The Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa íslands)

Web site: http://www.statice.is/

Statistics Iceland is the National Statistical Institute of Iceland and was founded in 1914. Until the end of 2007, Statistics Iceland was formally a government ministry. During this time, the main legal basis for Statistics Iceland and its work was an Act of 1913, as well as other acts on official statistics, the Act and statutes on the Central Government Administration.

On 1 January 2008 the ministerial status of Statistics Iceland was abolished and a new Act on Statistics Iceland and official statistics took effect, replacing most of the older legislation. Under this Act Statistics Iceland is a professionally-independent institution under the aegis of the Prime Minister. Article 1 of the Act states that Statistics Iceland is the centre for official statistics in Iceland and has the leading role in the organisation, coordination and conduct thereof, and also in cooperation with international organisations concerning statistics.

In addition to the legislation mentioned above and special laws on price and wage indices, Statistics Iceland operates in accordance with the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, the European Statistics Code of Practice as well as the Act on the Protection of Privacy regarding the processing of personal data. Furthermore Statistics Iceland has laid down its own Rules of Procedure for Treating Confidential Data.

Statistics Iceland is divided into three divisions – economic statistics, social statistics and resources and services.