About NIS

The National Institute of Statistics (NIS), which is part of the Ministry of Planning, is the focal point on statistical matters in Cambodia. The NIS  compiles and consolidates statistics provided by decentralized offices and also collects primary data through household and establishment surveys and population, agricultural and economic censuses. Many development partners financially and technically assisted NIS since 1993.

Cambodia has a decentralized statistical structure. There are statistical bureaus and sections within planning and statistics departments of the various Ministries and in the planning and statistical units in the provinces and districts. NIS has now 300 staffs at central level and 380 staffs at local level. The statistical personnel of ministries and institution are about 150 staffs.

The NIS is headed by a Director General who is assisted by Deputy Directors General. It has four Departments:
(i) Social Statistics Department, responsible for collecting and compiling primary data on social affairs, education, health, information and culture; 
(ii) Demographic Statistics, Census and Survey Department, responsible for conducting censuses and surveys as well as data processing, statistical and demographic analysis and dissemination of results;
(iii) General Statistics Department, which comprises of the Bureau of National Accounts, the Bureau of Consumer Price Indices, Bureau of Administration and Bureau of Statistical Standards, Classification, Coordination and International Cooperation;
(iv) Economic Statistics Department, responsible for collecting and compiling primary as well as secondary data on agriculture, forestry, industry, commerce, construction, telecommunication, transport, tourism and environment. 

The NIS has recently reorganized inself to meet the increasing demand of wide range of statistics of good quality. The NIS has now 7 departments, the new department are: National Account Department, ICT Department, Statistical Standard and Analysis Department and Statistical Policies and Cooperation (Replacing General Statistics Department). The NIS is working to prepare the Sub Decree on designated official statistic. The mechanism of coordication include SAC(Statistics Advisory Council) and SCC( Statistics Coordination Committee). The 4th SCC meeting took place in MAY 2009 to look at the sub-decree on designated official statistics. 

The upgrading of staff skills through training both in-country and in international institutions, the establishment of in-house data processing capacity, the collection of primary data through the 1998 Population Census and various surveys, and the increased capacity to serve the needs of data users have in the recent past greatly contributed to enhancing the role of NIS in the statistical system of Cambodia.