Amman, Feb. 11 (Petra) – The Department of Statistics (DoS) is transitioning to a hybrid census methodology for the 2026 General Population and Housing Census, a strategic framework that integrates traditional field enumeration with the systematic utilization of administrative registries. Director General Haidar Freihat told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that this model leverages a multi-sectoral data ecosystem – incorporating civil status, educational, health, and social security records – to enhance data granularity, optimize fiscal expenditure, and mitigate respondent burden. By employing administrative data for pre-enumeration mapping and the auto-population of core demographic variables, the DoS aims to establish a sustainable longitudinal census record that facilitates real-time demographic monitoring and evidence-based policy formulation.

In a significant departure from previous cycles, the 2026 census will mark the inaugural implementation of a self-enumeration modality in Jordan. This digital-first approach allows respondents to autonomously submit data via encrypted platforms, representing a critical milestone in the nation’s statistical digital transformation and serving as a foundational pilot for a more tech-centric 2035 census. While the DoS will maintain field operations to ensure universal coverage and data validation for digitally marginalized cohorts, the integration of self-enumeration is expected to significantly improve response rates and data quality. All operations remain governed by strict data sovereignty and confidentiality protocols under the General Statistics Law, ensuring that the resulting microdata is utilized exclusively for statistical aggregation and national strategic planning.

//Petra// AA