Methods and apparatus are disclosed for maintaining statistic counters and updating a secondary counter memory via a queue for reducing or eliminating overflow of the counters. Multiple counter values are stored in a primary counter storage. An indication of a particular counter to update is received. An updated value for the particular counter is determined. A determination is made whether to store the updated value in the primary storage or to add to an update counter queue based on the updated value and an occupancy level of the update counter queue. In one implementation, this determination includes comparing a function of the updated value with the occupancy level. In one implementation, this determination includes comparing twice the updated value with the occupancy level. In one implementation, a backpressure signal is generated if the updated value is to be added to the update counter queue and the queue is full.