US ambassador says Iraqi census key for ‘data-driven’ policy

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - United States Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski on Monday expressed support for Iraq's upcoming census, calling it vital for informed political, economic, and development strategies.

“Iraq’s first census since 1997 takes place this week and includes all Iraqi provinces. This census is important to provide accurate information to tailor political, economic, and development strategies,” Romanowski wrote on X.

Iraq is set to conduct a nationwide census on Wednesday and Thursday, marking the first count since 1997. The last census that included the Kurdistan Region was conducted in 1987, as the 1997 count excluded the autonomous provinces.

“We support this major step towards making data-driven decisions by the Iraqi government to provide services to the Iraqi public,” she stressed.


The Kurdistan Region's interior ministry on Sunday emphasized “the importance of the general census process and encouraged all citizens to be at home and register their data accurately.”

The ministry also announced its plan for the two-day census lockdown later this week, saying foreign missions and nationals, airports, international organizations, and journalists will not be affected by the decision.

Estimates now put Iraq’s population around 50 million. A census planned for 2020 was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Iraq commenced its first phase in September by surveying and counting buildings.