About DAC Statistics

DAC statistics are used extensively in the Peer Reviews conducted for each DAC Member every three to four years, and have a wide range of other applications. They are used to measure donors' compliance with various international recommendations in the field of development co-operation (terms, volume), and are indispensable for analysis of virtually every aspect of development and development co-operation.

Most of the statistics are available to the public in regular publications, in particular the Statistical Annex to the annual Development Co-operation Report and the Geographical Distribution of the Financial Flows to Aid Recipients. Since 1998, these statistics have also been made available on on-line on the internet as well as on CD-ROM.

Annual reporting in the DAC tables is insufficiently detailed to produce all the data required for consideration of specific policy issues, so it is supplemented by reporting on individual transactions in the Creditor Reporting System (CRS). The definitions used in both reporting systems are consistent.