Curious what keeps Lebanon ticking? You are standing before the Central Administration of Statistics Trade & Finance. It is a key institution. This is where data about Lebanon’s society and economy is collected. This data drives important decisions.
The Central Administration of Statistics or CAS plays a vital role. It gathers information. It also processes and shares social and economic statistics. This happens at the national level. The goal is to provide evidence-based information. This helps decision-making. The CAS also oversees statistics. Other ministries and public administrations produce these. They improve methods and ensure statistics are consistent. Law No 1793/79 governs all of this.
CAS operates under the statistics law. This is based on decree No 1793. It was established February 22, 1979. This emphasizes the organization of the CAS. The head of CAS reports to the Prime Minister.
CAS is made up of administrative and technical units. These include the Divan Department. There is also the Production Sector Statistics Department. The Department of Household and Social Statistics also exists. So does the Department of Field Operations and Regional Statistics. The Computer Center and the Department of Coordination and National Accounts are important. Finally, the Department of Documentation, Publishing and Printing completes the structure.
CAS has many duties. It sets forth statistics related to the country’s economic and social life. This can be done alone or with other administrations. CAS unifies data bases. These are related to institutions or individuals. Administrations use these to extract statistical data. CAS also technically supervises the statistics that administrations lay down. It centralizes and coordinates this data.
Moreover, CAS sets up internal economic accountings. These are the national accounts. It also manages the balance of payments. CAS creates other annual statements. These regard the economic and social activities of the country. The Council of Development and Reconstruction can request statistics. Other administrations can request economical studies. CAS carries these out.
Statistical surveying is mandatory. This applies to any survey done by CAS. It can be directly. It can also be through another institution. The results are published in the official journal. CAS contributes to employee training. This is done with the Civil Service Council. These employees work with statistical units. They are related to the administrations.
CAS strives to produce relevant and accurate statistics. These statistics are comparable over time. They comply with international and national standards. The Central Administration of Statistics respects the confidentiality of information. This is provided by individuals, households, and establishments. They are committed to the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. They also follow the EU Statistics Code of Practice.
CAS makes available statistics free of charge. This is for all users. You can even visit the CAS library.
Did you know that in 2018-19, less than 30% of women of working-age were active in the labor market? In January 2022, women held 26.7% of managerial positions. Also in January 2022, the youth unemployment rate was 47.8%. This was almost twice the adult unemployment rate of 25.6%.
Though CAS does not publish a release calendar, a complete list of publications is on their website. You can find data on agriculture. You can also find data on foreign trade and population. Publications appear in Arabic, French, and English. Data is disseminated through their website.
The Central Administration of Statistics Trade & Finance stands as a testament to Lebanon’s dedication to informed decision-making. Its work ensures that the country navigates its future with reliable data.