World Statistics Day

Whether one works in health, education, agriculture, governance, or climate resilience, effective action depends on understanding the people being served. In Africa, where populations are young, mobile, and diverse, this understanding must be built on more than broad estimates and projections. It requires accurate, disaggregated data that reveals how gender, geography, income, disability, and culture shape everyday realities. As the world commemorates World Statistics Day, we reflect on the significance of moving from assumptions to accuracy.

For decades, development planning across Africa has relied heavily on aggregate statistics, which conceal inequalities within countries and communities. While these figures are useful for high-level reporting, they often miss the lived experiences of those most affected by policy decisions. For example, knowing that school enrolment rates are rising nationally says little about the rural girl who walks long distances to attend class, or the child with a disability who remains excluded from the system altogether. Disaggregated data, broken down by key social and demographic factors, allows policymakers and practitioners to identify these gaps and tailor responses that are fair and effective.

Yet data alone does not drive change. Too often, development professionals hide behind reports, indicators, and technical jargon. The numbers exist, but their meaning is lost. Real transformation occurs when data is humanised, when communities understand how information shapes their access to health care, education, or livelihoods, and when leaders see the faces behind the figures. Humanising data means translating it into stories, visuals, and languages that people relate to, and involving them in the process of generating and interpreting it.

Humanising data becomes especially important in Africa, where linguistic and cultural diversity add layers of complexity. With over 2,000 languages spoken across the continent, many of which are oral and lack standardised written forms, collecting and communicating data requires more than just technical skill. It demands cultural sensitivity, local collaboration, and trust. A household survey conducted in a local dialect might yield insights that would be lost if administered only in a national or colonial language. Similarly, data visualisation tools that rely solely on written text may exclude communities where literacy levels are low.

Organisations working across Africa increasingly recognise that effective data collection must be participatory. This means engaging local enumerators who understand community dynamics, using mobile technology that accommodates multiple languages, and validating findings through community dialogue. What these organisations understand is that translating data into Indigenous languages is an act of inclusion. It ensures that communities see themselves reflected in the findings and that the data accurately reflects their perspectives, rather than imposing external definitions of progress.

Investing in quality statistics is also about accountability. Reliable and transparent data systems enable governments and citizens alike to track whether resources reach their intended targets. In sectors such as agriculture, for example, accurate data on soil conditions, crop yields, and farmer demographics helps shape smarter investments and food security strategies. In health, disaggregated data can reveal who is being left behind in vaccination or maternal care programmes. In climate resilience, localised data enables communities to adapt to shifting weather patterns with precision and foresight.

However, collecting meaningful data is only the first step. The real challenge lies in ensuring that the insights lead to better decision-making and tangible outcomes. For this to happen, institutions must strengthen data governance by building systems that are transparent, trusted and able to integrate with other systems. Partnerships between governments, research institutions, and local communities can bridge the gap between national statistics and grassroots realities.

Africa’s future will depend not only on how much data is collected, but on how it is used to empower people. When communities understand the value of data, they become co-creators of knowledge, not just subjects of research. Additionally, when institutions use that knowledge to design policies that reflect real needs, progress becomes both measurable and meaningful.