PM urges public cooperation to ensure success of 2015 census

AMMAN — The success of the 2015 national population census depends on the public’s awareness of its significance and cooperation with researchers, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Saturday.

The census, which will take place between November 30 and December 10, seeks to collect data that helps in evaluating the past and planning for the future; therefore, it is of “great importance” to provide accurate information, Ensour said at the 10th Government Leaders Forum.

The premier explained that the census is the main tool to measure the Kingdom’s development needs, such as the number of schools to be built and the required funding, by calculating expected population figures over the next 10 or 15 years, based on its findings.

“Without the public’s help we will make mistakes,” Ensour said, adding that providing accurate information will enable preparing more accurate future plans.

“It is a purely social and economic census, without any political goals,” he stressed, noting that the information gathered for this “collective national work” will be treated with secrecy.

The collaboration of public agencies as well as their support in spreading awareness will contribute to enhancing the efficiency of the census, the premier noted.

For his part, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said the upcoming census is the sixth to take place in the Kingdom, with the law stipulating that a census be conducted every 10 years for purposes of international comparisons and national planning.

“The census will provide a demographic and socio-economic database at all levels… and be accessible to policy makers in the private and public sectors as well as civil society organisations and researchers,” he said. 

Collected data, according to the minister, will contribute to developing sustainable comprehensive development policies in the 2025 vision.

He said the census will not violate the privacy of individuals or families, as the results will only be in numbers and figures, not in names. 

There are no questions on income or financial assets and participation in the census will not have any financial or legal consequences, Fakhoury explained.

“The census covers all those residing in Jordan, including Arab and foreign residents, refugees, tourists and those transiting through the Kingdom’s roads, seas or skies during the 10-day exercise,” he noted.    

Meanwhile, Department of Statistics (DoS) Director Qasem Zu’bi said the 2015 census will be a “milestone” achievement as it is entirely electronic, which will produce “instant and updated” results. 

The official noted that some 20,000 census takers will be involved in the process of data collection, under the supervision of 4,000 supervisors, and that there will be 85 DoS supervision centres across the country.

The census has three stages: preparation, population counting and analysis, after which the results will be published, according to Zu’bi, who said more researchers are needed, in addition to a means of transportation for them.