Statistical Terms Glossary

An index defined as a weighted arithmetic average of the price relatives.

A population with a relatively high proportion of children, adolescents, and young adults; a low median age; and thus a high growth potential.

The United Nations General Assembly defined youth as those persons falling between the ages of 15 and 24 years inclusive. This definition was made for International Youth Year, held around the world in 1985. In the framework of reporting progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the ILO takes the lead in reporting on trends concerning the youth employment rate.

Percentage of people aged 15 to 24 years who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.

Include only special programmes for youth in transition from school to work. It does not include young people’s participation in programmes that are open to adults as well.

The youth unemployment rate is the proportion of the youth labour force that is unemployed. Young people are defined as persons aged between 15 and 24.

A special form of cultivation in pits to concentrate water and manure (1 to 3 tonnes/ha) in micro-basins (30 to 40 cm in diameter, 10 to 15 cm deep) dug with a short-handled hoe and staggered every 80 cm, where the seeds (sorghum, millet, etc.) will be sown.

Bond that pays no interest but is sold at a steep discount and paid off at par. See also certificates of accrual on Treasury securities.

Eurobond, denominated in sterling and sold at steep discount.

The SDGs aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people–especially children–have sufficient and nutritious food all year. This involves promoting sustainable agricultural, supporting small-scale farmers and equal access to land, technology and markets.

Stable (zero) population growth occurs when the numbers of births and the number of immigrants arriving in the country decimate with the numbers of deaths and immigrants outside the country. For societies that have reached replacement level, the fertility level will not affect growth due to the influence of the driving force of the population. Young societies will continue to grow for several generations due to the presence of large proportions of young people in the period of reproductive life.

Zero population growth (ZPG) is the absence of population growth in which equal birth and death rates create a stable human population

A zero-coupon/deep discount bond is a debt security with no coupon (zero-coupon) or substantially lower coupon than current interest rates. The bonds are issued at a discount to their nominal value, with the discount reflecting the prevailing market interest rate. In the case of a zero-coupon bond, investors receive at maturity the difference between the purchase price and the nominal value of the bond (so called "uplift"). The longer the maturity of the bond, the greater the discount against par value.

A single-payment security that does not involve interest payments during the life of the bond. The bond is sold at a discount from par value, and the full return is paid at maturity. The difference between the discounted issue price and the face or redemption value reflects the market rate of interest at the time of issue and time to maturity. The longer the maturity of the bond and the higher the interest rate, the greater the discount against the face or redemption value.

Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day.

A computer that has been compromised and controlled by an attacker who has installed malware such as computer viruses, Trojan horses, or bot nets, which can be used to perform malicious attacks such as spreading e-mail spams and launching denial-of-service attacks.

Zoning is the process in physical planning, or the results thereof, in which specific functions or uses are assigned to certain areas (for example, industrial zones, residential areas)

See Zero population growth

Data collected by a government department or other public agency primarily for administrative (not research or statistical) purposes.

Register maintained for administrative purposes.

Government department or other public agency that collects administrative data.

(same as) microdata.