Demographic and Social Statistics
World Population and Housing Census Programme Impact of COVID-19
The United Nations Statistics Division, mandated to deliver the responsibilities of the Secretariat of the 2020 World Population and Housing Census Programme in terms of monitoring its implementation, and in the context of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, is launching this webpage to provide an overview of the pandemic's consequences in terms of census-taking in the 2020 round.
With the aim of continuously monitoring and reporting on the impact of COVID-19 on census-taking, UNSD has thus far conducted two surveys. The first survey, conducted in March/April 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, targeted countries that originally scheduled a census in the year 2020. The survey sought to elicit preliminary information directly from national statistical offices on how they were being impacted by COVID-19. The responses received provided a tentative understanding of the impact of the pandemic at that time. The second UNSD survey was conducted in December 2020/January 2021. The survey targeted countries that originally scheduled a census in the year 2020 or 2021. The survey requested countries to provide information on the impact of COVID19 on preparatory census activities, field-based enumeration, census methods and challenges. Collectively, the information compiled from these surveys provide an overview of the disruptions and challenges in the implementation of the 2020 round of population and housing censuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The information presented here has been provided by census managers from the respective responding countries. This webpage will be updated periodically as replies and updates from national statistical offices are received and processed. Furthermore, UNSD intends to complement the existing information with additional components that will provide an opportunity for census-takers to exchange their experiences directly.
Responses to the 2nd UNSD survey on the impact of COVID-19 (December 2020-January 2021):
