(KPL) Laos has officially launched its Fifth National Population and Housing Census, which will run from 3 November to 28 December 2025 across the country.

Finance Minister Santiphap Phomvihane, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the National Steering Committee for the 2025 Census, visited field data collection sites in Chanthabouly District to observe progress and encourage enumerators. He urged local authorities to ensure census takers have full access to all areas to achieve a complete and accurate count.

The 2025 census will collect key information on Laos’s population size, structure, growth, and distribution, as well as data on ethnicity, disability, housing, education, and access to services. Officials say the results will provide vital insights into living conditions across all ethnic groups and guide government policy and development planning.

The findings will serve as a baseline for implementing the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2026–2030) and for tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNFPA Representative Bakhtiyor Kadyrov said the launch marked the start of the country’s first-ever digital population census, following four years of preparation. The UN agency, together with development partners including Australia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, the United States, and China, has provided technical and financial support.

“UNFPA will continue to assist to ensure the success of this digital Population and Housing Census,” Mr Kadyrov said. “This census is not merely about counting people; it’s about recognizing and strengthening communities, because behind every number is a person, a story, and a dream.”

The digital approach, officials say, will enhance data accuracy and improve the accessibility of information, strengthening Laos’s national statistical system.

During his visit, Mr Santiphap and his delegation also observed household interviews in Sisavat and Thongtoum villages, part of the nationwide data collection effort now under way.

KPL