Charting the future of censuses: Insights, lessons and recommendations for the 2030 round

Population censuses globally remain the primary source of official statistics despite the existence of sample surveys and administrative data sources, like population registers. The 2020 round of censuses was predominantly characterised by traditional approaches in about 69% of the countries, where data was obtained directly from respondents regardless of the push to explore alternative sources compelled by COVID-19. From the Babylonian times in 3800 BC to date, the principal purpose of a census has been to foster public administration. While the 1666 census in New France (now Quebec) marked the first-ever scientifically sound enumeration, it still fell short of what presently typifies a census. Besides, lack of globally standardised methods dwarfed the acceptability and comparability of results, leading to harmonisation efforts and the gradual adoption of modern censuses from the mid-1800s. Subsequently, the United Nations developed the maiden international standards on population censuses soon after World War II and established the decennial World Population and Housing Census Programme. Overtime, the census has evolved to what globally embodies universality, individual enumeration, simultaneity, periodicity and capacity to produce small area statistics. As countries transition towards the 2030 round, this paper reviews the global developments, lessons, and provides recommendations for future census implementation.