Vilnius to Host the World-Class Statistics Conference: Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence, the Data Revolution, and Public Trust

On 12–14 May 2026, Vilnius will become a global hub for the statistical community, as Lithuania, for the first time, hosts the 20th Conference of the International Association for Official Statistics (IAOS), “Navigating the Data Revolution: Innovations and Impact in Modern Statistics”. The event is organized by the State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania) in partnership with IAOS.
During the Conference, experts in official statistics, data scientists, academics, and policymakers from around the world will discuss how rapidly growing data flows, artificial intelligence, and technological advances are transforming statistics, public governance, and evidence-based decision-making that matters to society.
“The ability to use data purposefully today is transforming all areas of life and the most important processes taking place in society. Therefore, official statistics are becoming more important than ever: they help not only to understand the world, but also to make data driven decisions”, emphasize the Conference organizers.

World Class Speakers
The Conference will feature presentations by internationally recognized experts in statistics and data.
The opening keynote, “Statistics as an Act of Love”, will be delivered by Ed Humpherson, Head of the UK Statistics Regulation Authority. He will discuss how statistics help build public trust, promote transparency, and improve public understanding.
Audronė Jakaitienė, Professor of Vilnius University, will explore the importance of critical thinking and statistical literacy in the age of artificial intelligence, highlighting the significance of society’s ability to understand and use data responsibly.
Steve MacFeely, OECD Chief Statistician, will address global changes in the data ecosystem and their impact on the economy and governance, while Mariana Kotzeva, Director General of Eurostat, will speak about the transformation of official statistics in the context of rapid technological and artificial intelligence development.

From Artificial Intelligence to Practical Statistical Solutions
The Conference program features high level keynote presentations, discussions, and practical sessions that will address today’s most pressing issues: the impact of artificial intelligence on statistics, data quality, innovative analytical methods, statistical literacy in society, and data driven decision making.
Ahead of the Conference, on 11 May, short training sessions for specialists will be held. The course “AI, GIS, and Data Science for Statistics” has already attracted significant interest, while registration for “Integrating Non Probability Samples: A Modern Approach to Official Statistics” is still open. These courses will present advanced official statistics methods and practical examples of their application.

International Recognition for Lithuania
This will be the first time the IAOS Conference is held in Lithuania. The event is expected to bring together hundreds of participants from around the world and to become an important platform for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the dissemination of innovations.
According to the organizers, the Conference will not only increase Lithuania’s visibility within the international statistics and data science community, but will also contribute to the development of an advanced, reliable data ecosystem that meets the needs of society.
More information about the Conference is available here.