National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

THE NBS PROFILE

The NBS, as a Government agency, was formed from the former Bureau of Statistics to provide efficient services, giving increased value for money for the benefit of the Government and the general public. NBS carries out its activities in a businesslike manner, using commercial financial management, and business-planning techniques and is customer focused.

VISION AND MISSION

1. The mission of NBS is “to facilitate planning and decision making within the government and the business community, to stimulate research and inform public debate through the provision of relevant, reliable and timely statistics and a quality statistical service in general”
2. The staff shared vision is for “the NBS to be the authoritative source of statistical information pertaining to socio-economic conditions in the country, an institution able to provide such information most effectively, a point of reference on statistical methodology and standards” and a centre for co-ordinating statistical activities in view of producing statistics that are consistent.

LEGAL INFORMATION

The NBS is the only agency entrusted to provide official statistics to the Government, business community and the public at large. The NBS endeavours to pursue this important mission on behalf of the Government, efficiently and diligently, by cutting down unnecessary costs. It has the capacity and technology to deliver the required statistical services to the nation. The staff consists of qualified professional statisticians, who have been selected carefully to cater for the new roles of the NBS as an agency. The NBS is therefore ready for the challenge in t delivering this service by reducing operational costs and to finance its operations by setting inviting prices on the products and services rendered. 

The NBS has committed itself to maintaining the capacity to be a prominent player in the delivery of statistical services in the country and to make a significant contribution to the activities of the national economy.

CONTACT ADDRESS

The NBS is located along Kivukoni Front, Casino Building. 
The address is Box 796, Dar es Salaam. 
Telephone +255-22-2122722/3, 2122724/5, 2137834, 2111634, 
Fax 2112352, telex 41576 TANSTAT 
E-mail: nbs.dg@raha.com 
Webpage: www.nbs.go.tz

General Data Dissemination System (GDDS)

coming soon

Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHS)

Tanzania Socio-economic Database (TSED)

TanInfo

The purpose

A wealth of socio-economic data from different sources exists in Tanzania. Access, however to that data is not easy because information is scattered in different ministries and organisations with no overview of which data exists or where to find it. Furthermore, although comprehensive data is collected e.g. in the area of education and health, only a small portion is published in annual publications with much data remaining in the ministry difficult to access by others. 

To address this problem the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with 12 ministries and supported by UNDP and UNICEF established the Tanzania Socio-Economic Database ( TSED ). The main purpose of TSED is to allow an overall, up-to-date view of the socio-economic situation in Tanzania and to facilitate use of data for analysis by policy makers and other users.

The TSED initiative is also an important tool for NBS to assert itself as the key institution for data collection, management and dissemination.

The database

The data is organised by sectors and themes and provides updated time-series as well as multiple estimates from various sources, disaggregated data down to district level, by sex and urban/rural strata wherever these are available. TSED also allows for user-friendly analysis, through table, graph and map options and provides an opportunity to calculate composite indices. 

The NBS in collaboration with the ministries involved is responsible for data management of the TSED including quality control, updating of TSED and release of updated versions.

The user interface

· User friendly software package
· Easy access to quantifiable indicators for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
· Greater consistency in use of data throughout government
· Information package which can be distributed to interested parties ( NGOs, media, donors)


The future

· Access via the Internet
· Full government network version
· The database will also be used to facilitate thematic seminars for policy makers and planners, this will stimulate the use of data for analysis and planning and build capacity in this area. 


More contact the Director General of NBS

Tanzania Population Information Network (TPIN)

For detailed statistics on population and other related information: PPU 

Statistical Institutions in Tanzania

coming soon