Istat 100. We count Italy, we count for the future
Istat was established one hundred years ago to centralise the collection, processing and dissemination of official statistics in Italy, a task previously carried out by various ministries.
The creation of the Institute also lead to the notion of statistics as an indispensable tool for understanding the social and economic conditions of the country, and the belief grew that statistical functions needed to be coordinated in order to better meet information needs..
In 2026 Istat celebrates 100 years since its foundation. It is an extraordinary opportunity to track back the most significant milestones in the life of the Institute and of the country, reaffirming the importance of statistics as a public good serving society as a whole.
The history of Istat is made of statistics, methods, tools, surveys and analyses to interpret current phenomena: it has been achieved thanks to the invaluable work of colleagues who over the years have offered with dedication their professionalism, expertise and passion.
Many events will accompany the celebrations: the presentation of Istat’s Annual Report in the presence of the President of the Republic, a dedicated immersive digital exhibition, a series of seminars with our main stakeholders and users, the National Statistical Conference; but also events for and with employees, a volume on the evolution of statistical production over 100 years and a photographic book, the review and update of the historical time series database, and the publication of #StoriediDati (Data stories) on different topics of the country’s socio-economic changes over the years.
‘Counting Italy, counting for the future’ is the message we have chosen to share the spirit of this celebration and secure trust in our data and the knowledge derived from them, so that institutions, companies, and especially citizens can make their decisions with awareness but also with an informed view of the future.
Professor Francesco Maria Chelli – President of Istat
A brief history
Istat was founded in 1926, under the authority of the head of government but with managerial autonomy. The newly established body was led by the Superior Council of Statistics, chaired by a high-profile scientific figure, Corrado Gini, who would later become the Institute’s first President. Although with limited resources: 23 permanent employees and 147 temporary staff, and a large backlog of data stalled since 1921, within a few years the Institute accelerated its output: it published the Italian Statistical Yearbook 1922-25, the volumes of the 6th General Population Census, and the first Monthly Statistical Bulletin. In 1927, it carried out the first Census of Industry and Commerce and published the first Italian Statistical Atlas.
In the 1930s, statistics became more systematic: in 1931, the 7th Population Census took place, while in 1935, economic sanctions forced the suspension of economic and financial publications. In 1937, the monthly bulletins resumed and the 2nd Industrial Census began, followed by the Commercial Census.
The 1940s were marked by war: a third of the staff were called to arms, the population census was postponed, and activities slowed down. Between 1943 and 1944, the Institute moved from Rome to Venice, then to Menaggio, before finally returning to the capital.
With the birth of the Republic in 1946, Istat took on a crucial role in the country’s reconstruction. In 1948, it began the first analyses for index numbers and the production of national accounts data, and it renewed demographic statistics. From 1949, it provided Parliament with data for the General Report on the Economic Situation of the Country.
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With the end of the war, Istat became a pillar for the country’s rebirth, providing essential data for reconstruction and democratic development. The information produced guides public policies, supports research, and strengthens active citizenship.
In the 1950s, statistics reflected the effort of economic recovery: in 1950, the first volume of Studi sul reddito nazionale (National Income Studies), in 1951, the Population Census and the first Housing Census were released, inaugurating the census season of democratic Italy. This was followed by the first surveys on business value added, household budgets, and unemployment.
In 1954, Istat was entrusted with high-level demographic supervision, together with the Ministry of the Interior; in 1959, the labour force survey became quarterly. The Institute strengthened its presence across the country with regional or interregional correspondence offices, consolidating its role as a reference point for official statistics.
During the years of the economic boom, Italy grew and changed rapidly. To describe this transformation, Istat renewed its methods and tools: the first sample surveys were introduced alongside censuses to capture evolving phenomena, such as consumption, leisure, and holidays.
In 1966, the Supplements to the Monthly Bulletin were created to rapidly disseminate data, followed by the Accounts of Italians on national accounting. In the early 1970s, surveys on separation proceedings began, and SEC70, the European system of national accounts, was introduced.
On the technological front, in 1971 Istat adopted third-generation computers, and in 1975, it experimented with optical data entry. In 1977, the project for reorganising official statistics took shape, which included a network to retrieve data directly from sources.
In the 1980s, statistical information became accessible to citizens: the first environmental surveys and multi-purpose household surveys began, and the first databases were made available. In 1986, Istat entered the research sector, and in 1989, the National Statistical System – Sistan (Legislative Decree No. 322/89) was established, while the Institute adopted the new name of National Institute of Statistics. As a public body with scientific, organisational, financial, and accounting autonomy, Istat acquired functions of guidance, coordination, and technical assistance within Sistan, ensuring independence, impartiality, and quality of statistical information at a national level.
In the 1990s, statistics became a strategic tool for public and private decisions. In 1990, the first Dissemination Centre opened; in 1992, the first National Statistical Conference was held, serving as an institutional meeting point between producers and users of official statistics; and in 1993, the Annual Report on the Country’s Situation was launched, which over the years became one of Istat’s flagship publications. This was followed by the opening of Statistical Information Centres in all regions (1995), Istat’s first website (1996), and the dissemination of data related to convergence indicators, which were necessary to assess the country’s economic performance for accession to the Maastricht Treaty (1998). In 1999, the first census of non-profit institutions was carried out.
With the 2000s, Istat enters the digital era: the website becomes the main dissemination channel and in 2010 I.Stat is launched, the open and free data warehouse, , and online questionnaires and digital acquisition techniques for data collection are trialled.
In 2001, censuses of agriculture, industry, and services are conducted using the Asia Archive, and the population census includes buildings for the first time. This is followed by regional poverty estimates (2002) and the first Report on Equitable and Sustainable Well-being (BES) (2013).
2010 marks a turning point: D.P.R. 166/2010 reorganises Istat, strengthening its national and European coordination role and establishing the Higher School of Statistics (abolished in 2014). In the same year, the Institute publishes the first Report on Equitable and Sustainable Well-being (BES) and participates in the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.
In 2011, the Commission of Users of Statistical Information (CUIS) is established and the functions performed by ISAE are merged into Istat. From 2016, the Modernisation Programme begins, with the integration of innovative sources and Big Data to ensure high-quality data and reduce statistical burden.
Istat is committed to a continuous innovation process, in line with the European Statistical System and European Union directives. In collaboration with Eurostat and international organisations, the Institute works to ensure comparable data and shared methodologies, improving quality, timeliness, and efficiency also through the use of statistical registers, digitalisation, and the integration of new sources, including Big Data and Trusted Smart Statistics (TSS), which introduce innovative approaches for the use of even private data while respecting the principles of quality and transparency.
In recent years, the analytical capacity has expanded on topics such as globalisation, technological innovation, e-commerce, inter-undertaking relationships, economic forecasts, and microsimulation models. In parallel, on the social front, Istat delves into complex phenomena such as gender-based violence, discrimination, extreme poverty, migrant integration, and volunteering.
Since 2018, the permanent census has been operational, replacing the traditional decennial census with a continuous data collection system based on administrative data and direct statistical sources. This transformation is part of a broader strategy aimed at making official statistics increasingly accessible, reliable, and consistent with the European regulatory framework, including the Data Governance Act and EU Regulation 2024/3018.
In this modernisation process, Istat invests in Artificial Intelligence as a strategic lever to innovate statistical processes and enhance the services offered to citizens, companies and institutions. Advanced technologies strengthen scientific expertise, support research, and optimise operational flows, while maintaining transparency, reliability, and ethical responsibility at their core. The Institute is also committed to using AI safely and in compliance with regulations, respecting privacy and the principles of fairness.
Thanks to these innovations, Istat looks to the future of official statistics as a more modern, open system, oriented towards the evolution of society.
