In 2025, Statistics Norway continued its international development cooperation in statistics in a global context characterised by significant changes in development financing and reduced levels of international development assistance. Across countries and regions, the demand for reliable and timely statistics remained high as governments sought evidence to inform policy decisions, allocate public resources and monitor development outcomes.
The international agenda on Financing for Development and the launch of the Sevilla Platform of Action (financing.desa.un.org) highlight the need for stronger national institutions capable of producing and using high-quality data. Statistics provide the empirical foundation for mobilising domestic resources, prioritising public expenditure and monitoring development results. They also underpin trust in public institutions by enabling transparency, comparability and accountability.
Throughout 2025, Statistics Norway strengthened its role as a global knowledge partner, supporting countries and international organisations in building sustainable statistical systems. Our cooperation focuses on long-term institutional development, national ownership and supporting use of statistics in policy development and decision-making. By combining technical expertise with experience in governance frameworks, quality management and the use of administrative data, SSB works with partners to make statistics relevant and available for decision-makers.
A key focus in 2025 was the strengthening of economic and administrative statistics that form the backbone of public financial management and accountability. This included support for national accounts, increased use of registers and administrative data, and improved dissemination of official statistics. Linking statistical production more closely
to policy needs helps ensure that data are actively used to guide financing decisions, assess policy impact and support transparent governance.
Selected results from 2025 illustrate this contribution. The continued support to enhance countries’ capacity to produce consistent and comparable national accounts, including the use of NADABAS, is strengthening the basis for macroeconomic analysis and fiscal planning. Improved use of household consumption and expenditure surveys has strengthened national and regional food security analysis and contributed to evidence-based crisis preparedness and planning. In parallel, SSB played an important role in advancing governance statistics, including the development of internationally harmonised tools for producing statistics on political participation and representation.
Together, these activities demonstrate how investment in statistical capacity supports better financing decisions, stronger institutions and increased accountability. Building on long-standing partnerships and accumulated experience, Statistics Norway remains committed to supporting the production and use of official statistics as a cornerstone of sustainable development and good governance.
Most of Statistics Norway’s international development cooperation is funded by Norad.