Somali Population and Housing Census 

Somalia is planning to conduct its first population and housing census since 1975. The population and housing census is a primary tool for development planning. It is the main source that provides cross-sectional data on population size, distribution, and socio-economic characteristics of the population. It also provides data on the components of the population dynamics: fertility, mortality, and migration. In addition, the population and housing census provides information on the stock of housing units of all types and buildings and their conditions and facilities, and services made available to inhabitants. Such information is usually disaggregated at all geographic and administrative levels down to the level of a community.

Additionally, the population census will generate a statistical sampling frame, among its major outcomes that is usually used to design samples for surveys conducted between censuses to cover various specialized areas of data collection such as living conditions, income and expenditure of households, health, women, child labor, family formation, etc. The upcoming census will also provide reliable data on migration trends and volumes as well as fragility indicators in specific settings. The census will make data available for research and further analysis of specific topics that need additional in-depth analysis. 

Data collected through the census will be used for administration and governance related works that aim to provide primary services to the population. This is in addition to planning, policy formulation and decision making as well as management, monitoring, and evaluation of various programmes by the government, international agencies, donor community, I/NGOs, researchers, commercial and private enterprises, etc

Researchers and demographers use census data to analyze growth differentials and trends of population dynamics and conduct population projections. The census provides data to support the business in housing and construction industries for strengthening and planning their business for penetration into areas, which had hitherto remained, uncovered. Increasingly censuses are now being used in countries for delimitation of constituencies for elections as well.

The population and housing census is by default, a government sponsored national exercise and is viewed as a national obligation, that everybody should be engaged in and participate by providing the requested information accurately. It is also a right for all citizens of a particular country to be covered by the census enumeration. Accuracy of the information collected by the census, however, represents the degree of people’s involvement and availing necessary and adequate time by individual households, and their level of awareness and commitment as well as the institutions entrusted with the census undertaking including enumerators, supervisors, and senior census staff.

Scope of the Census

The upcoming Somali Population and Housing Census (SPHC) will be comprehensive aiming to cover all the population within the geographical coverage in all areas of the country. This will include Somali citizens and non-citizens of any nationality, who are residents or immigrants (voluntary and non-voluntary), legal and non-legal, as well as visitors. It also covers all population groups irrespective of sex, age, tribe, race, religion, political and social affiliations, place of residence whether in a town, IDP camps, village, and all types of nomadic settlements, or any other characteristics. In other words, it will be based on equal rights and obligations to cover all people within this geographical territory without any discrimination.

The upcoming census will be based on a de facto approach. This implies that all persons will be enumerated in places happened to be found during the census reference date (census reference night). Information on usual place of residence may also be collected as data used to study population mobility. In most cases places of enumeration are the same as places of usual residence. This may not be the case for highly mobile groups who could be temporary residents or visitors to enumeration units/ areas. This includes special groups including nomads, internally displaced persons (IDPs), homeless, visitors out of HH scope, etc. 

The Population of all groups in all Federal Member States of Somalia including Banadir Regional Administration, in addition to Somaliland, should have equal attention to be covered in the census irrespective of the cost, distance, and any other factors that can have potential effect census coverage.  To this end, modalities and logistical and administrative arrangements should be discussed among all planning ministries.

However, with regard to areas facing security concerns (contested areas), special arrangements will be adopted. Such arrangements will be based on pre conducted security assessments to identify suitable approaches to cover population. This may include identifying and recruiting groups or individuals within these areas to have special training to undertake data collection activities in some well-defined areas.

Generating statistical indicators for the totally inaccessible areas due to security reasons may rely on remote sensing techniques and modelling for indirect estimation using high spatial resolution and up-to-date satellite imagery.

Census Stakeholders

The Population and Housing Census is a major process in which the efforts of all individuals and households, governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as development partners will be engaged to collectively accomplish specific and harmonious tasks at specific times in accordance with a carefully prepared and adopted action plan and terms of reference. All said parties are considered stakeholders and have interest in completing the census successfully with full compliance with international standards of census methodologies and processes. The mobilized stakeholder engagement reiterates the fact that the census is implemented by all and for all through comprehensive and integrated sectoral planning leading to improvement of standard of living of the Somali population. 

It should be emphasized that the Somali people at large are the main stakeholder of the census whose full cooperation and engagement in accordance with the preassigned roles is a census requirement.   To this end a publicity campaign will be planned and launched in due timing advocating for the census and enhance the awareness of the population to be positively participating leading to comprehensive coverage.

Census Project Timeline

Somalia Population and Housing Census was launched in 2023