Iraq’s national census continues as over 70% of data collection completed, planning ministry says

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Planning announced Thursday that the ongoing national census will continue until all household data is collected across the country’s governorates, marking a significant step in gathering essential demographic information to support development plans.

In a statement, the ministry said, “Census operations will continue until all family and household data is completed in all governorates.” The official dates for the national census were November 20 and 21.

Mahdi Al-Alak, an advisor to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), reported that more than 70% of the census work has been completed in most governorates. Speaking to the state-run Al-Iraqiya channel, Al-Alak said, “The progress achieved so far in the general population census indicates that more than 70% has been completed in the majority of governorates.”

Al-Alak also reassured the public that the fieldwork is proceeding according to schedule. “The fieldwork will be completed as planned,” he stated.

To assist families who have not yet been contacted by census workers, Al-Alak announced the launch of a dedicated hotline. “A phone number has been made available for families who have not been reached by census workers as of Thursday evening. In line with technical and international guidelines, a communications center has been established to answer questions and ensure the process runs smoothly,” he explained.

Initial results from the census are expected to be announced within two days of the field operations’ conclusion. Al-Alak emphasized the developmental focus of the census, noting that its questions are structured to generate data useful for development planning.

Lieutenant General Walid Khalifa Al-Tamimi, Commander of Baghdad Operations, reported that citizens in the capital have cooperated fully with the curfews implemented to facilitate census activities. “For the second consecutive day, we are successfully implementing plans to protect census workers in Baghdad and its rural areas,” Al-Tamimi told Al-Iraqiya.

He added that census teams have completed a large portion of their work in the capital, with operations continuing until the curfew ends at midnight. “There is a directive to lift the curfew in any area where the census is completed,” Al-Tamimi said, emphasizing that procedures are progressing efficiently.

Iraq began its first nationwide census in nearly 40 years on Wednesday, marking a critical effort to collect demographic data in a country estimated to have 44 million residents. The two-day census, which concludes Thursday, involves 120,000 field researchers working under a nationwide curfew. It is Iraq’s first full census since 1987, delayed over the decades by political tensions, war, and disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.

Unlike previous censuses, this effort excludes questions about ethnicity and sectarian affiliation, seeking to address sensitivities in disputed territories such as Kirkuk and Nineveh. The government has stated that only descendants of families present in these regions during the 1957 census will be counted, aiming to mitigate demographic disputes caused by later migrations and settlement policies.

The census holds critical implications for Iraq’s future, influencing resource allocation, infrastructure development, and parliamentary representation. Supported by the United Nations Population Fund, it seeks to address gaps in key sectors like health, education, and housing.

While the census is viewed as a step toward informed governance and development, Kurdish leaders have expressed concerns that it may undercount Kurdish populations in disputed territories. Despite these challenges, the initiative is widely regarded as a pivotal milestone in Iraq’s recovery, offering a foundation for equitable policymaking and national growth.