Shafaq News/On Wednesday, Kurdistan Region Minister of Planning, Dara Rashid, announced thesuccessful completion of the first and second phases of the census in the KurdistanRegion of Iraq (KRI), noting that the issues facing the census are very fewcompared to the large scale of the operation.
In a pressconference held in Erbil, Rashid stated that the population census is “veryimportant because it determines the population count and helps determineKurdistan's fair share of the national budget.” He emphasized that the process provides “veryaccurate” data about the population.
He addedthat the curfew began at 12:00 a.m. and will continue until 12:00 a.m. tomorrow.It will be limited, unlike the curfews during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week,the Statistic Directorate in Erbil announced the start of the first phase ofIraq's nationwide census, outlining its implementation in the KRI. The firstphase ended in November 19, and the second phase was meant to be in November20-22. The third phase will extend into early December.
Iraq is setto conduct its first national census in over 27 years on November 20-21, 2024.The last comprehensive census was held in 1987, with a partial count in 1997that excluded the KRI. Since then, the country has relied on estimates fromunofficial research institutes and organizations.
The censuswill include Iraqi citizens and non-citizens within the country's borders.Non-citizens will complete a modified questionnaire. The United NationsPopulation Fund (UNFPA) is partnering with Iraq to support this initiative,underscoring its importance for future planning and development.