A major data overhaul? Cambodia's latest cabinet meeting reviews a new 10-year policy

On September 25, the Cambodian cabinet held a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet to review a draft Official Statistics Policy for 2026–2035. In short, over the next 10 years Cambodia will further refine and improve its "national data" system. The policy mainly addresses one issue: greater consistency in data across different departments. In the past, statistics compiled by various government agencies have sometimes differed in statistical definitions or in update frequency. The new policy will strengthen coordination and reduce cases where figures "don't line up." Going forward, the government also plans to make broader use of various data sources, including administrative data held by government departments, as well as selected social and economic data, to make statistical work more digital. At the same time, Cambodia will strengthen training for statistical personnel and adopt more new technologies, making data collection, processing and analysis more convenient and faster. Why is it important to pay attention to these statistics? Because data on population, employment, the economy, investment, consumption and other areas all affect how the government formulates policy. If data is more timely and accurate, the government can gain a clearer picture of what is happening in the country. The policy is planned to cover the period from 2026 to 2035. By improving its statistical system, Cambodia aims to provide more reliable data for future economic and social development, giving policymaking a firmer foundation.