DESA says UN Data Commons coming; World Population Prospects update due early next year

Shantanu Mukherjee, acting director of DESA's statistics division, said the snapshot underscores the need for timely, disaggregated statistics and flagged the UN Data Commons initiative set to be unveiled by the secretary-general. "Painting this complete narrative is part of what the UN system Data Commons... seeks to achieve," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee also told a reporter that the World Population Prospects update is due early next year. The briefing highlighted the panel's emphasis that quality data and statistical officers underpin accountability and that improved data infrastructure will be needed if governments intend to accelerate progress on gender equality and related SDG targets.