One of the most comprehensive and important tasks undertaken by the Institut für Museumsforschung continues to be the collection and evaluation of statistical data. Annual statistics gathered from all German museums and associated projects.

Since 1981, a major focus of the institute has been the annual collection of statistics from all museums in the Federal Republic of Germany. Soon after its foundation, the Institut für Museumsforschung was assigned this task by the Deutscher Museumsbund.

The scope of the survey includes data on the number of visits to the museums as well as information on opening times, admission prices, and temporary exhibitions. Administrative and personnel data are generally not requested.