The Malta Statistics Authority (MSA) was set up by Parliament in 2000 and started in 2001, succeeding the Central Office of Statistics established in 1947. Malta’s EU ambitions required a new legislative framework, leading to the creation of the MSA to oversee the collection, compilation, and publishing of official statistics.
The MSA’s key functions are:
- Regulating the production of official statistics according to international standards.
- Advising on statistical methods.
- Setting priorities for statistical needs.
- Coordinating with other public bodies.
- Approving and publishing the NSO’s business plan.
- Disseminating official statistics.
- Reviewing the NSO’s annual report.