How COVID-19 is changing the world: a statistical perspective

The UN and other partner organisations of the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA) have published a new report that provides a snapshot of some of the latest information available on how the Coronavirus is affecting the world today. The quantitative data highlighted in the report covers different aspects of public and private life; economic and environmental fluctuations; changes that affect individuals in terms of income, education, employment,domestic violence; and changes affecting public services such as civil aviation and postal services. The report found that developing countries are less equipped to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to minimise disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. This is manifested in the digital divide, not only between developing and developed countries, but between different age brackets in developing countries where older age groups and those below 15 years of age are the most affected. This further limits the access to ICTs for elders to minimise the disruption and circumvent some of the obstacles they face in getting on with their daily lives, and for children to have online education during this social distancing period.