About Statistics Iceland
Statistics Iceland is the National Statistical Institute of Iceland and was founded in 1914. Statistics Iceland is the centre for official statistics in Iceland and has the leading role in the organisation, coordination and conduct thereof. Director-General is Hrafnhildur Arnkelsdóttir.
Statistics Iceland collects, processes and disseminates data on the economy and society. Statistics Iceland is divided into five divisions:
Economic and business statistics
Business statistics
The department is responsible for the statistical business register. The department also produces short term statistics on VAT-turnover as well as structural business statistics. Statistics on tourism, industry, agriculture and science and technology are also produced.
Environment statistics
Statistics on waste and emission of greenhouse gases are produced as well as environmental accounts integrated with national accounts. The department also produces statistics on fisheries.
External trade
Processing of data on imports, exports and balance of trade of goods and services as well as statistics on price and volume indices.
National accounts and public finance
The department on national accounts and public finance is responsible for the annual production and expenditure accounts, quarterly national accounts, income distribution, short term indicators, tourism satellite accounts and statistics on public finances.
Price statistics
The price statistics department compiles and calculates the consumer price index, the building cost index, the producer price index and related indices.
Director of the division: Björn Rúnar Guðmundsson
Social statistics
Labour market and social statistics
The department collects and produces statistics on employment, living conditions, census, social indicators, social protection, health, gender, children, housing, elections, media and culture.
Wage statistics and education
Data on wages, earnings and labour cost are collected and produced in the department.
Director of division: Margrét Kristín Indriðadóttir is acting director.
Resources
Operation and finance
The division is responsible for operation, accounting and finance.
Information technology
The department is responsible for digitalisation, operation and services of computer systems as well as programming and operation of tailored software systems.
Data collection
Data collection conducts researches and collects data for the production of statistics within Statistics Iceland.
Director of division: Elsa B. Knútsdóttir
Research and forecast
The department monitors the performance of the economy, analyses prospects in the economy and makes macroeconomic forecasts. According to the Public Finance Act, the forecasts form the basis of the budget proposal and public finance policy. The department also carries out other research projects related to the preparation of macroeconomic forecasts.
Furthermore, the department has a defined service role for the department of national accounts and public finances and for this purpose has access to unpublished preliminary results. The role set by a formal agreement which establishes the objectives and the framework around the communications between departments. The research and forecast is an independent unit and separate from the statistical production.
The research and forecast unit appertains to Director-General.
Administration and cooperation
Communication and dissemination
The department is responsible for dissemination of statistics, publications, information services and editing, organising and maintaining the external and internal websites. The telephone switchboard is a part of the department.
International cooperation
The division organises Statistics Iceland’s cooperation with e.g., the European statistical system (ESS), the Nordic countries, and international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Methods and researcher services
Methodology, tailored statistics, cooperation with other producers of statistics and service to the research society is among tasks, as well as managing of applications for micro data.
Quality and security
Statistics Iceland has ISO 27001 security certification for its operations and places great emphasis on security issues in all respects. In addition, the production of official statistics is in line with the principles of the European Code of Practice, which is also the foundation of the quality system of the organization.
Director of division: Ólafur Arnar Þórðarson