Amman, March 31 (Petra) -- The Department of Statistics has launched the third phase of the 2026 Population and Housing Census, the enumeration phase, which began in mid-February and will continue for about six months.
Director General Haider Freihat called on citizens and non-Jordanian residents to cooperate with field enumerators during household visits and provide the required information, stressing that all data collected are protected under Statistics Law No. 8 of 2025, treated confidentially, and used solely for statistical purposes.
He also urged the public to verify enumerators' identities by scanning the QR code on their official badges.
Freihat said the 2026 census adopts a mixed model that combines field enumeration with the use of government administrative records, including civil status, education, and health data, to improve accuracy, reduce duplication, and enhance implementation efficiency while lowering time and cost.
He added that the department has introduced self-enumeration for the first time in Jordan's census history, allowing citizens and residents to submit their data through secure electronic means as part of efforts to modernize statistical data collection and support digital transformation. Traditional field enumeration will continue alongside self-enumeration to ensure full coverage, particularly for those unable to use digital tools.
Freihat said the mixed census model lays the groundwork for a sustainable register-based census that can be updated periodically, helping decision-makers track demographic changes and improve public policy and service planning based on reliable data.
He added that the department has sent text messages this week to raise awareness about the census, encourage cooperation, and provide channels for inquiries, and will continue public outreach efforts to explain the self-enumeration process and support participation.
The department has already completed the block-mapping phase, during which 24,000 statistical blocks were identified to facilitate enumerators' access to households.
//Petra// AO
