UNFPA is committed to improve population data generation and analysis and data literacy at national and local level. To achieve this, UNFPA supports the National Statistics System and particularly the Bureau of Statistics and Census of the Ministry of Planning to develop the first National Statistics Development Strategy for 2018-2023 (endorsed in December 2017), plan for a national census by 2020, conduct regular municipal level household surveys and increase the utilization of population data by decision makers.

In collaboration with national and international partners, UNFPA also produces evidence to inform humanitarian and development planning, through Household Multisector Needs Assessments, City and Population Profiling, Demographic Projections and qualitative research. UNFPA is also currently implementing the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), developed in partnership with Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative for the United Nations Country Team in Libya.

UNFPA Libya contributes to Humanitarian Programme Cycles with the Common Operational Dataset for Population Statistics (COD-PS). CODs are authoritative reference datasets needed to support operations and decision-making for all actors in a humanitarian response. For Libya, the COD-PS is based on 'best available' datasets validated with the Bureau of Statistics and Census (BSC) that ensures consistency and simplifies the discovery and exchange of key data.

UNFPA Libya and BSC have initiated the preparatory work for a national demographic survey. The demographic survey will include a population estimation survey and should allow for updating the 2006 Census demographic data at municipality and national levels.

BSC in collaboration with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and UNFPA have initiated an in-depth trend analysis of previous household surveys conducted in Libya between 2014 and 2018. The trend analysis should help determine key social, health and demographic changes that affected the Libyan population during the years of conflicts and political instability.

In collaboration with OECD – Paris 21 and the African Union, UNFPA is supporting the Ministry of Planning and the Bureau of Statistics and Census in reviewing the current National Strategy for Development of Statistics.