BAGHDAD, Iraq - After 27 years since the previous population census, Iraq is gearing up for a fresh count. Employing state-of-the-art methods, the country has enlisted the expertise of four specialized international firms to conduct the census, aiming to lay the groundwork for long-term development strategies.

The population census is typically conducted once every decade, with the last one scheduled for 2007, in the aftermath of Saddam Hussein's regime. However, it faced numerous delays due to conflicts, disruptions in Iraq's political infrastructure, and the loss of crucial documentation.

The general population census in Iraq has been carried out in various years, including 1927, 1934, 1947, 1957, 1965, 1977, 1987, and 1997. However, the most recent census, conducted in 1997, did not include the three provinces of the Kurdistan Region—Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok—as they were not under the control of the Iraqi government at that time.

Four global companies secure the project

This year, the Ministry of Planning has engaged the services of four global firms to oversee the population census in Iraq, as confirmed by Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Planning.

In an interview with The New Region, Hindawi provided details on the roles of these companies, explaining, "one of them has finished manufacturing the tablet devices to be used for the census, the second company has set up a data center, the third has established a communication hub, and the fourth specializes in developing applications and software essential for the population census."

In 2008, the Iraqi Parliament passed a law delineating the general population census to encompass all social, economic, cultural, and health-related data. This comprehensive scope includes information on education, living standards, ethnicity, religion, housing, and other vital statistics.

Judge Abdul Sattar Ramadan emphasized the critical importance of these data, information, and numbers for precise scientific planning in any society.

"Training sessions are set to commence on May 1, 2024, for our personnel at the Central Statistical Organization and Geographic Information Systems, in preparation for conducting the trial census on May 20, 2024," Hindawi said, adding that “the trial census will act as a litmus test for the conditions surrounding the official general population census."

According to the Ministry of Planning's spokesperson, the ministry has enlisted 130,000 census takers who will be involved in conducting the general population census. These individuals will undergo training during the summer school break on how to operate tablet devices, complete forms, and utilize geographic information systems.

"The concluding stage of the census enumeration is scheduled for September and October, focusing on the enumeration and numbering of buildings and facilities across Iraq," explained Hindawi, highlighting that "the census methodology has been incorporated into the plan, with teams established within the Higher Census Authority, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Mohammed Ali Tamim. Additionally, close oversight by the Prime Minister ensures the fulfillment of all project necessities."

The Ministry of Planning's spokesperson also affirmed that the census will cover all Iraqi provinces without exception, including IDP camps, as well as residents in villages, districts, regions, marshes, and deserts.

Free of nationality and sectarianism

Hindawi clarified that "the electronic census will be carried out using tablet devices with high-precision applications, delivering results within 24 hours. Detailed findings will be accessible within two to three months.”

“The questionnaire is devoid of nationality and sectarian bias, though there will be a question regarding religion of the people,” he added.

The topics of sectarianism and nationality are considered sensitive in Iraq. In 2020, the Ministry of Defense's announcement of accepted candidates for military college stirred significant controversy due to the inclusion of a religion section in the acceptance documents. Despite this section not being new in the country, which has been governed by a sectarian quota system for about two decades, its presence sparked debate.

In response to the outcry, then Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi issued a directive to remove any mention of applicants' sects for admission to the military college and cease implementing this practice in all state institutions.

"The population census holds significant developmental importance," asserted a the Ministry of Planning spokesperson, adding further that the ministry needs “comprehensive data on the Iraqi landscape to serve as a foundational bedrock for long-term developmental strategies, as the census will aid in resolving all matters pertaining to the state's general budget in accordance with the population size."

Economic and political disruption

According to Abdul Rahman al-Mashhadani, an economics professor at the University of Baghdad, the lack of a comprehensive population census in Iraq significantly affects the economic landscape. This is due to the fact that all the statistics provided by ministries like planning, labor, interior, trade, and others are "estimations and open to contention."

"Every governmental body offers varying statistics, ranging from the unemployment rate, educational attainment, illiteracy rates, individual incomes, to the number of vehicles," Mashhadani informed The New Region, emphasizing that "Iraq requires precise figures for effective economic planning."

"The previous census conducted in Iraq in 1997 was incomplete and omitted the provinces of the Kurdistan Region," Mashhadani noted, underscoring that "there existed a flaw and gap in the political system's structure, which had ramifications on the economic system, particularly post the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003, owing to the loss of numerous documents."

He asserted that the findings of the 1997 census were not completely revealed, emphasizing the necessity of conducting a comprehensive population census to ascertain Iraq's requirements in terms of educational, healthcare, and housing amenities.

According to the economics professor, economic strategies hinge on accurately estimating the population, as genuine indicators for formulating economic plans are presently lacking.

"In pursuit of Ghost Employees"

According to Mashhadani, one critical aspect of the population census is pinpointing individuals receiving multiple salaries through electronic data cross-referencing. The rollout of the job identification number was slated to begin in 2017 but has since been overlooked.

The economic researcher underscored the importance of progressing with the job identification project to unveil "ghost employees”, citing Central Bank of Iraq data from 2016 which revealed individuals drawing three salaries from the state.

He expressed incredulity at the rationale given by those receiving multiple salaries, dismissing it as their "portion of the oil”.

In late 2014, former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi disclosed during his parliamentary session that there were 50,000 fictitious names within four military divisions.

During his address in parliament, Abadi said, "in an unprecedented timeframe, within just one month, I uncovered through manual verification fifty thousand 'ghosts' within four military divisions."

The term "ghosts" gained prominence in Iraqi state institutions after 2014, describing individuals who either surrender their entire salaries or half of them to their superiors in exchange for extended absences from work or for receiving salaries under false names.

Setback caused by communal disputes

Mashhadani has pointed out that "the general population census was scheduled for 2010 but turned into a purely political matter. One of the contentious reasons behind the census delay was the pre-2010 objection from the Sunni community to including sect as part of the census procedures."

He emphasized that "the population census will uncover the political influence of each existing bloc and its supporters."

"If I were a political decision-maker, I would take any party or individual attempting to obstruct the population census to court, and I would not accept anything short of their prosecution,” he added.

According to Mohammed al-Baldawi, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Strategic Planning and Federal Services in the Iraqi Parliament, "the census planned by the Ministry of Planning serves as a crucial foundation for establishing four key pillars essential for future reliance."

The four benefits start with "a reliable database for formulating development plans, sustainable development strategies, and overarching plans, while also supplying data for researchers across various sectors and fields, and these are the most notable gains,” Baldawi told The New Region.

According to official statistics released in January 2024, the Ministry of Planning estimates the population of Iraq to exceed 43 million people.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Planning, revealed that by the end of 2023, the population of Iraq had reached 43.324 million people. He highlighted that urban areas comprised 69.9 percent of the population, contrasting with 30.1 percent in rural regions. Additionally, individuals under 15 years old made up 41 percent of the population.