The Planning and Statistics Authority is the national statistical office of the State of Qatar, responsible for the collection, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of official statistics across all domains of economic, social, and environmental activity. Established through the merger of the Qatar Statistics Authority and the General Secretariat for Development Planning, the PSA combines the functions of national statistics production with strategic development planning, including the monitoring and evaluation of progress toward Qatar National Vision 2030 targets.
Statistical Production
The PSA produces the official statistics that inform government policy, business decisions, and academic research. Its statistical portfolio encompasses national accounts and GDP data, consumer and producer price indices, labor force statistics, population and demographic data, trade statistics, construction activity indicators, environmental data, and social indicators covering education, health, and housing.
The quality, timeliness, and methodological rigor of the PSA’s statistical output are essential to the credibility of Qatar’s economic governance. International organizations, credit rating agencies, foreign investors, and multilateral institutions rely on PSA data to assess Qatar’s economic performance and policy effectiveness. The PSA adheres to international statistical standards, including the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard.
Census Operations
The PSA conducts the national population and housing census, the most comprehensive data collection exercise undertaken in any country. The census provides the baseline demographic, housing, and socioeconomic data upon which government planning, resource allocation, and service delivery decisions depend. Census data determines the geographic distribution of schools, healthcare facilities, utilities, and transportation infrastructure.
In between census years, the PSA conducts intercensal population estimates and surveys that update key demographic indicators. Household surveys covering labor force participation, income and expenditure, and health status provide continuous monitoring of social conditions.
National Development Planning
The PSA’s planning function encompasses the formulation and monitoring of national development strategies, including the national development strategy documents that operationalize QNV 2030 into specific policy actions and measurable targets. The authority coordinates across government ministries and agencies to ensure that sectoral strategies are aligned with the National Vision and that resource allocation decisions reflect development priorities.
This planning function requires the PSA to maintain a comprehensive understanding of Qatar’s development challenges and opportunities, drawing on its statistical evidence base to inform strategic recommendations. The integration of statistical production and development planning within a single institution is designed to ensure that planning is evidence-based and that statistics are produced with policy relevance in mind.
QNV 2030 Monitoring and Evaluation
The PSA is responsible for tracking Qatar’s progress against the objectives and indicators established in QNV 2030 and its associated national development strategies. This monitoring function requires the definition of measurable indicators for each pillar and objective of the National Vision, regular data collection against those indicators, and periodic reporting on progress to government leadership and the public.
The credibility of QNV 2030 as a national framework depends in part on the transparency and rigor of progress reporting. The PSA’s ability to produce objective assessments of where Qatar is meeting its development targets and where gaps remain is essential to maintaining accountability and enabling course corrections.
Data Dissemination and Open Data
The PSA publishes statistical data through its website, statistical bulletins, and national data portals. The authority has invested in improving public access to data, consistent with global trends toward open data and evidence-based governance. Accessible, high-quality data enables private sector decision-making, academic research, and civil society engagement with development issues.
Role in Qatar National Vision 2030
The PSA occupies a unique position within the QNV 2030 institutional architecture. While other institutions execute specific development projects and programs, the PSA provides the measurement and evaluation infrastructure that determines whether those efforts are producing intended outcomes. Without reliable statistics and rigorous monitoring, the National Vision would be an aspirational document without the feedback mechanisms necessary for effective implementation.
The PSA’s planning function ensures that the National Vision is translated into actionable strategies with clear timelines, responsible entities, and measurable targets. This translation from vision to plan to action to measurement constitutes the governance cycle that drives national development.
Strategic Outlook
The PSA faces the ongoing challenge of maintaining statistical quality and relevance as Qatar’s economy and society evolve. New economic activities, changing population dynamics, and emerging policy questions require continuous adaptation of the statistical program. Investment in statistical methodology, data collection technology, and the professional development of the statistical workforce will determine the PSA’s capacity to serve Qatar’s governance needs in the coming decade.