Ajloun, June 8 (Petra) -- Department of Statistics (DoS) Director General Haidar Freihat said the 2026 General Population and Housing Census is a major national project that will provide accurate data and indicators to guide public policy, set development priorities, direct investments, and improve services across sectors.

Freihat made the remarks Monday during a meeting with members of Ajloun Governorate’s Executive Council, attended by Ajloun Governor Nayef Hdayat and members of the Governorate Council. The meeting was part of a series of coordination sessions held by the DoS to enhance readiness for the 2026 census.

Freihat said the actual census count will begin on October 1, with around 10,000 male and female teachers from the Ministry of Education to take part in this phase.

He reviewed progress in the current listing phase, saying completion rates nationwide have reached 67.8 percent for buildings and 68.2 percent for residential blocks, while 21 percent of households have expressed interest in using the self-enumeration service.

Freihat urged the public to use the self-enumeration mechanism, which he said saves time and effort and is being introduced for the first time in Jordan’s census history.

He said fieldwork is proceeding according to the set timetable and in cooperation with authorities in the governorate.

Freihat stressed that the census requires a genuine partnership among all stakeholders, calling on citizens to cooperate with field researchers and provide accurate data to ensure high-quality and reliable results.

He affirmed that all collected data is subject to the highest levels of confidentiality and privacy, protected by law, and may be accessed or used only for statistical purposes. No individual or personal information will be published under any circumstances.

Freihat said citizens can easily verify the identity of field researchers, as each carries an official identification card with a QR code that can be scanned to confirm their information. Field researchers also wear vests bearing the census logo.

For his part, Hdayat said the governorate will place all its resources at the service of the national project and provide the necessary support and facilitation to ensure the success of census work in Ajloun.

He stressed the importance of cooperation by local authorities and citizens with census teams, saying the census is a key foundation for future development planning and that its results will help improve the distribution of services and development projects according to the needs of governorates, districts, and local communities.

//Petra// AO