'Since 1952, the Report has served as a foundation for intergovernmental discussion and decision-making on socio-economic issues. And for the international community as a whole, it has identified social trends of international concern and provided in-depth analysis of major development issues. The Report gets to the core of DESA's mission, to serve and support Member States and the United Nations in the great cause of development for all.' Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

What is Report on the World Social Situation?

The Report on the World Social Situation (RWSS) is prepared on a biennial basis by the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

Over the years, the Report has served as a background document for discussion and policy analysis of socio-economic matters at the intergovernmental level, and has aimed at contributing to the identification of emerging social trends of international concern and to the analysis of relationships among major development issues which have both international and national dimensions.

In its resolution A/RES/56/177 | English | French | Spanish | Chinese | Arabic | Russian | of 15 December 2001, the United Nations General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to change the periodicity of the Reports on the World Social Situation from a four-year cycle to a two-year cycle.