The United Nations Statistical Commission is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council established in 1946; it oversees the work of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its 24 member states are elected by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of the following geographical distribution: African states (5), Asian States (4), Eastern European States (4), Latin American and Caribbean States (4), Western European and other States (7). Since July 1999 the Commission meets every year. As set forth by the Economic and Social Council, in the terms of reference, the Commission shall assist the Council:

• "In promoting the development of national statistics and the improvement of their comparability;"
• "In the coordination of the statistical work of specialized agencies;"
• "In the development of the central statistical services of the Secretariat;"
• "In advising the organs of the United Nations on general questions relating to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information;"
• "In promoting the improvement of statistics and statistical methods generally."