Iraq concludes first phase of census after three decades
The census process continues as teams prepare for the final phase, which will collect detailed household information. On Monday, census teams began training for the final phase, which is expected to conclude by Dec. 15.
Nov. 25, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, has completed the initial phase of its first comprehensive population census in nearly 30 years, conducted from Nov. 20-22, 2024, under a nationwide curfew.
Citizens across all Iraqi cities and the Kurdistan Region were required to be present in their homes during the enumerators' visits to respond to survey questions. The census process continues as teams prepare for the final phase, which will collect detailed household information.
On Monday, census teams began training for the final phase, which is expected to conclude by Dec. 15.
Sirwan Mohammed, Undersecretary of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Planning, previously told Kurdistan24, "Preliminary census results are expected to be released this week."
Mohammed explained that the completed phase focused on household registration with basic preliminary questions.
"The upcoming phase, which we're preparing for in coordination with Baghdad, will involve the actual census form covering economic, health, social, and educational data related to development," he said.
The training period for enumerators will last five days, after which teams will begin field operations under the supervision of statistical directorate officials.
"We anticipate this phase will take two weeks to complete. Special teams have been assigned for remote and difficult-to-reach areas," Mohammed added.
The final phase will utilize a comprehensive form containing 77 questions covering various aspects including public services, healthcare, education levels, birthplace, and other community-related topics.
The Iraqi Ministry of Planning has released the following completion rates for the census across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region:
Baghdad: 80.48%
Nineveh: 98.60%
Erbil: 96.31%
Sulaimani: 94.76%
Basra: 89.85%
Babil: 94.78%
Diyala: 98.10%
Dhi Qar: 86.84%
Najaf: 92.27%
Kirkuk: 97.74%
Anbar: 95.99%
Salahuddin: 98.16%
Karbala: 95.81%
Wasit: 98.68%
Diwaniyah: 95.33%
Duhok: 95.25%
Maysan: 91.23%
Muthanna: 94.73%
Iraq's last comprehensive census was conducted in 1997, excluding the Kurdistan Region. This new census represents a crucial milestone in gathering accurate demographic data essential for planning and development across the country.
The census has been repeatedly delayed due to political tensions and security concerns, making this successful implementation particularly significant for both federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.