Get ready for 2022 population census
The 2021 Pilot Population and Housing Census that was conducted in selected areas in each district from October 22 ends this Sunday October 31st.
The pilot census was expected to test the adequacy of the entire census plan to ensure a complete count and data quality during the Population and Housing Census that is scheduled for August 2022.
During the one- week exercise, 106 places enumeration areas were to be covered. The population and housing census is a decennial national project, occurring every 10 years.
The last one was conducted in August 2011, and the impending one had to be postponed from this year due to the impact of national measures taken in the fight against the spread of the COVID- 19 virus.
According to the Statistician General Dr. Burton Mguni, a census is essentially a way of counting the human population following a procedure of systematically obtaining and recording information on demographic, social and economic characteristics at a specified time, and within defined geographic boundaries.
The key parameters of a population census are individual enumeration; applicable defined territory; defined period of census count and periodicity or census interval.
He explained that the Census provides information on the geographic and administrative distribution of the population in addition to other demographic and socio- economic characteristics of all the people in the country.
“The data from the census are classified, tabulated and disseminated so that government, political leaders, election officials, planners, academia, investors, businesses, NGOs and civil society, regional and international organisations, as well as the public at large, can use the results for policy formulation, programme planning and decision- making as may be relevant and appropriate”, he said. The Census results are also used to review and change as deemed appropriate various key provisions relating to political representation in parliament and at local government level such as the number of constituencies and related boundaries.
A population and housing census covers newly born babies to the oldest person in the country for both citizens and non- citizens and also covers all citizens who are outside the country at the time, regardless of the reasons and period of absence.
Dr. Mguni highlighted that a population and housing census count exercise covers every corner of the country and visits every dwelling and household.
“Every person is counted regardless of citizenship status, and at dissemination, the population is reported in its totality and disaggregated by citizens and non- citizens as well as by other criteria for which data was collected. In fact, certain disaggregation is only possible using census data”, he explained.