OECD Reviews of National Statistical Systems: Kazakhstan 2026

2. Legal and institutional framework for official statistics

2.1. Assessment and recommendations

The legal and institutional framework for official statistics in Kazakhstan was assessed by the OECD in 2023 in co-operation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Eurostat, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), resulting in a written contribution of the OECD to the joint UNECE/Eurostat/EFTA/OECD Global Assessment of the National Statistical System of Kazakhstan (hereafter the 2023 Global Assessment) (UNECE et al., 2023[1]).

This assessment forms part of a three-year OECD Review of the National Statistical System of Kazakhstan (hereafter the OECD Review), launched in 2023 at Kazakhstan’s request. The main purpose of the OECD Review is to assess the alignment of the national statistical system for official statistics in Kazakhstan with the OECD Recommendation on Good Statistical Practice (hereafter the Recommendation). Building on data and metadata collected through specific questionnaires and on independent research conducted by the OECD, the review also examines the statistical infrastructure of Kazakhstan (Chapter 3) and the quality of official statistical information compiled and disseminated by the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan (BNS) and other relevant producers of official statistics in Kazakhstan (Chapter 4).

The 2023 Global Assessment noted many positive developments in the legal and institutional framework for official statistics since the previous global assessment conducted by the UNECE in 2017, including:

• development of state statistics and national data ecosystem

• initiatives to promote data literacy and analysis

• extended statistical co-operation, including with academia (collaboration on projects, internships for students, etc.)

• improved coordination between producers of official statistics

• participation in major international statistical bodies and co-operation activities

The 2023 Global Assessment also underlined the development of an ambitious “Roadmap for the development of government statistics and the national data ecosystem for 2023-2025” (Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2024[2]). Since 2023, Kazakhstan has implemented significant improvements based on this roadmap and the recommendations of the 2023 Global Assessment. The legal and institutional framework for official statistics has been strengthened in many areas, including:

• legal and institutional framework for quality management, in particular for administrative data

• implementation of sound methodologies with the creation of the Methodological Council and procedures ensuring transparency of revisions

• development of a three-year statistical plan

The main findings of the 2023 Global Assessment are set out below under the 12 main provisions of the Recommendation. Overall, the legal and institutional framework for official statistics in Kazakhstan is broadly aligned with the Recommendation. Areas for further improvement are discussed in the sections below.

2.2. Alignment of Kazakhstan’s legal and institutional framework for official statistics with the OECD Recommendation on Good Statistical Practice

2.2.1. Legal and institutional framework

Kazakhstan has a clear legal and institutional framework for compiling and disseminating official statistics. The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on State Statistics is the main legal act regulating the production of official statistics by the BNS (Box 2.1). It gives the BNS a strong mandate to collect data, including administrative data, and to compile official statistics, although the mandate for data collection does not cover privately held data. However, the law on statistics does not formally establish the national statistical system, nor does it assign responsibility for its composition and coordination or establish clear procedures for defining official statistics.

Box 2.1. Statistical legislation in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s legal framework for compiling and disseminating official statistics, and for regulating the national statistical system, is based mainly on the following laws and legal acts:

• The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on State Statistics No. 257-IV of 19 March 2010 (hereafter the Law on State Statistics) is the main legal act regulating the production of official statistics by the BNS. The law has been amended on several occasions including on 28 October 2024 to establish clear procedures for the development and coordination of the three-year Statistical Work Plan, as well as its approval by the Head of the BNS.

• The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments and Supplements to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Business Matters” No. 71-VIII of 6 April 2024.

• The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of State Control and Statistics, Improving the Population Protection System, Data Management, Registration of Legal Entities and Elimination of Excessive Legislative Regulation” No. 115-VIII of 5 July 2024.

• The Order of the Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Statistics No. 168 of 2 July 2010, “On Approval of the Rules for the Presentation of Databases in De-identified Form for Use in Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activities”, and subsequent amendments approved by the Order of the Head of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 33 of 30 September 2024, “On Amendments to the Order of the Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Statistics No. 168 of 2 July 2010”.

• Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan

• Code on Administrative Offences

• Budget Code

• Law on Public Service

• Other subordinate regulatory legal acts regulating the production of official statistical information facilitate the implementation of the Law on State Statistics, such as the Order creating the Council of State Statistics Bodies (Statistics Producers) in 2021, or the Order establishing the Methodological Council on Statistics in 2022.

Source: Compiled and summarised by the authors.

The legislation on statistics does not include a reference to the frequency of the Population and Housing Census, although international good practice recommends carrying out the Census every ten years and updating results on a regular basis to guarantee the quality of the statistical infrastructure through up-to-date sampling frames, etc. Under the current legislation (Article 12), the BNS approves the national census implementation plan and determines the procedures and timing for conducting national censuses. In determining the frequency and timing of censuses, the BNS is guided by the Rules and Timing for Conducting National Censuses, approved by the Order of the Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 3 of 20 June 2023.

The 2023 Global Assessment also recommended strengthening non-sanctioning measures to encourage responses to statistical surveys, for example through automatic reminders, improvement of questionnaires and questionnaire guidance, increased cooperation with data providers, communication on the usefulness and benefits of a survey (already well established for large-scale survey operations such as national censuses), or feedback on the results.

2.2.2. Professional independence

Kazakhstan’s statistical authorities recognise the importance of professional independence. The Law on State Statistics, amended in 2023, focuses on the principles for the compilation and dissemination of official statistics and includes the “Professional independence and autonomy when performing statistical activities” among a list of key principles related to official statistics. The implementation of these principles is regulated by other legal and regulatory acts.

In October 2020, a presidential decree created the BNS under the supervision of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which reports to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The BNS replaced the Committee on Statistics attached to the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This change in the status of the BNS has improved its autonomy, strengthened its authority vis-à-vis the line ministries and owners of administrative records, and enabled it to upgrade its staff and recruit young and motivated personnel. The 2023 Global Assessment recognised this decree as a positive step towards further aligning the legal and institutional framework with international standards and strengthening the professional independence of the BNS.

Nevertheless, the legislation on statistics does not fully guarantee the professional independence of the BNS and several legal provisions and practices are not fully aligned with best practices related to the principle of professional independence. Article 10 (competence of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and Article 11 (competence of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan) provide the legal basis for the Executive power to determine and elaborate the main directions of the state policy in the field of state statistics. Article 10 includes other powers carried out in accordance with the Constitution, covering the formation, abolishment and reorganisation of subordinated state bodies, and the appointment and dismissal of their heads (Article 44(1)(5) of the Constitution). Article 11 further includes the decision on the conduct of the national population census. The Law on Civil Servants establishes general norms for the appointment of the Head of the BNS but does not set a term of office for this position, establish transparent recruitment procedures or ensure that their appointment is based solely on professional competence.

The 2023 Global Assessment recommended that the legislation on statistics be amended to strengthen the legal provisions on the professional independence of the BNS, by:

• Establishing transparent procedures for the appointment of the Head of the BNS and including legal provisions on the length of the terms of office.

• Giving the BNS an explicit and exclusive legal authority over the choice of sources, methods and the content and timing of statistical releases.

• Giving the BNS full autonomy in the allocation of financial and human resources, including contracts for the provision of services.

2.2.3. Human, technical and financial resources for official statistics

The budget of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including the BNS and its territorial divisions, is formulated and executed in accordance with the budget legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, while recruitment to the civil service is governed by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the civil service. The Budget Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan provides the BNS with autonomy in the allocation of its financial resources. Nevertheless, this autonomy could be further enhanced, particularly in relation to managing contracts for the provision of services, including the recruitment of interviewers.

The release of the “Roadmap for the development of government statistics and the national data ecosystem for 2023-2025” (Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2024[2]) highlighted the need to further develop human and IT resources, new skills, and training to improve digital literacy. The BNS has therefore worked with the World Bank to develop an online education platform to enhance its Data Literacy initiative and familiarise staff of state agencies producing official statistics (especially junior staff) with basic statistical principles and skills for data and metadata analysis.

Since the release of the 2023 Global Assessment, the BNS has also encouraged junior staff to improve their English language skills, enabling them to participate in international meetings, seminars or working groups.

The 2023 Global Assessment also recommended Kazakhstan to:

• Consider reorganising tasks, as the modernisation and digitalisation of the statistical system requires a well-thought-out strategy for resource and work allocation, in particular at the level of the regional offices. For example, employees in territorial subdivisions could use the online content developed under the Digital Literacy project to enhance competencies or to prepare for a potential relocation.

• Reflect on the role and tasks of the future Information Computing Centre in view of the reform plans of the BNS and its territorial divisions. Physical proximity would enhance integration and facilitate communication as well as implementation of joint training activities. The BNS should also define its position and the role of the Information Computing Centre regarding alternative data sources.

• Make use of the technical support offered by international donors in the form of small-scale activities which do not require substantial human resources or entail financial costs for the BNS, such as Eurostat statistical training courses for Eastern Neighbourhood and Central Asia, where all participation costs are covered by Eurostat.

2.2.4. Statistical confidentiality and protection of privacy

Statistical confidentiality and protection of personal data are legally guaranteed by the Constitution (Article 18), the Law on State Statistics, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 94-V of 21 May 2013 “On Personal Data and Their Protection”, and the Amendment Law introduced in July 2020 regulating data collection and processing.

The Law on State Statistics defines the primary data collected for statistical purposes and mandates the BNS to protect information provided by individuals, households, and enterprises. These data may be used only for statistical purposes and must be protected from the direct or indirect identification of individual units (individuals, businesses, etc.) during data collection, processing, and storage. The law was amended in 2020 to ensure that confidential primary statistical information cannot be shared without the consent of the respondent. According to the law, the BNS is not allowed to share confidential primary statistical information with government bodies or the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NBK). The Entrepreneurial Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan also stipulates that the use of primary statistical data by government bodies and the NBK in relation to an economic entity, including in the exercise of their control and supervisory functions, is not allowed. According to these legal provisions, statistical information and databases that allow the direct or indirect identification of the respondent, or determine the primary statistical data of the respondent, are confidential and cannot be disclosed without the respondent’s consent.

Staff and contractors of the BNS are required to protect the confidentiality of personal information, and this responsibility is brought to the attention of new employees. Agreements with other bodies, including owners of administrative records, include a confidentiality clause and a list of officials granted access to the relevant information shared by the BNS.

While acknowledging significant progress, the 2023 Global Assessment recommended that provisions on access to microdata for research purposes be included in the law on statistics and integrated into a comprehensive confidentiality policy. Such a policy should define principles, responsibilities and mechanisms for the protection of personal information and cover the development and maintenance of appropriate mechanisms for the use of microdata, including human resources, IT and legal issues. The confidentiality policy should be communicated to the producers and users of official statistics to ensure that the rules surrounding confidentiality are fully transparent to the public, in particular to respondents.

The 2023 Global Assessment further recommended strengthening human resources measures through staff confidentiality commitments, appropriate guidance and training on data security, and administrative sanctions for breaches. IT measures should be further developed to protect the confidentiality of personal information, including secure storage, encryption, anonymisation and regular security audits.

More broadly, the law and existing mechanisms and procedures should evolve to ensure their relevance and effectiveness to support the BNS’s future data stewardship role and access to private data sources.

The BNS has made significant progress since the 2023 Global Assessment. The procedures for safely accessing anonymised microdata for research purposes have been improved in co-operation with academics. A “Researcher’s Office” has been established in the territorial divisions of the BNS in Astana and Almaty. Each office is equipped with a personal computer with no connection to external devices and is monitored via video surveillance systems. The “Rules for the presentation of databases in de-identified form” have been amended in the section “Researcher's Office” to include a more detailed description of the de-identification process. The amendments were approved by the Order of the Head of the BNS No. 33 of 30 September 2024, amending Order No. 168 of 2 July 2010 on the rules for presenting databases in de-identified form for use in scientific and scientific-technical activities (Box 2.1). Several methods for anonymising confidential data, based on a review of the experience of other national statistical offices, in particular Canada, Sweden and Türkiye, have been introduced.

2.2.5. Access to administrative data for statistical purposes

Administrative sources can be used to improve the cost-efficiency, accuracy and reliability of official statistics, and Kazakhstan has a strong legal basis providing access to this information for statistical purposes. However, the 2023 Global Assessment recommended that the BNS strengthen its co-operation with the government agencies holding administrative data to ensure that this information is collected in a way that supports statistical use by:

• Institutionalising this co-operation through an administrative data management committee as a joint platform for administrative data holders and producers of official statistics.

• Making sure that owners of administrative data are aware of the quality requirements to produce official statistics and are regularly informed about incorrect data or quality problems.

• Considering quality training or tools to support the quality of administrative data.

The BNS has made significant progress in implementing these recommendations:

• Amendments to the Law on State Statistics introduced through Law No. 115-VIII of 5 July 2024 (Box 2.1) regarding alternative data acquisition in accordance with concluded agreements.

• A new structural division, the Department of Data Quality Control and Communications Development, has been created to interact with administrative sources in the form of state oversight through the identification of inconsistencies in information systems and the provision of recommendations for their elimination.

• The Data Management Requirements approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 925 of 7 November 2024 define general requirements for data, uniform criteria for assessing the quality of data and processes for managing them. The requirements are mandatory for administrative sources.

• At the same time, the requirements allow the authorised body for state statistics to determine a uniform procedure for assessing the quality of data used in the production of statistical information.

• The results of the assessment will be considered by the Methodological Council of the BNS, with a representative of the administrative source (i.e. the data owner) invited to participate.

• The “Rules for assessing the quality of administrative data” were approved by Order of the Head of the BNS in 2024 (Order No. 2 of 19 March 2024).

• To implement these changes, the Law on State Statistics was amended through Law No. 71-VIII of 6 April 2024 (Box 2.1).

• Amendments are being made to the Data Management Requirements approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 925 of 7 November 2024, in terms of revising the criteria for assessing the quality of data.

• As part of the creation of the Institute of Data Controllers, a project is being initiated to develop an information platform to support and ensure data quality.

2.2.6. Impartiality, transparency and objectivity

The 2023 Global Assessment noted that there are no mechanisms or procedures in place to give pre-release access to official statistics in Kazakhstan. This is in line with best practice in the international statistical community and contributes to strengthening the perceived professional independence of the BNS. Nevertheless, the 2023 Global Assessment recommended that Kazakhstan:

• Establish and communicate a standard publication schedule for official statistics. For market-sensitive statistics in particular, a standard release time would help avoid any unintended market impacts of statistical releases.

• Move from an annual release calendar to a rolling 12-month-ahead release calendar. The practice of providing 12-month-ahead notice, where the precise release dates become gradually available, helps users to plan their work independently of annual publication cycles.

• Involve users in the development of the statistical work programme through consultation and engagement mechanisms.

• Ensure that data literacy products and activities are implemented effectively.

• Evaluate user satisfaction and the impact of efforts developed to improve data literacy and increase the quality of training programmes.

• Promote the development of new methods to facilitate the integration of geospatial data in the production of official statistics.

2.2.7. Implementation of sound methodologies

The Law on State Statistics provides the BNS with a strong legal basis for developing and applying sound statistical methodology. It defines methodological development as the first task of the BNS, mandates the implementation of statistical methodologies in line with international statistical standards, and requires holders of administrative records to agree with the BNS on data collection and methods for calculating statistical indicators based on administrative data.

The Methodological Council on Statistics was set up in 2022 by decree of the Head of the BNS and amended in 2024 to implement the following recommendations from the 2023 Global Assessment:

• Expand the Methodological Council to include other producers of official statistics and external experts so that the council can more effectively coordinate methodology across the national statistical system.

• Establish quality checks for changes in collection methods. Parallel runs could be undertaken when systems or questionnaires are significantly redesigned, at least for one collection period, and new collections could be systematically pre-tested.

• Increase transparency of the revisions of official statistics. This could include publishing a revisions calendar, communicating major revisions or changes in methodology in advance, distinguishing between final and provisional in the release calendar, and explaining the revision rules on the BNS website.

• Continue the work to unify statistical classifications across administrative registers, in particular to facilitate data sharing.

• Clarify the role of the BNS as regards the approval of national classifications of technical and economic information (i.e. the classifications and reference materials used by state bodies). As coordinator of the national statistical system, the BNS should be legally mandated to approve all the classifications used in the production of official statistics. To this end, the BNS is encouraged to develop an efficient classification management database.

2.2.8. National quality assurance framework

The statistical legislation commits Kazakhstan to continuously improving the quality of official statistics by defining the principles for the use of all types of information sources, taking into account quality, timeliness, cost and burden on respondents. In this respect, the 2023 Global Assessment recommended that Kazakhstan:

• Encourage the BNS to take the opportunity of process digitalisation to further improve reporting efficiency and minimise duplication of data collection.

• Legally mandate the BNS to manage data quality and develop and implement appropriate data quality management tools (e.g. national code of practice defining guiding principles for the national statistical system, quality guidelines to implement criteria and procedures for quality management, and regular quality reviews to evaluate output quality across the national statistical system). The BNS should ensure that these quality management tools are applicable to all statistical activities, including those using administrative and private data sources.

• Develop standard formats for quality reporting and process documentation to reduce the burden on respondents, improve international reporting, and facilitate the interpretation of statistical information (including for retaining knowledge in-house, which is crucial in case of staff turnover).

• In view of BNS plans to become the national coordinator of statistics in the country, it is important that the work on quality assurance regarding the administrative statistics produced by other state agencies starts as soon as possible.

• Widen and formalise user engagement, for example by involving different user groups - including representatives from businesses, government agencies and research institutions - in the development of the statistical work programme.

• Support respondents to provide high-quality information (e.g. by maximising use of built-in validation for electronic reporting or by providing online tutorials, access to harmonised methodological guidance to subject matter domains and regional offices or material to help respondents). This is particularly relevant when data collection modes change. In such cases, parallel data runs could be undertaken to measure mode effects.

Since the 2023 Global Assessment, the BNS has implemented some of these recommendations and has committed to continuing their implementation:

• The new Department of Data Quality Control and Communications Development has been created. Its tasks and functions include interaction with administrative sources in the form of state oversight through the identification of inconsistencies in information systems and the provision of recommendations for their elimination (substantive recommendation on access to administrative data for statistical purposes and ensuring their quality).

• The Data Management Requirements, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 925 of 7 November 2024 define general data requirements, uniform criteria for assessing data quality, and procedures for data processing. These requirements are mandatory for administrative sources (substantive recommendation on access to administrative data for statistical purposes).

• The results of the quality assessment will be considered by the Methodological Council of the BNS, and a representative of the administrative source (i.e. the data owner) will be invited to participate.

• The “Rules for assessing the quality of administrative data” were approved by Order of the Head of the BNS (Order No. 2 of 19 March 2024).

• The Law on State Statistics was amended on 6 April 2024, to implement the above-mentioned changes.

• Amendments are being made to the Data Management Requirements approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 925 of 7 November 2024 in terms of revising the criteria for assessing data quality.

• As part of the creation of the Institute of Data Controllers, a project is being initiated to develop an information platform to support and ensure data quality.

Although the Law on State Statistics does not provide any additional provisions on how to assess and improve the quality of statistical processes and outputs, significant progress has been made by the BNS in implementing the recommendations for improving quality management identified in the 2023 Global Assessment:

• The BNS is committed to continuously improving the efficiency of data collection, for example by using Quick Response (QR) codes in addition to the traditional questionnaires, and by updating the statistical form builder, including complex validation procedures and description of normalisations (implementation started in the second half of 2024 and was completed by the end of 2025).

• The provisions of Law No. 71-VIII of 6 April 2024 (Box 2.1) improved the quality of primary and administrative data within the framework of state control over respondents and administrative sources.

• The provisions of Law No. 115-VIII of 5 July 2024 (Box 2.1), allowed the revision and construction of new processes for collecting, normalising, digitalising and controlling data quality.

• The Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan (No. 925), adopted in November 2024, standardised the procedures for assessing data quality and delineated the responsibilities of the data steward, data quality manager and data controller.

• The rules for assessing the quality of administrative data, adopted in March 2024 by Order of the Head of the BNS (Order No. 2), implemented a procedure for the preparation and approval of reports on the quality of administrative data.

• The Institute of Data Controllers, created during the second half of 2024, carries out regular remote checks of administrative data with a view to improving the quality of administrative data for the compilation of official statistics and the co-operation between the national statistical authorities and the owners of administrative data. Fourteen administrative databases for ten administrative sources were assessed during the second half of 2024. Thirty-three reports were produced by the Institute of Data Controllers and then reviewed by the Methodological Council of the BNS.

• The BNS has been using the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) and the Generic Activity Model for Statistical Organisations (GAMSO) for documenting statistical production, but the implementation of related organisational changes is more difficult due to administrative constraints.

• The BNS developed an organisation-wide quality assurance framework broadly aligned with international standards. This framework requires quality reports to be produced every three years for each statistical output and disseminated on a dedicated section of the BNS website. The implementation of this framework is underway, and it is expected to be extended to the whole national statistical system as part of the national quality assurance framework under development.

Overall, the BNS should consider further ways to move towards a more process-oriented organisation and continue to focus on developing organisation-wide rather than domain-specific solutions, tools and methods. This may require some restructuring. The BNS should further investigate the use of the quality indicators of the GSBPM and consider using the Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM) when developing databases and other statistical tools, particularly for classification management. The BNS could also develop regular user-oriented quality reports linked to data outputs, helping users to better understand data quality.

2.2.9. Dissemination of official statistics and user-friendly access to data and metadata

The BNS disseminates statistical information through several channels designed to reach a broad range of users:

• Website: The BNS website was redesigned in 2023 with dynamic interfaces for fast navigation of the main statistical indicators, interactive dashboards, and links to related dissemination platforms such as the Information and Analytical System for Official Statistics (Taldau). The website presents statistics in a clear and understandable format aligned with international best practice. New dashboards improve interactivity and understanding of statistics for frequently requested topics. The English version of the website was extended in 2023 to better align with Kazakh and Russian content.

• Social media: Around 10 000 regular users across Facebook, YouTube, Telegram and Instagram.

• Publications and press releases: Publications and regular online press releases provide updates on key socio-economic indicators via the BNS website.

These dissemination platforms are sufficiently flexible to integrate new data formats such as GIS data and are therefore well prepared to meet new demands for data dissemination.

Each December, the BNS publishes an annual statistical release calendar on its website and social media platforms. This calendar includes all the release dates for the following year, in accordance with the Statistical Work Plan and the Official Statistics Dissemination Schedule. The standard release time for statistical publications is 12:00 p.m. each day. The Release Calendar for the forthcoming year is updated in December. Since 2025, the Statistical Work Plan, the Official Statistics Dissemination Schedule and the Release Calendar have been prepared on a three-year basis. Information on changes to the release dates of statistical publications due to objective circumstances is communicated to users through announcements published on the BNS website and its social media channels.

There is no pre-release access to statistical outputs by media representatives or government agencies. This practice strengthens the perceived impartiality of official statistics and underlines the commitment of the BNS to its main principles as established in Article 5 of the Law on State Statistics.

The 2023 Global Assessment recommended Kazakhstan:

• Involve users in the development of the statistical work programme through appropriate consultation mechanisms and evaluate their satisfaction and current and emerging needs and priorities.

• Evaluate the impact of data literacy products and activities to improve the quality of training programmes.

• Promote the development of new methods to facilitate the integration of geospatial data in the production of official statistics.

2.2.10. Coordination of the national statistical system

The Law on State Statistics mandates the BNS to coordinate the national statistical system, although it does not legally define the national statistical system or establish mechanisms for its definition and composition or the tools for its coordination. In practice, the national statistical system comprises the BNS, the central and regional executive bodies, and the NBK. The coordination of the national statistical system mainly takes place through the implementation of annual statistical plans and timetables for data collection and dissemination. Kazakhstan is encouraged to strengthen the legal definitions of the national statistical system and official statistics in the law on statistics, to explicitly assign the coordinating role to the BNS, and to develop other tools, in addition to planning activities, to ensure efficient coordination of the national statistical system.

The BNS aims to further optimise its role of coordinating and managing national official statistics and to enhance its role in national data stewardship, supported by data navigators in each ministry. This objective is embedded in the first general priority (Institutional and organisational transformations) of the “Roadmap for the development of government statistics for 2023-2025” (Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2024[2]), which aimed to reform the functioning of the BNS and the broader statistical system. The roadmap was a central document for reforming the activities of the BNS along with existing planning activities:

• The annual statistical work plan of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approved by Order of the Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms.

• The Master plan for the development of the national statistical system of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2017-2025), approved by the Chairman of the Statistics Committee of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 31 January 2017.

Joint working group meetings for all bodies responsible for producing official statistics are organised regularly as well as on an ad hoc basis. The statistical work plan is developed and approved by the BNS in coordination with all interested state bodies.

2.2.11. International co-operation

The BNS engages in statistical co-operation at international, regional, national and bilateral levels. The Department for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development ensures this co-ordination, managing collaboration with international organisations and statistical offices, preparing responses to data requests, organising events and seminars, implementing co-operation agreements, and coordinating staff secondments for statistical projects.

The BNS participates in major international statistical fora, including the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy, the United Nations Statistical Commission, and the Conference of European Statisticians, as well as regional working groups and seminars. Information on international and training activities is disseminated internally, and staff are expected to share outcomes from missions upon their return.

The BNS is involved in several internationally co-financed initiatives aimed at strengthening statistical capacity, data quality, and institutional development, including programmes with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the European Union through the Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia programme (SECCA) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). It also provides technical assistance to neighbouring countries in Central Asia and Azerbaijan.

Since the 2023 Global Assessment, staff participation in the C5+ONE English Programme has been encouraged, with around 50 employees completing the training. The BNS also promotes youth engagement in international activities. In 2023, 17 young staff participated in 161 events and 22 international working groups.

2.2.12. Innovation

The “Roadmap for the development of government statistics for 2023-2025” (Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2024[2]) demonstrated Kazakhstan’s strong commitment to exploring innovative methods to expand the use of alternative and administrative data sources and reduce reliance on direct surveys. The BNS aimed for these sources to account for more than half of inputs used to compile official statistics by the end of 2025. Since the 2023 Global Assessment, access to administrative and alternative data sources has been significantly strengthened.

Key developments include amendments to the Law on Statistics (July 2024) enabling access to privately held data for statistical purposes (Box 2.1), and changes to the Tax Code (Article 30) allowing tax authorities to transmit confidential taxpayer information to the BNS without consent. In addition, new rules on the register of suppliers of data products were adopted in August 2024, and a November 2024 agreement between the BNS and JSC KCELL enables the use of mobile positioning data from JSC KCELL for experimental tourism statistics.

The BNS is encouraged to participate in an ambitious artificial intelligence project coordinated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry. To this end, it should contribute to the development of a comprehensive database (Smart Data Ukimet) integrating 50 benchmark “National Reference Information” identified among more than 3 000 items, collected from over 90 government agencies, and classified in accordance with five national classifications: CPVAD - Classification of Products by Types of Economic Activities; CATO - Classification of Administrative Territorial Objects; OKED ‑ General Classification of Types of Economic Activities; CS - Classification of Countries; and CSE ‑ Classification of Economic Sectors.

To strengthen data and metadata analysis skills, the BNS, with the World Bank, developed a digital literacy platform targeted at government employees producing official statistics (BNS, n.d.[3]). The platform offers modular training on data literacy in six languages - English, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik and Uzbek - and issues certificates upon completion. It is accessible from countries in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan is encouraged to continue strengthening legal provisions for access to privately held data, formalise co-operation with private data holders and integrate new data sources into the national quality assurance framework to ensure quality, stability and sustainability of this information.

References

[2] Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2024), Roadmap for the development of government statistics and the national data ecosystem for 2023-2025, https://stat.gov.kz/en/initiatives/road-map/.

[3] BNS (n.d.), Data Literacy Hub, https://dataliteracyhub.stat.gov.kz/.

[1] UNECE et al. (2023), Global Assessment of the National Statistical System of Kazakhstan: Final Report, https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/GA%20Kazakhstan%202023%20Report.pdf.