Central Bureau of Statistics (Arab Union)

The Central Bureau of Statistics (Arabic: مكتب الإحصاء المركزي maktab al-iḥṣā’ al-markizī) is the official statistical agency of the Arab Union's federal government. It is a state institution that publishes a vast range of statistics, information and other data, providing an essential service to the governmental, non-governmental, public, and commercial/private sectors, and especially the academic sector such as research institutions and universities as well as some bureaucratic functions for federal law enforcement. The Central Bureau of Statistics is officially an independent agency, existing and acting in accordance with Article II, section 34, parts iii–xix of the Constitution of the Arab Union. Its chairperson answers to the President of the Arab Union via the Presidential Executive Council.

The Central Bureau of Statistics has its own headquarters in the federal capital of Nasser City, and also maintains major offices in Jerusalem, Cairo and Baghdad, as well as smaller field offices in virtually every major city in the union, including all capitals of republics and organised territories. The agency also has a department attached to the Ministry of Defence, which is responsible for composing all relevant military statistics for the Ministry of Defence, which are also contributed to national records.

The Central Bureau of Statistics has been working closely with the National Health Authority (NHA) and other Ministry of Health directorates since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the timely dissemination and availability of a wide range of preliminary and interpretational data on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and related epidemiological information. Central Statistics's COVID-19 web portal, setup in February 2020, has facilitated quick access to a variety of information and tools for both healthcare professionals and the public. The bureau's internationally-renowned statistical expertise – proven methodology, innovative survey design, data analytics and stewardship – coupled with timely, high quality data has been a critical component of the government's efforts in charting a path to recovery, and has concurrently created new areas of collaboration and bolstered a more efficient, whole-of-government approach to health statistics and their relevant application.