The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared October 20, 2010, as World Statistics Day. Subsequently, celebrations are held every 5 years on October 20th. The second and third World Statistics Days were observed in 2015 and 2020.

In 2017, through a decision at the Cabinet Ministers' Meeting, it was agreed to officially declare National Statistics Day (HSN) to be celebrated in Malaysia on October 20th each year. Since then, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has implemented various programs and activities under the Road to HSN initiative involving various Federal Government bodies, State Governments, Departments, Agencies, Local Authorities, Private Sector, Higher Education Institutions, Colleges, Schools, and various segments of society. This effort aims to mainstream statistics in everyday life.

The celebration of HSN in 2024 marks its 10th edition with the theme "Statistics is the Essence of Life". This celebration is significant as DOSM will also commemorate its 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary. Established in 1949 under the Statistics Ordinance 1949 as the Statistics Bureau, DOSM was later renamed the Department of Statistics Malaysia in 1965 under the Statistics Act 1965.

Currently, DOSM is a Government Agency under the purview of the Ministry of Economy entrusted with the responsibility to collect, interpret, and disseminate timely and current statistics to monitor the country's economic performance, social development, and environmental sustainability. HSN will significantly impact DOSM's initiatives to ensure that the statistical culture contributes to the nation's development and global well-being in line with Malaysia's MADANI aspirations.