Statistics Netherlands is a Dutch governmental institution that gathers statistical information about the Netherlands. In Dutch it is known as the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek and often abbreviated to CBS. It is a department of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. It was founded in 1899. Since 3 January 2004 it has been a self-standing organisation, or quango. It is located in Voorburg and Heerlen. The CBS collects statistical information about, amongst others:
- economic growth
- consumer pricing
- income of persons and households
- count of the population
- unemployment
The CBS carries out a program that needs to be ratified by the Central Commission for Statistics. This independent commission must guard the impartiality, independence, quality, relevance, and continuity of the CBS, according to the Law on the CBS of 1996 (Wet op het Centraal bureau en de Centrale commissie voor de statistiek).
