UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Message on World Statistics Day
20 October, 2010


联合国秘书长潘基文2010世界统计日致辞
2010年10月20日


Today marks the first observance of World Statistics Day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the importance of statistics in shaping our societies.


我们在今天首次纪念世界统计日,联合国大会宣布这个纪念日,是为了确认统计对社会的重要影响。


Statistics permeate modern life. They are the basis for many governmental, business and community decisions. They provide information and insight about the trends and forces that affect our lives. Collected in surveys and censuses – three billion people will participate in population and housing censuses this year alone – statistics affect the planning of schools, hospitals, roads and much else.


现代生活处处离不开统计。许多政府、商业和社区决策是以统计为依据。统计提供了信息和深入知识,以供了解影响我们生活的趋势和动因。仅今年一年,就将有30亿人参加人口和住房普查,在各种调查和普查中收集的统计数字影响着建设学校、医院、公路和许多其他设施的规划。


Statistics are a vital tool for economic and social development, including our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. For development to succeed, we need data collection and statistical analysis of poverty levels, access to education and the incidence of disease. Statistics are a central consideration in justifying almost every aspect of budgets and programmes that enable hungry children to be fed or that provide shelter and emergency health care for victims of natural disasters.


统计是极其重要的经济和社会发展工具,对于实现千年发展目标来说也是如此。为了实现成功发展,我们需要收集数据和进行统计分析,以了解贫穷程度、受教育机会和疾病发生率。在说明为什么需要拟订预算和方案,以便能够向饥饿儿童提供食物,或向自然灾害受害者提供住所和紧急医疗时,几乎每个方面的理由都把统计数字列为核心考虑因素。


The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, has created international methodological standards and guidelines in virtually every area of statistics. It has played a key role in helping governments strengthen their statistical reporting, making data more available and comparable across countries and regions than ever before.


1947年成立的联合国统计委员会为几乎每一个统计领域都制定了国际标准方法和准则。该委员会在帮助各国政府加强本国统计报告,并使数据比以往更易于获得、在国家和区域之间具有更大可比性方面发挥着关键作用。


I commend the dedication that many statistical experts bring to their reports and publications . They carry out an essential public service -- one that promotes peace and democracy by giving citizens reliable and impartial public information about their communities. Their core values -- service, integrity and professionalism -- deserve full support in all nations.


我赞扬许多统计专家为编制报告和出版物做出的奉献。他们提供了一项不可或缺的公益服务,这一服务通过向公民们提供关于其社会的可靠和公允的信息,促进了和平与民主。所有国家都应该充分支持他们的核心价值观,即服务、正直和敬业。


However, as in so many other areas, developing countries often find themselves at a disadvantage, lacking funds to pay salaries, train staff and collect data. On this first World Statistics Day I encourage the international community to work with the United Nations to enable all countries to meet their statistical needs. Let us all acknowledge the crucial role of statistics in fulfilling our global mission of development and peace.


然而,与许多其他领域一样,发展中国家经常在统计领域处于不利地位,缺乏支付薪金、培训工作人员和收集数据的资金。值此首次纪念世界统计日之际,我鼓励国际社会与联合国一道努力,使所有国家都能满足本国的统计需要。让我们共同确认,为履行我们关于发展与和平的全球使命,统计发挥的作用至为关键。