What is ISO 24634:2012?

ISO 24634:2012, also known as the International Organization for Standardization's Information and documentation - Statistical registry structure and interchange format (SR-SIF), is a standard that provides guidelines for the organization and exchange of statistical information. This standard plays a crucial role in ensuring consistency and interoperability in statistical data across different platforms and systems.

The Importance of ISO 24634:2012

ISO 24634:2012 offers a standardized structure for statistical registries, allowing organizations to efficiently collect, process, store, and disseminate statistical information. By adhering to this standard, statistical data can be easily exchanged and shared, regardless of the software or platform being used. This promotes transparency and accessibility, enabling policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions based on reliable and comparable data.

Main Features and Benefits

ISO 24634:2012 defines a common framework for structuring statistical information, ensuring consistent coding, classification, and metadata. It facilitates the integration of multiple data sources, enabling efficient data management, analysis, and reporting. The standard promotes data quality by outlining guidelines for data validation and verification. It also supports multilingualism by providing language-independent concepts and terms, making it easier to compare and combine statistical data from different regions and countries.

How ISO 24634:2012 Works

ISO 24634:2012 follows a modular approach, dividing statistical information into various components such as concepts, classifications, variables, and datasets. These components are defined using XML schema definitions, allowing data to be easily shared and processed electronically. The standard provides guidance on how to define and represent statistical metadata, ensuring sufficient contextual information is available for accurate interpretation. It also includes rules for data coding, ensuring consistency and compatibility across different statistical systems.