GASTAT launches survey to update base year of GDP

Logo of The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT)

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) launched a comprehensive economic survey to provide accurate statistical data and indicators to update the base year of the gross domestic product (GDP) and the statistical business register.  

In addition, the survey aims to provide the necessary statistical data that contributes to identifying opportunities and challenges facing the development of the economy. 

In a statement today, Jan. 15, GASTAT explained that this survey will help provide statistical data for decision and policy makers, as well as investors to use for local, regional and international comparisons and to conduct studies and analyses. 

Completing the data for the comprehensive economic survey will contribute to setting development strategies and plans, programs and performance indicators in establishments that practice various economic activities. It will also help in building an integrated system of procedures to tangibly develop economic activities in the Kingdom and support them to achieve the desired growth and sustainability. 

GASTAT is working continuously to harness all the efforts made to reach accurate statistical indicators in accordance with the latest methodologies and scientific standards, including the comprehensive economic survey. It further explained that the survey operations will be through telephone calls, self-completeness, and field visits to economic data at the level of organizational sectors. The survey aims to give a clear picture of the economic indicators that identify growth rates in various establishments and economic sectors, which helps in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. 

The comprehensive economic survey targets all economic activities in the Kingdom without exception, regardless of the size, type, and geographical scope of the activity, noting that it comes within an integrated framework with all government agencies related to economic activities. The form of the survey is set according to specific statistical standards to ensure accurate statistical data and indicators that measure various aspects of preparing economic indicators. This would help determine the growth rates of the target sectors.  

GASTAT pointed out that all establishments’ data are completely confidentiality in accordance with the General Statistics Law issued by the Council of Ministers, and under no circumstances can such be published. The authority is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of private data and information, and limiting their use for statistical purposes only, through the overall results and general indicators in accordance with the regulations applied in the Kingdom. 

The authority demanded all establishments to take the initiative to participate in this survey to provide accurate statistical data and indicators about economic establishments in the Kingdom. It also called on all establishments to cooperate with the statistical researcher who will communicate with them to complete the data required for the survey form, given the importance of such data in supporting the decision-making process and economic policy making.