Iraq Conducts First Nationwide Census in Almost Four Decades

Iraq is conducting its first nationwide census in nearly 40 years.

This long-awaited demographic survey, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, marks the first comprehensive count since 1987, when Saddam Hussein was in power.

The census aims to provide up-to-date demographic data crucial for effective policymaking and resource allocation across the country.

With an estimated population of around 44 million, Iraq has faced numerous challenges over the decades, including sectarian and ethnic conflicts that have delayed previous attempts at a nationwide count.

The current census, organized in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), seeks to address these issues by generating "accurate demographic information, facilitating effective policymaking and promoting inclusive growth," according to Abdel-Zahra al-Hindawi, a spokesman for the planning ministry.

The census will cover all 18 governorates, including the disputed northern territories between Baghdad and Kurdistan. These areas have been a source of tension due to historical policies of Arabisation under Saddam Hussein and subsequent demographic shifts post-2003.

Fahmi Burhane, a Kurdistan region official, expressed concerns about the demographic changes, noting, "If we look at past censuses, the number of Kurds has gradually decreased in the Kurdish regions outside autonomous Kurdistan."

To ensure accuracy and inclusivity, the census includes religious affiliations but notably excludes ethnic distinctions and sectarian divisions such as Sunni and Shiite Muslims.