Functions of government statistics and the statistical system in China

Functions of government statistics

As an agency directly under the State Council, the National Bureau of Statistics is in charge of statistics and economic accounting in China. In accordance with the Statistics Law of the People's Republic of China and relevant regulations of the State Council, major functions of the National Bureau of Statistics include:

• To work out laws and regulations on statistical work, to formulate directive rules for statistical operation, to draw up plans for statistical modernization and nationwide statistical surveys, to organize, exercise leadership and supervision over statistical and economic accounting work in various localities and departments, and to supervise and inspect the enforcement of statistical laws and regulations.

• To set up and improve the national economic accounting system and statistical indicator system; to institute a unified basic statistical system for the whole country; to work out national statistical standards; to review and approve statistical standards by other government departments; to organize the administration of national statistical survey projects; to examine, approve and manage plans and schemes for statistical surveys by other departments.

• To organize the implementation of major censuses on the basic items relating to the state and strength of the country; to exercise unified administration over socio-economic surveys in various localities and departments, to collect, process and tabulate basic statistical information from across the country; to carry out analyses, forecasts and supervision from a statistical perspective on the national economic and scientific progress and social development; to provide statistical information and relevant proposals for the State Council and government departments concerned .

• To act as the exclusive agency in verifying, approving, administering and publishing basic national statistical data and to disseminate regularly to the general public statistical information regarding national economic and social development.

• To build up and administer the national statistical information system and the national statistical database system; to formulate basic standards and operational rules for statistical database networks in various localities and departments.

• To exercise leadership over directly- affiliated surveying agencies in various localities; to exercise unified management over operating expenses of statistical activities for statistical agencies in local governments at and above county level; to assist in the management of directors and deputy directors of local statistical offices of provinces , autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government; to organize and administer qualification examinations and the evaluation of professional titles for statisticians across the country.

The statistical system in China

The official statistical system in China consists of the government statistical system and department statistical system.

The government statistical system

The institution of statistical agencies and employment of statisticians at all levels of the government constitute the government statistical system. The National Bureau of Statistics is established under the State Council while independent statistical agencies are set up in local government at and above county level. At the township level, either statistical stations are instituted or full-time or part-time statisticians are employed. In addition, the National Bureau of Statistics has also established, under its direct leadership and administration, three survey- taking institutions, namely, Organization of Rural Socio-economic Surveys, Organization of Urban Socioeconomic Surveys and Organization of Enterprise Surveys across the country.

The major functions of the overall government statistical system include: to work out plans for statistical surveys, making arrangements for and inspecting statistical work and economic accounting work at national or local level; to organize the implementation of national and local statistical surveys, to collect, process and provide statistical data for the whole country or a particular region; to conduct statistical analysis on economic and social development and to exercise statistical supervision; to administer and coordinate statistical survey questionnaires designed by various departments.

The statistical agencies of local governments not only collect and provide statistical data for government agencies at higher levels but also collect and provide statistical information and submit statistical analysis reports for the local government.

Department statistical system

The institution of statistical agencies and employment of statisticians by various departments, both directly under the State Council and at the local levels, constitute the department statistical system. Its major responsibilities include: to organize and coordinate statistical work of the department concerned, accomplish the tasks in national and local statistical surveys, work out and implement department statistical survey programmes, and to collect, process and provide statistical data; to make statistical analysis of and exercise statistical supervision over the development of the department and sector concerned; to organize and coordinate statistical work of enterprises and institutions within the jurisdiction of the department concerned and manage statistical questionnaires to be used by the department.