IBGE
IBGE Director of Surveys wins seat on UNESCO Institute for Statistics Council
November 19, 2025 04h08 PM | Last Updated: November 24, 2025 09h14 AM
The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) has reached an important milestone in its international engagement: the Director of Surveys, Gustavo Junger, was elected to the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The candidacy, prepared by IBGE's International Relations sector in recent months, was confirmed by UNESCO following a nomination from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The UIS is the leading source of internationally comparable data on education, science, and culture. As UNESCO's official statistical agency, it produces indicators in collaboration with national institutes, ministries, and international organizations, guiding governments and entities in the formulation of effective policies.
The President of the IBGE, Marcio Pochmann, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the election: “The unprecedented election of Director Gustavo Junger to the UIS Board reaffirms the international prominence achieved by the IBGE in the last two years. In line with the objectives of SINGED in Brazil, the UIS guarantees the credibility, relevance, and international comparability of statistical data on education, science, culture, and communication at a global level.” The UIS Board of Directors is composed of 12 international experts, responsible for defining policies, general functions, and approving the institution's annual program and budget.
For Gustavo Junger, the election reinforces the strategic role of the IBGE: “The nomination highlights IBGE's prestige within the international community and our contribution to the production of information on central themes for UNESCO. It is a consistent sign that the institute's international insertion project is moving in the right direction. The IBGE exerts leadership among countries of the Global South and should expand its activities on topics of interest to the UIS.”
IBGE's International Relations area also celebrated the achievement. “The election to the UIS Board is a clear recognition of IBGE's excellence and institutional commitment to the production of statistics on education, science, and culture. We have a positive history of collaboration with the United Nations, which grows day by day, and participation in the Board is another step in this partnership,” said Andrea Diniz.
