It is increasingly common for countries to compile statistics based on administrative sources or administrative data (routine data collected from services such as tax returns), especially to create or maintain base registers and to ensure that they complement other data sources to produce quality statistical outputs.
The advantages of administrative data sources range from reduced costs; the production of more timely data, given that data collection is often more frequent than other data sources, such as surveys.; up to greater efficiency because data is collected in a more seamless manner, reducing the potential response burden while improving the efficiency and quality of statistics.
Given that the member countries of Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) identified that they needed to strengthen their production and use capacities on administrative data, from November 5 to 7, 2019, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (Global Partnership) and the Centro de Pensamiento Estratégico Internacional (Cepei), joined efforts with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) of Mexico [Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI)] to carry out a peer exchange on administrative records in Mexico City.
The event brought together 48 participants from national statistical offices, ministries, agencies, and government agencies; multilateral organizations; international organizations; and the private sector. Participants discussed issues related to data governance and sharing, strengthening data quality, and innovation and technology for data production.