The State Statistical Office (SSO) is the organiser of the statistical system in the Republic of Macedonia. The work of SSO is based on the Law on State Statistics, which has been brought for the first time in 1997, as well as the Law on Organisation and Work of the State Administrative Bodies. These laws have sustained great amendments with regard to the harmonisation with the principles which are the basis of the official statistics, the quality criteria, the emphasis of the SSO role as the coordinator of the statistical system in the country, the implementation of the Code of Practice for the European statistics, the creation of preconditions for increasing the scope and quality of statistical data received from the reporting units, as well as the conditions for usage of statistical data by the expert and general public.

The organisation of the system for producing and disseminating statistical data regarding the states in the economy, the social sphere, the education, the environment and other areas is regulated with the adoption of the Programme for statistical surveys, which encompasses five-year periods. In the last 10 years, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has adopted 3 Programmes for statistical surveys for the periods 2008-2012, 2013-2017 and 2018-2022.

In order to create the framework in which the State Statistical Office is to establish the primary priorities, objectives and development programmes, starting from 2006 until 2018, 13 strategic plans have been adopted, encompassing three-year periods. In the course of the preparation of the strategic plans, the SSO has taken into consideration the recommendations of the Statistical Office of the European Union - Eurostat, the recommendations of the Light Peer Review and Peer Review of the European Commission, as well as the recommendations given by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.

Recently, several changes have been made in the internal organisation of the State Statistical Office in order to strengthen the capacities and improve the efficiency of the work. Following the increasing needs for statistical data, the Office is continuously working on the adjustment of its structure and position so as to overcome the challenges facing the institution. The Office is managed by a Director-General, who, together with the Deputy Director-General, is appointed by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. The location of the Office is in Skopje, and it has 8 regional statistical departments.

The harmonisation of the statistical system according to EU standards is one of the most important priorities of Macedonian statistics during the past period. This implies following and employment of the regulations and alignment to the EU acquis, introduction of new surveys, methodologies, classifications and application of the European Statistics Code of Practice in the field of quality, transmission and dissemination of data and metadata.

The statistical system of the Republic of Macedonia is a complex structure in which the State Statistical Office plays the role of coordinator of most statistical surveys carried out in the country. Other authorised bodies in the statistical system are the National Bank of the Republic Macedonia, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the Hydrometeorological Service, the Employment Agency, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund and the Institute of Public Health. This complex system operates with the full support of the institutions that are holders of administrative registers and data sets, such as the Central Register, the Public Revenue Office, the Health Insurance Fund, the Customs Administration, etc., which have all signed memoranda of cooperation with the Office.

The State Statistical Office pays particular attention to all users of statistics and makes continuous efforts to provide comprehensive, high-quality and comprehensible data, to improve the timeliness and availability of data and to improve the methods of access to data and the dissemination of products and services.

As one chapter closes and another one opens, new goals and new challenges are set. Greater, higher, reaching even further. Horizons are expanded, new possibilities are opened up, and it remains for us statisticians to continue working with dedication and commitment to accomplish our goals and to reach a new milestone.