The Use of Administrative Data in Official Statistics – Past, Present, and Future – With Special Reference to the Nordic Countries

The rolls, from which conscripts were called for working on the pyramids, may have been among the first administrative data sources for preparing statistics. Later rulers enrolled males for recruiting members to their legions. The enrolment data were probably also frequently used for statistics to assess military power. Since National Statistical Institutes were founded, many kinds of administrative data have been used. Electronic computers and shared administrative registers with permanent and unique object identifiers as applied in the Nordic countries, made it possible to integrate micro data from several sources and time periods, extending the set of possible questions to which statistics could provide answers. Today, a major part of the official statistical products are prepared directly or indirectly from administrative data. Effective use of these data has required the development of new methods for the transferring and editing of data, as well as for the estimation and quality evaluation of statistical products. Large amounts of data are now recorded automatically in connection with credit card use, electronic tickets, traffic surveillance and radio frequency identification of commodities, etc. and may be potential future sources of administrative data for official statistics. Technology trends indicate that embedded and implanted electronic chips will also be generating huge masses of administrative data. The threats to privacy are obvious, and possible use of such in the production of official statistics requires careful consideration, discussion and, if use is decided upon, careful preparation and implementation.