Kurdistan Census Director: Census Participation is Vital for Kurdistan's Development

Kurdistan 10:53 AM - 2024-11-18

Mahmoud Othman, Executive Director of the General Population and Housing Census in the Kurdistan Region.

The general population and housing census is of significant importance for Iraq, particularly for the Kurdistan Region. It plays a crucial role in determining the Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal budget and affirming the Kurdish identity of disputed areas covered by Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution.  
 

The Census is Not Intended to Resolve Disputes 

In this context, Mahmoud Othman, Executive Director of the General Population and Housing Census in the Kurdistan Region, explained in an interview with PUKMEDIA: "The population census and the active participation of Kurds in it are highly significant. It helps in determining the budgets of governorates, and in the case of disputed areas, participation can affirm the Kurdish identity of these regions."  

He added: "Over the past 20 years, numerous attempts to carry out a census have failed due to political interference and the overall situation in Iraq. The process has been postponed multiple times until the Federal Court finally decided to proceed with a general census." 

Othman emphasised that "according to the Federal Court's ruling, the census results will not be used to resolve disputes but serve other purposes, such as accurately determining the population of each governorate, estimating their budgets, and allocating seats in the Iraqi parliament. Consequently, the census will not negatively impact the implementation of Article 140 of the Constitution."
 

No Concerns Regarding Article 140 Areas  

The Executive Director of the General Census in the Kurdistan Region highlighted the importance of participation, stating: "It is crucial for citizens of the Kurdistan Region and the disputed areas to take part in the census and respond to the 70 questions posed to them, as each question serves a specific purpose." 

He explained that concerns regarding areas covered by Article 140 of the Constitution had been addressed, adding: "The Ministry of Planning in the Kurdistan Region raised these concerns with the Iraqi President and the Iraqi Prime Minister." As a result, the Iraqi Council of Ministers decided not to announce census results for the disputed areas until they are compared with the population census of 1957.  
 

Over 400 Billion Dinars is Allocated for the Census

Mr. Othman disclosed that over 400 billion dinars had been allocated for the general population and housing census across Iraq. He assured that the process is proceeding smoothly in the Kurdistan Region and urged citizens to stay at home, particularly on the 20th and 21st of November, to facilitate the efforts of census teams. Othman highlighted the importance of the process, noting that an accurate scientific census is vital for the Kurdistan Region.  

The 2024 general population and housing census is the first to be conducted in Iraq since 1987, taking place on the 20th and 21st of November. It involves more than 120,000 census enumerators distributed across all regions of Iraq, asking over 70 questions per family.  
 

Iraq’s First Census in 27 Years  

The upcoming census marks Iraq’s first in 27 years. Article 11 of the 2023 Statistics and Geographic Information Systems Law mandates a population and housing census every 10 years.  

Iraq’s census history dates back to 1920, when it was conducted under British administration, followed by a 1927 census, which was later annulled due to significant errors. Subsequent censuses were undertaken in 1934 for election purposes, 1947, and 1957, which was the final census of the royal era. During the republic, censuses were conducted in 1965, 1977, 1987, 1997.  

The 2024 census is regarded as a vital development initiative, updating demographic data and poverty indicators. Its completion is seen as essential to Iraq’s future planning and governance.

 

 

PUKMEDIA