Now more than ever, timely, accurate and high-quality statistics are essential to monitor trends and inform policy decisions, whether concerning the longer-term challenge of delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or the immediate threat represented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After seven years of absence, the revamp of the FAO Statistical Yearbook coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Organization and World Statistics Day. This renewed commitment to producing regular Statistical Yearbooks issues a strong statement on the importance and value that FAO assigns to data and statistics as a strategic global public good that contributes to shape the future world, and is at the foundation of our efforts in advancing sustainable development.

The 2020 Statistical Yearbook, prepared by the Statistics Division of FAO, provides a useful tool for policy makers, researchers and analysts, as well as the general public interested in the past, present and future path of food and agriculture.

Four thematic chapters in this issue of the Statistical Yearbook present the latest statistics on the economic importance of agricultural activities, inputs, outputs and factors of production, their implications for food security and nutrition and their impacts on the environment.

The companion 2020 Pocketbook provides an easy and simple way to quickly access top-level numbers, charts and maps.

The data in the Statistical Yearbook and Pocketbook are freely available on the FAO website and the FAOSTAT data platform: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/

Yearbook: http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb1329en

Pocketbook: http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb1521en

Check out FAO Statistics Twitter account for the latest update: https://twitter.com/faostatistics