Statistics Code of Practice and the reduction of administrative and cost burdens on reporting units and producers of national statistics.

1. Demographic and social statistics

• preparation and implementation of a register-based census of the population and housing,
• revision of the classification of occupations (ISCO),
• introduction of qualification system of education and training – KLASIUS,
• further development of health statistics,
• development of housing statistics from administrative sources,
• development of statistics on safe/healthy food.

2. Macroeconomic statistics

• provision of the high quality national accounts estimates, compiled in accordance with EU legislation and international standards, with a special emphasis on gross national income,
• elimination of differences between non-financial and financial institutional sector accounts, and their further development,
• development of real estate price statistics,
• adjustment to legal and methodological changes in trade statistics,
• development of statistics on service exchange,
• expansion of statistics on non-monetary financial institutions and payment systems.

3. Business statistics

• introduction of reviewed statistical classification of economic activities – SKD 2008 (Nace Rev.2),
• technological and content renewal of the statistical business register,
• measuring the volume of transport and development of modal, structural, regional and environmental indicators,
• development of the comprehensive approach to monitoring tourism,
• calculation of sustainable development indicators.

4. Agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics

• census of agriculture in 2010,
• monitoring of the use of pesticides.

5. Multi-domain statistics

• strengthening relations with other institutions and seeking possibilities for the takeover of administrative sources in the field of environment statistics,
• providing data and cartographic support for the planning of regional policies,
• further development of science and technology statistics,
• further development of information society statistics.