Amman, Sept. 30 (Petra) -- Experts and representatives of international organizations have stressed the importance of the Population and Housing Census as a legal and national requirement for producing reliable data and supporting planning, policymaking, and economic and development decisions based on accurate and updated information.
Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), they said the census is not limited to determining the number of residents, but also provides detailed information on their demographic and social characteristics, geographic distribution, and needs.
They noted that census results provide an important basis for planning, policymaking, and allocating resources and services according to population needs. The data also serve the private sector, research and academic institutions, and support international comparisons.
The 2026 Population and Housing Census in the Kingdom will begin Thursday and continue through Oct. 31, under the slogan "Our Census for a Better Future." Around 12,000 field researchers will participate in the census, which aims to collect and update data on approximately 2.5 million households.
Ghazi Shbeikat, an International Monetary Fund expert and former minister of labor and former director of the Department of Statistics, said the census is not simply a project to collect population figures, but represents the "infrastructure of national information." He described it as one of the most important statistical operations conducted by the Department of Statistics and statistical agencies worldwide, noting that its results serve as a key reference for many statistics and policies in subsequent years.
Shbeikat said the economic importance of the census lies in providing the population base needed to properly interpret many indicators. Spending on education and healthcare, for example, needs to be assessed alongside information on the number of people benefiting from these services, their ages, places of residence, and economic and social characteristics.
He added that indicators such as per capita income, unemployment, poverty, school enrollment and service coverage cannot be accurately measured without a reliable and updated population database.
He explained that a key feature of the census is its ability to identify differences that national averages may overlook. An indicator may appear positive at the national level while concealing significant gaps between governorates, districts and municipalities, as well as between urban and rural areas and different age and social groups. The census therefore helps decision-makers identify where needs are concentrated rather than simply estimating their overall size at the national level.
Shbeikat also highlighted the importance of the census for international comparisons. When conducted in accordance with internationally recognized statistical standards and methodologies, Jordan’s data can be compared with those of other countries in areas including population, education, employment, urbanization, housing and development. He noted that such comparisons are not limited to ranking countries, but can also help identify strengths and gaps and draw on other countries’ experiences in policymaking.
He said census figures also provide investors with information about Jordan’s population size, age structure, education levels, workforce distribution, city sizes, population distribution, housing patterns and potential demand for goods and services. The availability of accurate and updated data, he added, provides greater clarity when assessing investment opportunities and reduces uncertainty for investors.
He noted that international institutions, financing bodies, rating agencies and researchers rely on official data to develop an understanding of Jordan’s economy and society. A well-conducted census therefore provides data for domestic use while strengthening confidence in the country’s statistical system and supporting the accurate presentation of its conditions, needs and opportunities.
Al-Shbeikat stressed that the benefits of census results extend beyond the government to the private sector, municipalities in urban planning, research and academic institutions, and society as a whole.
Former Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali stressed the importance of the census in determining population size, composition, demographic and social characteristics, and needs. She said this information is important for development planning and for preparing short-, medium- and long-term plans to address needs in education, healthcare, transport, employment, housing and other sectors.
Al-Ali said the census also helps the government allocate resources efficiently according to population needs in different areas, particularly by identifying the population’s age and educational structure and poverty and unemployment rates in different areas.
She added that comparing the results of the previous census with the new one can show trends across different sectors and age groups, as well as changes in poverty and unemployment. She called on everyone to cooperate with the census, describing it as a national interest.
Musa Shteiwi, president of the Economic and Social Council, said the importance of the Population and Housing Census lies primarily in the need for reliable data on society, enabling the state to plan and manage effectively. He described data as the "compass of the state, and what is not measured cannot be managed." He said census information, including population size, geographic distribution, age structure and health and education services, provides a picture of society at the time the census is conducted. Such information should then be translated into development priorities through planning and monitoring, he added.
Shteiwi said sound planning contributes to distributing services according to the development needs of each area or governorate. He also stressed the need for continuous data updates to measure changes in society and assess the impact of development policies.
Himyar Abdulmoghni, representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Jordan, said the Population and Housing Census is one of the country’s key national sources of data, providing a comprehensive picture of the population, including its demographic, social and economic characteristics, geographic distribution and housing conditions.
He said the census is an important tool for supporting evidence-based planning and policymaking, with its results helping identify development needs and priorities and allocate resources and services efficiently and fairly, particularly in education, healthcare, social protection, housing and infrastructure.
Abdulmoghni said countries conduct censuses periodically because they provide a reliable and updated database that enables national institutions to monitor demographic and social changes, prepare for future needs, measure progress under national plans and strategies, and assess progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. This contributes to improving the quality of services and supporting population well-being.
//Petra//WH
