Because of the extension of their powers over the years and the essential missions they perform, local authorities play a major role in both our society and our economy. In order to better understand, observe and support them, the Ministerial Statistical Office (MSO) for Local Authorities within the General Directorate of Local Authorities (DGCL) has developed over time a comprehensive and robust statistical system. To meet long-standing needs for demographic monitoring, the DGCL and the MSO rely on the population census. Needs are also, and for a long time, in the area of local finances, and more recently on the monitoring of human resources in local authorities, and the inter-municipal structures. The MSO offers more analyses to understand the heterogeneity of local authorities.

The data produced are part of a process of production, validation and enrichment of administrative sources. The consolidation of accounting operations between entities that have cross-flow between them is one of the major processes in the construction of robust statistics. Finally, the MSO contributes to widening access to statistical information, with the recent implementation of a dedicated portal.