The International Year of Statistics brings statistics to the fore in society

The International Statistical Institute (ISI) has declared the year 2013 as the International Year of Statistics. The International Year of Statistics will be celebrated in many different events in 111 counties.

The aim of the International Year of Statistics is to increase general knowledge about the significance of statistics in society, to highlight jobs and work possibilities in the field of statistics, and to make the statistical science known.

"Statistics have a wide and far-reaching effect on our everyday life, but not many people realise this. Statistics are utilised for legislative work, developing new medicines or making weather forecasts, for example. Statistics improve the quality of life and develop our society in many ways," says Heli Mikkelä, Director of Information Services from Statistics Finland.

Website for the International Year of Statistics opened in the www.stat.fi service

Statistics Finland has opened a website related to the International Year of Statistics in the www.stat.fi service. The site contains information on the main events of the year. The website is in Finnish only.

The International Year of Statistics website also presents web services utilising statistics, such as data banks, counters and games. The Doctor of Statistics column answers questions related to statistics and gives recommendations for people suffering from a deficiency of statistical information. In the series of stories "Statistics in my life" several people give examples of how they have made use of statistics in their lives.

Statistics Finland is one of the over 1,400 international organisations taking part in the International Year of Statistics. Statistics Finland organises events in collaboration with other producers of Official Statistics of Finland, the University of Helsinki, the Finnish Statistical Society and the Finnish Association of Teachers of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Informatics.

The International Year of Statistics 2013 on Statistics Finland's website (in Finnish)

The International Year of Statistics (Statistics2013)

Further information: Heli Mikkelä, Director of Information Services, tel. +358 9 1734 3200, firstname.lastname@stat.fi