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As part of its statistical efforts to develop the Saudi economy and support the diversity of its sources, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) starts today (Sunday) January 16, 2022 working on the Business Statistics Survey. The survey, which will last for 40 days, aims to provide accurate statistical data and indicators on establishments that carry out various economic activities in Saudi Arabia. GASTAT indicated that the data of Business Statistics Survey, which started today, will be collected using an E- questionnaire that should be completed by economic establishments either through the email or website, or through the statistical phone, where statistical researchers will contact establishments to complete the required data. Completing the survey data through the E- questionnaire will contribute to supporting policy and decision makers in Saudi Arabia to build a thorough system of procedures that would significantly and urgently develop and support economic activities to achieve constant growth and sustainability. GASTAT requests all economic establishments to participate in this important survey by providing accurate statistical data and indicators on economic establishments in Saudi Arabia. It also called on all economic establishments to cooperate with the statistical researcher who will contact them to complete the data required for this important economic survey, given the importance of the establishments’ data in supporting the processes of decision-making and policy setting. In a related context, GASTAT invites all establishments in both the public and private sectors along with the non-profit sector to participate in filling out the E- questionnaire of Business Statistics Survey, assuring that this survey targets all economic activities in Saudi Arabia without exception, regardless of the size, type and geographical scope of the activity. Moreover, GASTAT explained that this Survey comes within an integrated framework with all government entities related to economic activities, as the questionnaire was built according to specific statistical criteria to guarantee the provision of accurate statistical data and indicators that measure various aspects of businesses in all economic establishments in Saudi Arabia. According to the General Statistics Law issued by the Council of Ministers, GASTAT confirmed its full commitment of the very highest levels of confidentiality, adding that the data completed through E- questionnaires shall not be published under any circumstances. GASTATS is also committed to maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of data and information to be only used for statistical purposes through aggregate results and general indicators in accordance with the applicable regulations in Saudi Arabia. It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and research, analyzes data and information, in addition to the documentation and archiving of all statistical information and data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Furthermore, GASTAT registers, classifies, and analyzes data. It extracts the data indicators as well.

Al-Fuhaid: Those who exist in the two holy mosques, hospitals and hotels will be counted on the first day of the actual enumeration stage The Director of the 2020 Saudi Census project, Mr. Fahd Al-Fuhaid, revealed that according to the plan prepared to implement the actual enumeration stage, the priority will be to count the population who move quickly such as those in the two holy mosques, hospitals and hotels in all regions of the Kingdom, starting from Tuesday evening, 22-23 Rajab corresponding to 17-18 March 2020. However, the census work represented in the visit of researchers to households, begins on Wednesday, 23 Rajab corresponding to March 18, 2020. Al-Fuhaid attributed that to the fact that the citizens, residents, and visitors in these places are moving more rapidly than those who are in their houses and usual places of residence. Indicating that the General Authority for Statistics has taken several technical and statistical measures to increase the accuracy and quality of statistical data aiming to obtain detailed information about population and housing, such as demographic, social and economic data of population in those places. Al-Fuhaid stated that work is still underway to implement the building numbering stage, which started on Monday 9 Jumad Al-Thani, 1441 AH, corresponding to February 3, 2020 over 33 days, and continues until Friday 11 Rajab , 1441 AH, corresponding to 6 March, 2020, where there are approximately 11 thousand monitors working in the field to meet the head of the household and put a sticker containing the building number, real estate unit number, total number of real estate units, and details of the sub and the main entrances of the buildings . Researchers also take preliminary data of the household, number of individuals, type of building, occupancy of real estate units, in addition to determining households who want to use the self-enumeration. Self-enumeration is one of the modern technological methods used in population censuses, where households do not need to be visited by the researcher, and may complete the census questionnaire electronically. It should be noted that the Fifth Census of Population, Housing and Establishments in the Kingdom "Saudi Census 2020" will provide a broad base of statistical data to be used as a reliable basis in conducting studies and research required by the programs and plans of development in the Kingdom and achieving Vision 2030, In addition to providing statistical data and indicators to measure the change in population characteristics over time, making domestic , regional and international comparisons, and reviewing and evaluating future population estimates .

Signing a MoU to enhance Use of Data “GASTAT” & World Bank: Our collaboration Supports Government Entities in the Exchange of Statistical Data and highlighting their efforts at the international level The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) and the World Bank signed on Monday 5/11/1440 H (8/7/2019) a memorandum of understanding to regulate statistical data exchange and enhance the joint work to support government entities. The MoU regulates the provision of data and statistics on Saudi Arabia to the World Bank, the classification of statistical data, whether the survey data produced by GASTAT from economic and household surveys or data of administrative records collected by GASTAT from government entities. The agreement also includes the mechanisms for requesting data from sources, technical responsibilities, intellectual property rights and organization aspects of publication.  HE Dr. Fahad Bin Sulaiman Al-Tekhifi, President of GASTAT, affirmed that the organization of data exchange with international organizations is one of the strategic tracks of the work of GASTAT, which stems from Saudi Arabia’s position which is led by government entities under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Furthermore, it reflects the role of GASTAT in increasing the pace of coordination and collaboration with the international organizations concerning data and statistical indicators of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it reflects the importance of the World Bank’s work in highlighting these indicators in international comparison programs and in carrying out studies and research relevant to the common development aspects of all countries of the world. The Regional Director of the World Bank in the Gulf Region, Mr. Essam Abu Sulaiman, asserted that the collaboration with the General Authority for Statistics as the official statistical body of Saudi Arabia comes in order to highlight the efforts undertaken by Saudi Arabia in various fields of development, and in response to the increasing demand for statistical data, whether survey data or data from records released by government entities. He also added that the collaboration with the Saudi statistical body will play an active role in the data request operations and provision to the World Bank, and ensure their unification according to international classifications and standards. The Regional Director of the World Bank commended the procedures carried out by GASTAT which are in accordance with the international requirements and methodologies of statistical work applicable in all countries. The World Bank is a strong partner in the GCC for more than 50 years. Government entities in the GCC have benefited from the World Bank's global development knowledge and expertise through its technical assistance programs. These include the activities in the GCC in key areas that the Bank has extensive international technical expertise in them, including improving service delivery, encouraging diversification of economic activity, strengthening governance, strengthening social protection systems and pensions. The World Bank is also working with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council to address interrelated issues, particularly in environmental protection.

GASTAT Releases Results of Household Health Survey, 2018 GASTAT released the results of Household Health Survey, 2018 on its official website. The importance of this survey lies in the data and indicators provided for health. It includes indicators for health status of individuals, population suffering from chronic diseases, periodic health check-ups performed by individuals, in addition to indicators of family planning procedures, fertility rates, and child mortality.  Results showed that the percentage of (Saudi and non-Saudi) population (15+) who have good to very good health has increased, and that is based on their own assessments where the percentage hit (95%) compared to (%94.2) in 2017. In regard to Saudis, the percentage of Saudi males who have good to very good health reached to (%94.2) based on their own assessments, while the percentage of Saudi females who have good to very good health was at (%92.3) based on their own assessments.   Results also showed that (%24.3) of total population (15+) perform periodic check-ups to check their health at least once a year. Additionally, percentage of (Saudi and non-Saudi) population who are covered with health insurance reached (%38.6).  On the other hand, results of the survey indicated that the percentage of population who are suffering from chronic diseases in the age group (15+) has decreased to (%15.9) compared to (%16.4) in 2017.  Based on the survey’s results, total fertility rate of women between (15-49 years) was (1.92) birth per woman. As for Saudi females, the total fertility rate was (2.33) births per woman. The results indicated that (%32.9) of married women between (15-49 years) are using modern contraceptive methods.   Moreover, mortality rate among children under five years was (8.5) deaths per 1,000 live births, while mortality rate among infants under one year in Saudi Arabia was (6) deaths per 1,000 live births. Results revealed that percentage of population (15+) who were diagnosed with diabetes reached (%8.5). The percentage of population (15+) who were diagnosed with heart diseases was at (%1.21). On the other hand, the percentage of population (15+) who were diagnosed with hypertension was (%7.6).   Household Health Survey also includes other indicators such as: distance between households and health centers, percentage of children under two years who are committed to vaccination, average number of hospital admissions per 1000 individuals, in addition to other indicators.

GASTAT provides development opportunities through big data Saudi Arabia concludes its participation in the first meeting of the friends of the chair group on economic statistics of the United Nations within 11 countries On Thursday May 30, 2019, Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), concluded its participation in the first meeting of the friends of the chair group on economic statistics of the United Nations within 11 countries, which was held at UN headquarter in New York city. The three-day meeting discussed the institutional transformation issues of national statistical bodies, in addition to the new methods, services and roles played by such statistical agencies. GASTAT president, Dr. Fahad bin Sulaiman Altekhaifi, who led the Saudi delegation, confirmed that GASTAT 's participations with international organizations and experts of the international statistical agencies in their meetings are useful opportunities to highlight KSA's efforts in development with statistical figures and to develop statistical work according to international standards. Altekhaifi said statistical offices are challenged by changes in data gathering brought about by new technology. He added that big data could replace traditional statistical activities as an innovative way of producing official statistics or providing additional information to support the currently available official statistics, hence new indicators might be produced to support all decision makers in different developmental fields. The shift towards big data to be one of GASTAT official statistics sources reflects Saudi Arabia tendencies to benefit from the digital transformation in producing economic, social, and cultural statistics that support government bodies in accepting the rapid developmental changes which must be applied and reflected through official statistics. GASTAT president indicated that using big data as a new (complementary or alternative) source of data creates some challenges that should be overcome by statistical entities. These challenges include the methodological aspects of data, determining data access methods, unifying statistical concepts, completing and processing data and other practices, in addition to ensuring a certain level of quality and enabling international comparisons. However, the organizational factors include other fields such as updating the organizational structure, working on statistical capacity development, establishing collaborations with the private and public data sources, and communicating with users. Altekhaifi mentioned that the national statistical agencies must overcome these challenges to guarantee the usefulness of big data in the production of official statistics, especially for databases, computing and digitization. Statistical entities need to adopt national statistical strategies that deal with plans, strategies, implementation methods and development mechanisms in the national statistical environment. In addition, they need to enhance coordination and partnerships between the national statistical agencies and the different sources of data, whether governmental or private. However, all databases of government and private statistical entities must be electronically linked, while maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of data when exchanging data. Furthermore, statistical indicators definitions, concepts, and methodologies must be unified among all partners to avoid misunderstandings of statistics that result from the use of different concepts and methodology. This includes the use of official international statistical classifications such as ISIC 4 by all partners from the public and private sectors to facilitate work on databases and get coordinated and comparable data that are ready for all statistical purposes. Moreover, it is important for all statistical entities to have a road map through which they can use big data to provide official data. GASTAT has reviewed all Saudi Arabia’ efforts to benefit from big data by approving the National Strategy for Statistical Development, electronic linkage projects, and international classifications. In addition to unifying the definitions and methodologies, and encouraging the initiatives of digital transformation in all public and private sectors. It is worth mentioning that many international experts in the statistical and economic fields have participated in the discussions of the first meeting of the friends of the chair group on economic statistics of the United Nations. Topics discussed included the future of economic statistics within the Sustainable Development Goals from the perspectives of the international organizations and the national statistical entities. They also included digital infrastructure, and maintaining an interactive economic system, in addition to discussing a number of experiments on the institutional transformation of the national statistical offices, and methods of using data sources.