Economy News – Baghdad
The Director of the Statistical and Statistical Information Systems Authority, Dia Awad Kazem, announced plans to transition to an electronic census system for the registration of births and deaths. He emphasized collaborations with both international and local firms that specialize in cybersecurity and communications.
Kazem stated that the successful execution of the general population census has opened avenues for new targeted surveys across various sectors, including maternal and child health, unemployment, and labor dynamics. “All statistical data serves as essential inputs for national policies and strategies, including those related to education, employment, and poverty alleviation,” he remarked. He stressed the importance of enhancing these strategies with accurate data derived from the census and regular statistical assessments.
He further elaborated that the authority’s future direction involves establishing a governance system alongside the automation of its data exchanges. This long-term initiative will require substantial time and effort to achieve full digitization of statistical data.
Regarding the scope of the collected statistics, Kazem noted that they encompass all sectors, such as agriculture, industry, demography, and living standards. He indicated that the most recent census was entirely digitized, employing cutting-edge information technologies. This approach lays the groundwork for utilizing these technologies in all forthcoming statistical projects.
Kazem also highlighted ongoing partnerships with both international and local companies specializing in cybersecurity and communications. He revealed that the United Nations had previously estimated the population at 25 million; however, the latest census disclosed that the actual figure exceeds 46 million.
The success of the electronic census has bolstered the statistical infrastructure and garnered new expertise, fueling the authority’s plans to create a comprehensive electronic platform integrating all statistical operations and surveys. Kazem noted that the future roadmap includes shifting to an electronic survey census system for recording births and deaths, drawing on the successful models of Gulf states like Bahrain and Oman, where such systems have proven effective and cost-efficient.
Finally, Kazem mentioned a targeted plan for completing the coding process six months post-census, after which comprehensive results will be published. The coding will encompass economic activities, professions, and fields of study, all of which will be entered into a database to facilitate percentage calculations and distribution across the governorates.
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