Erbil completes census with near-perfect accuracy, outpacing rest of Iraq

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region has completed its census process with near-perfect results, achieving higher accuracy rates than other parts of Iraq, according to Planning Minister Dara Rashid.

“Despite Iraq beginning its preparations later, the Kurdistan Region managed to conduct a more efficient and thorough process,” Rashid said during a press conference. He reported that 99.98% of household data and 99.92% of building registrations were finalized in the Kurdistan Region. “No Iraqi governorate achieved similar rates.”

The second phase of the census was originally set to conclude by midnight on Wednesday. However, delays in Iraq and minor challenges in the Kurdistan Region prompted an extension. Rashid confirmed that teams achieved 99.99% completion in Erbil, 100% in Sulaimani, and 99% in Duhok.

Rashid praised the region’s efficiency, emphasizing that household data collection exceeded 99% across all governorates, with building registration reaching similarly high levels.

Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw commended residents for their cooperation, confirming that census operations in Erbil Governorate achieved 100% completion. In a statement, he thanked residents for adhering to restrictions and supporting census teams during the lockdown.

“The census is a foundational step toward equitable budget distribution and ensuring the rights of citizens across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” Khoshnaw said. He expressed hope that the census would serve as a framework for fair governance and resource allocation.

Iraq has concluded its first nationwide census in nearly four decades. The two-day operation, which began on November 20, 2024, involved approximately 120,000 researchers collecting data across all 18 governorates. The effort aims to modernize Iraq’s demographic and socio-economic data collection, providing critical insights for policy planning and resource allocation.

Conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, the census is expected to have far-reaching implications for governance, development planning, and equitable distribution of resources. In regions like the Kurdistan Region, the data will play a key role in shaping political and economic entitlements.