The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the trusted source of internationally-comparable data on education, science, culture, and communication. As UNESCO's official statistical agency, the UIS produces a wide range of indicators by collaborating with national statistical offices, line ministries, and other organizations. The UIS Director serves as the Organization’s chief statistician.

We provide data to fuel policies and investments that transform lives and propel global development goals. Our work enables countries and the UN system to monitor progress, offers guidance on international measurement, helps governments and organizations evaluate trends and target policies, provides donors with evidence to direct resources effectively, and equips civil society with facts to support quality education for all.

Mr. Svein Østtveit is interim Director of the Institute.

With over 35 years of experience in the field of education, including a long-standing career with UNESCO where he has served in a range of leadership roles, he is leading the UIS in its mandate to produce high-quality data and methodologies across education, sciences, culture, and communication.

He began his career teaching history, sociology, English, and civics in Oslo. He joined UNESCO in 1989 as an Associate Expert and later served in various roles, including Chief Technical Advisor for a distance education project in Mongolia, and Programme Specialist for youth initiatives, Chief of Strategic Planning and Monitoring, and Director of the Executive Office in the Education Sector. He served as Executive Secretary for the EFA Forum, contributing to the EFA 2000 Assessment and the World Education Forum in Dakar, and led the development of the CapEFA programme.

Prior to joining the UIS, he served as interim Director of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education (UNESCO-IBE).

Mr. Svein Osttveit holds a Master’s degree in Philology (1984) and a postgraduate diploma in Pedagogy (1988), both from the University of Oslo.

The UIS is supported by committed funders, without whose financial support our work would not be possible.

  • Government of Canada
  • Government of Quebec
  • Government of France
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom
  • Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
  • Ministry of Education and Research of Norway
  • The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • The Pacific Community (SPC)

All employment opportunities available at the UIS, including positions in the field, at the Institute’s Headquarters in Montreal, and consultancies, are posted on the UNESCO Office of Human Resource Management website .

Inquiries may be addressed to

  • Requests for UIS data: uis.datarequests@unesco.org

  • Comments regarding the UIS website: uis.webmaster@unesco.org

  • General inquiries: uis.information@unesco.org

  • Office of the Director: uis.director@unesco.org

Address for correspondence

UNESCO Institute for Statistics
C.P 250 Succursale H
Montreal Quebec H3G 2K8 Canada

Address for visitors

3500 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West RS-1100
Montreal Quebec H3Z 3C1

Celebrating 25 Years of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics