Aishath Hassan has been appointed as the new Chief Statistician of Maldives.

While applications were opened for the post on August 2, Aishath's appointment was announced by the National Bureau of Statistics today via a tweet.

The role of Chief Statistician, a recently introduced post, is meant to look over the priorities and progressions of the Bureau, as well as ensuring adherence to the codes for statistics in the country, and handle any formal complaints concerning the statistical services provided. The post was introduced with the ratification of the Maldives Statistics Act in July this year.

A Chief Statistician is to be appointed every five years to the Bureau by the incumbent President, in accordance to the guidelines of the finance minister.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had ratified the Maldives Statistics Act, which was passed by the Parliament on 8th July 2021, at the 21st sitting of the second session of the Parliament this year. The main aim of the Act is to collect pertinent data regarding the Maldives' economy, ecology and social aspects, and use the collected data dutifully for the advantage of all citizens.

The Act also mandates the establishment of a Statistical Council, comprising of 10 members, to provide counsel on all matters related to the field.

The newly appointed Chief Statistician, Aishath Hassan, has so far, worked in the field of statistics, previously having worked at the Planning Ministry. Following the nullification of the Planning Ministry and the incorporation to then Housing Ministry, she has been working under the Bureau since.

Aishath Hassan holds a degree in Economics and Management and a master’s degree in Econometrics.