The UNESCO Institute for Statistics is the statistical branch of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO). It was established in July 1999 in order to reform UNESCO´s statistical capacities. It was established in July 1999 to meet the growing needs of UNESCO Member States and the international community for a wider range of policy-relevant, timely, and reliable statistics in the fields of education, science and technology, culture and communication.

The Institute´s functional autonomy, together with the maintenance of high professional standards and intellectual independence, enables it to respond effectively to these needs. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics is hosted by the University of Montreal in Canada.