Erbil extends supplemental census data collection by four days

ERBIL — The Erbil Statistics Directorate has extended the third phase of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s general population census by four days due to technical difficulties that impeded timely data collection.

Dilzar Hama Salih, director of statistics in Erbil, informed 964media that issues such as internet disruptions, tablet malfunctions, the high number of families assigned to each enumerator, adverse weather conditions in certain areas, and other technical challenges prevented completion within the original timeframe, necessitating the extension beyond the initial December 10 deadline.

The 2024 general population census in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region is being conducted in three phases. The first phase involved numbering and listing buildings, streets, and apartments. The second phase, conducted on Oct. 20 and 21, focused on registering families. The ongoing third phase entails administering a detailed 77-question survey to households and will now continue until Dec. 14.

“Each enumerator was responsible for at least 130 families, administering a 77-question survey covering aspects like living conditions, health, education, household needs, and more,” Salih explained. “This extensive workload required a lot of time.”

Despite these challenges, Salih noted that Erbil province performed well compared to other Iraqi provinces, contributing to the decision to extend the census period to ensure comprehensive data collection.

This extension aims to ensure that all residents are accurately counted and that the collected data reflects the current demographic and socio-economic conditions in Erbil and the broader Kurdistan Region.

According to preliminary results announced by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Iraq’s population has reached 45,407,895, including foreigners and refugees. The population distribution shows 70.3% residing in urban areas and 29.7% in rural areas.

In the Kurdistan Region, the population stands at 6,370,668, representing 14.02% of Iraq’s total population. Of this, 84% reside in urban areas, while 16% live in rural regions. The region has 1,379,163 families, with an average family size of 4.3 individuals. The gender distribution is nearly equal, with males constituting 50.24% and females 49.76% of the population.