Stats in a Wrap

European Commission, Eurostat

The Eurostat podcast series “Stats in a Wrap” looks at the world through the eyes of statistics. Its aim is to pick the most delicious morsels and striking flavours to provide insights into the unexpected, the quirky and downright peculiar perspectives that only the numbers can reveal.

For more information: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/news/podcasts

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20 episodes
English

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June 25 · length unknown
The health workforce crisis in Europe and the data behind it
This episode is all about the healthcare workers who keep Europe's health systems on their feet, and the data that is revealing a crisis. Europe has more doctors and nurses per head of population than anywhere else on Earth, and yet, across the continent, health systems are under strain: overwhelmed, understaffed, and increasingly anxious about the future. The speakers are: Tomas Zapata from the World Health Organization's European office, Katarzyna Ptak-Bufkens, policy officer at the European Commission (DG SANTE) and Monica Pace, statistical officer at Eurostat. They will discuss this topic with Jonathan Elliott and discover what the data actually tells us about Europe's healthcare workforce.
June 2 · length unknown
The fine art of measuring the EU’s hazardous chemicals
In this episode, we're going to find out how the EU's statistics community is measuring the almost unmeasurable complex world of hazardous chem-icals.The speakers are: Jan Oltmanns, a scientist at FoBiG, a German research and advisory institute for hazardous substances; Carla Teixeira, statistical lead officer at Eurostat dealing with data on chemicals; and Aleksandra Małyska, policy officer at the European Commission (DG ENV). They will discuss this topic with Jonathan Elliott.
March 24 · length unknown
Web Intelligence Hub: getting information from the web through machine learning and AI
In this episode we're going to discuss how statisticians are using artificial intelligence to read millions and millions of job advertisements in the EU, so they can build a picture of employment that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.The speakers are: Fernando Reis and Mátyás Mészáros from Eurostat’s Innovation and Digital Transformation unit; Vladimir Kvetan, skills and labour market expert at Cedefop, and Jacek Maślankowski, data scientist from Statistics Poland. They will discuss this topic with host Jonathan Elliott.
January 27 · length unknown
Glossary for transport statistics: the making of a new edition
In this episode we're going to discuss the importance of precise definitions in transport statistics. We will explore Eurostat's collaboration with the UN, the OECD and the UIC on updating the transport statistics glossary.The speakers are: Stefanie Hille from Eurostat, Francesco Dionori from UNECE, Rachele Poggi from the International Transport Forum, and Alice Favre from the International union of railways. They will discuss this topic with Jonathan Elliott and discover how important precise definitions are for transport statistics.
Nov 24, 2025 · length unknown
Young people on today’s labour market
In this episode we're going to go behind the statistics to understand how Europe measures youth labour market participation and what challeng-es statisticians face in painting an accurate picture. We will also find out how it feels today for young people to enter the world of work that has significantly changed in recent years.Speakers in this episode are Riccardo Gatto, statistical officer in the la-bour force survey methodology team at Eurostat, and Francis van der Mooren, a researcher from Statistics Netherlands. The host, Jonathan Elliott, will guide the discussion on the often daunting process of enter-ing the labour market.
Oct 16, 2025 · length unknown
Collaboration with universities and statistical innovation
In this episode we explore innovation in official statistics, discussing how Eurostat, national statistical institutes, and universities collaborate to modernise data collection, protect privacy, and use new technologies like microdata, AI and smartphones. Aleksandra Bujnowska, statistical officer at Eurostat, Sofia Rodrigues, Head of Unit at Statistics Portugal, and Peter Lugtig, professor at Utrecht University and senior researcher at Statistics Netherlands, will discuss this topic with Jonathan Elliott and show how collaboration with academ-ia leverages innovation in official statistics.
Sep 24, 2025 · length unknown
Looking at data on women in research and innovation
In this episode we examine gender disparities in research and inno-vation, highlighting challenges women face in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, including low repre-sentation in patents, leadership roles, and persistent pay gaps across the European Union.4 experts from different domains will discuss with Jonathan Elliott why careers in science and innovation still look so different for wom-en and men in the EU. These are: Daniela Enache, statistician in the field of science and technology, and Marina Perez Julian, statistician and gender statistics coordinator (both at Eurostat); Anne Laure Humbert, professor of gender and statistics and lead researcher on the She Figures Index; and Oriane Gilloz, policy officer in the Gender Sector of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Re-search and Innovation.
Jul 9, 2025 · length unknown
What makes population statistics unique?
In this episode we are talking about population statistics. We show how they can provide crucial insights into society and help govern-ments plan infrastructure and services. Experts from Eurostat and UNECE discuss data collection methods, privacy concerns, and the importance of understanding demographic trends through the cen-sus and administrative data. In a conversation with Jonathan Elliott on this topic, Hannah Kiiver, Eurostat’s population projection expert, David Thorogood, specialist in population and housing census statistics in Eurostat, and Andres Vikat from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), provide an in-depth look at how population statis-tics are collected, analysed and used to inform policy and planning.
Jun 16, 2025 · length unknown
How does the European Statistics Competition empower young thinkers?
In this episode we are talking about the European Statistics Competition (ESC). We will explore how it helps young people develop statistical liter-acy through exciting video projects, and how it teaches them critical thinking and data interpretation skills in a funny way, relevant to their lives. Speakers in this episode are Ioannis Xirouchakis from the Dissemination and User Support unit at Eurostat, Nikoleta Šlachtová from the Dissemi-nation Directorate of the Slovak Republic’s statistical office, and Kelly Sabbe from the Belgian statistical office. Together with Jonathan Elliot they discuss how the ESC empowers young people to creatively com-municate complex data and enhances their statistical literacy and critical thinking skills.
Jan 27, 2025 · length unknown
Rural Europe – a bucolic idyll or forgotten lands?
The podcast series 'Stats in a Wrap' intends to attract a wide European audience of podcast fans who wish to be informed and entertained by the world of statistics. In this episode we are talking about living in the EU’s countryside. Rural areas are often misunderstood. For some, they're romantic havens from the stress of city life. For others, they're tough places to get work, healthcare and education. So, what do data reveal about rural living in the EU?
Nov 20, 2024 · length unknown
Gender-based violence statistics and its challenges
In this episode, Jonathan Elliott discusses with European experts the EU gender-based violence survey, a major project to assess the prevalence and nature of this hidden crime. The experts will shed light on the legal background and definitions, the challenges of data collection, and on the importance of raising public awareness to effectively tackle gender-based violence.
Oct 16, 2024 · length unknown
How do people use Eurostat data and products in their daily work?
In this episode we are talking about how people use Eurostat data and products in their daily work, and statistics can be made more engaging by complementing it with timely, granular data sources. Laia Guinovart from the Eurostat user support team, Tatjana von Bonkewitz, a teacher in Luxembourg, Sérgio Guerreiro from Turis-mo de Portugal, and Patrick van Egmond from Lux Mobility discuss this topic with Jonathan Elliott. He highlights how these professionals from diverse backgrounds leverage Eurostat data to inform their work and decision-making, while also addressing the challenges of data literacy and communication.
Sep 16, 2024 · length unknown
Innovative approaches in statistics – Part 2: Chatbots and other AI usage.
In this episode we are talking about innovation, showcasing different ways of using artificial intelligence. We will learn how Norwegian statisticians and the public will soon get useful information easily and quickly with the help of chatbots.
Jul 16, 2024 · length unknown
Innovative approaches in statistics – Part I: Inventiveness and AI
In this episode we are talking about innovation, showcasing different aspects of inventiveness behind the scenes of the ESS innovation agenda. We will show how producing stats is being helped by technology, especially artificial intelligence.
Jun 13, 2024 · length unknown
Fact-checking and trust in times of fake news
In this episode we are in political mood and contemplating the meaning of truth. We talk about the world of political misinformation, news reporting, fact-checking and building trust in data.
Apr 23, 2024 · length unknown
How do we show data on maps? (Part II)
In this episode we talk about statistics and maps - the things we navigate when we drive and carry in our pockets on our phones. Maps are powerful tools for data visualization, particularly in statistics, and they can translate immensely complex numerical data into strikingly clear visualizations to give us an instantly understandable snapshot.
Mar 18, 2024 · length unknown
How do we show data on maps? (Part I)
In this episode we talk about statistics and maps - the things we navigate when we drive and carry in our pockets on our phones. Maps are powerful tools for data visualization, particularly in statistics, and they can translate immensely complex numerical data into strikingly clear visualizations to give us an instantly understandable snapshot.
Dec 18, 2023 · length unknown
Key figures on Europe
In this episode we talk about the ‘Key figures on Europe 2023’ publica-tion. An emblem of the shifting trends in how we view stats at different times. What's key this year, and what was key last year? What does that tell us about our evolving attitudes to the statistics that surround us?
Oct 16, 2023 · length unknown
How to promote statistical literacy?
In this episode we talk about statistical literacy and how the EU's young people are learning to love and understand stats as never before. We will also find out how experts help us decode and understand the numbers and how to teach statistics to help children develop a critical thinking.
Sep 18, 2023 · length unknown
What does quality mean for statistics?
In this episode we talk about quality. Easy to spot in everyday things like food and clothing. But how about statistics? Eurostat has a team dedicated to this topic, and we'll hear how Eurostat with its European Statistics Code of Practice has set the standards for the entire European Statistical System, and how they monitor and implement it.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes