The Anguilla Statistics Department (ASD) is a department within the Government of Anguilla public service that is responsible for the production of official statistics and is governed by the Statistics Act 2000, which can be found at:
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/vitalstatkb/KnowledgebaseArticle50001.aspx or
http://www.gov.ai/statistics/images/StatisticsAct151200.pdf

The Anguilla Statistics Department is tasked with the mandate, as set out in Section 2 of the Statistics Act 2000:

• to collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relative to the commercial, industrial, social, economic and general activities and conditions of the people who are the inhabitants of Anguilla;
• to collaborate with all other departments of Government and with local authorities in the collection, computation and publication of statistical records of administration;
• to take any census in Anguilla; and
• generally to organize a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics and intelligence pertaining to Anguilla.

Being the authority on statistics and statistical methods on surveys conducted in Anguilla. Maintaining and solidifying the existing steady platform with the ability to produce quality official statistics of the highest value, for improved decision-making in all sectors of the economy, through sustained partnerships with business, government and society at large, while at the same time preserving and enhancing our integrity and professionalism.

To produce relevant and quality statistics for use by both the private and public sectors of Anguilla and other interested parties in their decision making.

'Sound Statistics for Sustainable Development'

• Confidentiality and Privacy
• Courtesy and Respect
• Professionalism
• Be treated fairly and consistently

• Courteous and Polite to all members of staff
• Respectful of our policies
• Provide as much information as possible regarding your request
• Meet the Department’s deadlines
• Ask us questions to clarify any queries you may have

• Professional
• Courteous
• Patient
• Helpful

By Appointment: we will greet you politely and begin to serve you within two (2) minutes.
By Walk In: we will greet you politely and serve you within two (2) minutes.
By Telephone: we will answer within three (3) rings, politely greet you, “Good Morning/Afternoon, Anguilla Statistics Department, how may we help?”
By Voice Mail: we will return your (local) call within one (1) day once valid contact details were left.
By Email or Fax: we will acknowledge receipt of your email sent to our personal emails within one (1) business day.
By Letter: we will respond within ten (10) days of receipt.

Your privacy is important to us. We are committed to keeping your information secure and confidential. We ensure that the data we collect benefits Anguilla, and is used for research or statistical purposes to inform good decision-making by Government, business, and all Anguillians.

We keep your information safe by:

• collecting only the information we need and using it for that purpose
• keeping data safe from unauthorised access and use
• protecting information that could identify individuals, households, or businesses.

The statistical history of Anguilla, until the 1980s, was similar to that of other territories colonised by Britain. That is, a history of the occasional census, detailed trade data collected for import duty purposes and a few other statistics that could be derived from administrative sources. Most of this data was published as part of the statistical programmes of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, of which Anguilla was a part from 1958 until 1967.

Starting in the early seventies, the Statistics Unit of the Government of Anguilla produced statistics about Anguilla’s society and conducted censuses in 1974, 1984 and 1992. The Statistics Act of Anguilla was passed in 1971.

The first Statistical Abstract was published in 1984 and covered the period 1960 – 82. Included in that Abstract were statistics that could be collected from administrative sources e.g.: vital statistics from court registry records, international trade data from import warrants etc.

When the Statistical Programmes were developed further in the early eighties, priority was given to the development of economic statistics. The first statistical surveys were conducted in 1985 when the Consumer Price Index was first published and a survey of business establishments was carried out to produce the National Accounts. This initiative was mainly as a result of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which funded an Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) statistician and United Nations (UN) volunteers to assist in the development of the economic statistics programme. UN volunteers continued to work on assignment during the nineties. The quality of their work and leadership varied and there was little training of the officers working in the Unit. The Unit consisted of 4 officers at this time.

In 1998, the first household sample survey was conducted by an external consultant hired by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank but paid for by the Anguillian government. The survey collected information on household incomes and expenditures to produce weights for an updated Consumer Price Index (CPI). In 1999 a second household sample survey was conducted which was a Labour Force Survey. Again an external consultant was hired on contract by the Anguillian government. These household surveys were constrained by the lack of a household register of Anguilla.

As part of an OECS initiative, Anguilla carried out a census of households and population in May 2001, which not only provided a rich database of Anguillian society, but also provided a household register from which samples could be drawn for Household Surveys. The Statistics Unit purchased a scanner with which the census questionnaires were scanned and the information was stored in a database management system for tabulation.

The UK Department for International Development (DfID) provided funding for technical assistance, training and computers over a 4-year period from November 2000. Over this period the status of the Statistics Unit was upgraded to that of a Department with its own budget and Chief Statistician. The size of the unit was increased with each staff member working with their own computer and the unit was re-housed in a separate office from the rest of the Ministry of Finance to give it an image of independence from the rest of the Government.

In January 2002, the Department stopped producing paper publications for distribution and published all statistics on the Government of Anguilla web site. In the same year, a business register was established and economic statistics were generally improved with the increased coverage of the business sector. In 2003, the Department carried out its first Computer Assisted Interview Survey (CATI), the topic being Reproductive Health. In January 2004, the Government of Anguilla appointed its first Chief Statistician.