The High-level Forum on Official Statistics, an annual side event of the United Nations Statistical Commission official session, explores topics that address the evolving needs and emerging challenges faced by national statistical offices (NSOs) and national statistical systems (NSSs). The 2026 Forum will focus on the global movement to go “Beyond GDP” and explore how national and international data and statistical systems can support the development and implementation of measures of progress on sustainable development that complement and go beyond gross domestic product ensuring that what matters to people, the planet and the future is fully recognized.1 While such measures have been discussed and advanced in different contexts, the work and expected recommendations by the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP, appointed by the UN Secretary-General in May 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the effort to redefine how we measure progress.
This Forum will bring together high-level policymakers, statisticians, and thought leaders to discuss how NSOs can respond to this global call and UN initiative, including by leading the way in producing, coordinating, and communicating complementary indicators that reflect economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions of sustainable development.
Expected Outcomes
- Shared understanding of the “Beyond GDP” agenda and its implications for NSOs.
- Promoting alignment and connections across frameworks and expert bodies, including the Commissions technical groups.
- Identification of good practices and challenges in developing and implementing measures of progress that complement GDP.
- Strengthened collaboration between global, regional and national actors and initiatives to address identified data and capacity challenges in this context.
