Iraqi prime minister hails national census as ‘historic day’

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani hailed the launch of Iraq’s first nationwide census in nearly 40 years as a “historic day” and a cornerstone for building a “new Iraq.” He highlighted the role of religious leaders and institutions in encouraging widespread participation.

In a statement from his office on Wednesday, Al-Sudani visited the Ministry of Planning to oversee the progress of the General Population and Housing Census, managed by the Statistics and Geographic Information Systems Authority. The two-day census, concluding Thursday, involves 120,000 field researchers working under a nationwide curfew to gather data on Iraq’s estimated 44 million residents, including those in the Kurdistan Region.

The prime minister congratulated the Iraqi people, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the initiative and commending federal and regional planning ministries, statistical agencies, and the United Nations for their collaboration. “This day lays the groundwork for a new Iraq, built on precise analysis and data that will guide decision-makers in creating developmental, economic, social, and even political plans and programs,” he said.

This census marks the first comprehensive data collection effort since 1987. Previous attempts were stalled by political tensions, wars, and disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. Al-Sudani noted that the census excludes fields related to sectarian and ethnic affiliations, focusing solely on developmental objectives to avoid deepening existing divides.

Al-Sudani praised the contributions of religious authorities and institutions across all sects, as well as social organizations, for raising awareness about the census. He described their involvement as pivotal in fostering trust and encouraging citizens to cooperate with census teams.

The census employs advanced technology and modern methodologies, which Al-Sudani said reduce costs and improve accuracy. He lauded the reliability of data collection and analysis, emphasizing that the results will be critical for shaping Iraq’s developmental future.

Expressing gratitude to citizens for their cooperation, Al-Sudani urged continued support for census teams to ensure the initiative’s success. He commended the dedication of ministry staff and called for sustained precision and enthusiasm until the official announcement of results.