President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has today ratified the Maldives Statistics Act (Act no: 16/2021). The bill was passed by the Parliament on July 8, 2021, at the 21st sitting of the second session of the Parliament this year.

The Maldives Statistics Act lays out the guidelines for the collection, analysis, usage and publication of national statistics, under an established national standard. The Act aims to advance the statistics industry in the country and to collect relevant data regarding the Maldives' economy, ecology and social aspects, and use that data responsibly for the benefit of all citizens.

The Act stipulates the establishment of the Maldives Bureau of Statistics, an independent entity mandated with the planning and operation of all national activities related to the field. The law would transfer all resources, legal obligations and staff employed by the previously created National Bureau of Statistics to the new body. The Minister would be liable for all matters related to the new bureau. A Chief Statistician would be appointed by the President to operate the Maldives Bureau of Statistics under the direction of the Minister.

Furthermore, the Act also mandates the establishment of a Statistical Council, comprising of 10 members, to provide counsel on all matters related to the field.

Upon ratification, the bill has been published in the Government Gazette and has now come into effect.