The Statistics Department marked the World Statistics Day under the theme ‘Better data, better life’ with the launching of Tonga Census Population Housing 2016 Volume 1 and the Tonga Household Income Expenditure Survey 2015 – 2016 reports.
Prime Minister of Tonga Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva said the theme emphasizes the critical role of high-quality official statistical information in analysis and informed policy decision-making in support of sustainable development.
It also reflects the importance of sustainable national statistical capacity to produce reliable and timely statistics and indicators measuring a country’s progress.
He said that he is pleased to know that the Statistics Department is taking the lead in coordinating the compilation of reporting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Tonga Strategic Development Framework (TSDF) indicators.
“The new thematic areas and tools, such as the new poverty module inserted in the HIES to capture the multi-dimensional approach to measuring poverty is a great success.”
Hon Pohiva stated that measuring poverty accurately is important not just for the development of policy but it is a moral obligation.
“National poverty studies generally use narrow definitions, and measures, of poverty. The effect of this is to understate the extent and nature of poverty across societies. Tonga’s use of a new method to assess poverty in all its dimensions does more than simply reflect if a household has an income below an arbitrary level,” he said.
He said that Tonga is the first country in the South Pacific to use an internationally-recognized method that is able to reflect poverty across different dimensions through the use of data collected from the public about the standard of living they believe all Tongans should be able to have.
“Tackling poverty and inequality in our society is a fundamental duty for all citizens. In collecting better data, the Tonga Statistics Department provides us, the policy makers, with the information we need to do our jobs effectively.”
Minister for Finance and National Planning Hon Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said the information on the two reports were collected using tablets.
“Such tool highly improved data accuracy and timely let alone it’s cost effective. There has been improvement on content of data collection; some of the questionnaires are realigning in order to capture information that is required by the TSDF and SDGs.”
“With this, capacity is required not just for the staff of the Statistics Department but also the statisticians from line ministries. Data is critical, as it monitor progress to achieve sustainable development outcome which will influence policies to achieve sustainable development policies.
Photo caption: Government Statistician Dr. Viliami Konifelenisi Fifita