KPL
The Government of the Lao PDR held a ceremony on February 28 to launch the Implementation Process of the 5th Population and Housing Census, marking an important step toward shaping the country's future.
(KPL) The Government of the Lao PDR held a ceremony on February 28 to launch the Implementation Process of the 5th Population and Housing Census, marking an important step toward shaping the country's future.
At this important event at the National Convention Centre, Mr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Prime Minister, along with senior officials and the UNFPA representative, cut the ribbon to unveil the logo of the 5th Population and Housing Census, officially marking the launch of the 2025 Census Implementation Process.
The launch aimed to emphasise the urgency of accelerating the census preparations, ensuring the timely completion of all planned processes and activities ahead of the census fieldwork and enumeration in October.
Interest in the event was evident, with ministerial-level officials from various line ministries, Vientiane, representatives from UNFPA, development partners, and a crowd representing public, private, and religious communities in attendance.
Meanwhile, provincial and district governors, along with several hundred officials from across the country, joined the ceremony via video conference.
Speaking at the launchceremony, Mr. Kikeo who also serves as the Chairperson of the National Steering Committee for the 5th Population and Housing Census, emphasized the importance of the 2025 census, noting that the population count plays a crucial role in national development by providing essential data to assess progress toward achieving national development goals.
The 2025 census would provide valuable insights into demographic trends, migration patterns, access to education, employment rates, housing conditions, and more, he said, adding that this data will be instrumental in addressing labour market imbalances, supporting human resource development, and managing urbanization, enabling effective planning for infrastructure and public services.
Mr. Phet Phomphiphak, Minister of Planning and Investment, said the 2025 census would generate accurate and comprehensive data for tracking progress outlined in the 9th National Social Economic Development Plan as well as serve as a reference for preparing monitoring framework for the 10th National Social Economic Development Plan for 2026 to 2030.
Mr. Phouvong Vongkhamsao, Vice Mayor of Vientiane, stated that in line with the government’s policy to make Vientiane the leading city of the Lao PDR, the city authorities recognize the importance of statistics and data as essential references for city development planning to ensure the well-being of Vientiane's residents.
On behalf of the development partners and as the key partner in supporting implementation of the 2025 census, UNFPA Representative Bakhtiyor Kadyrov said, UNFPA is committed to supporting the Lao PDR in preparing and implementing the census and ensuring that it meets international standards, providing high-quality data that will serve as a foundation for development planning.
“We believed that data is more than just numbers, as behind every number is a person, a story, and a dream. Let me emphasize this again: together, we are not just counting people; we are focusing on their lives and aiming to build the better future we all envision,” said.
With close guidance from the government and technical support from UNFPA and development partners, the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) has been preparing for the 5th census since 2021. Over the past three years, significant progress has been achieved in the preparation of the country’s first-ever digital census, including the development of census tools, instruments and documents, as well as the successful completion of a pilot census in 2024.
Over the next three months, the government will focus on GIS field operations to develop census GIS-based maps and cartography. This process includes training GIS field staff, collecting field data in major urban areas to identify all buildings and dwellings, and delineating census Enumeration Areas. These efforts will only lay the groundwork but also quality for the main census data collection, scheduled for October 2025.
The 2025 census marks a historic milestone as Laos’ first digital census, using handheld devices, Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) methodology, updated and accurate satellite imagery and GIS mapping technology for enhanced data accuracy.
The Population and Housing Census serves as a fundamental source of data on population dynamics, including births, deaths, migration, labour force participation, population projections, and demographics. It also serves as a national GIS database for land allocation, and for the sustainable management of forests. Significantly, it also provides data for planning and delivering public services.
The census will also provide a comprehensive overview of the country’s vulnerable populations including people with functional difficulties or disabilities, migrants, stateless persons, and gender disparities. This critical data will enable the government to design evidence-based policies that align with current realities and the evolving needs of both present and future generations.
In addition, the data from the census will monitor progress of national development, international conference on pollution and development, sustainable development goals and graduation of the Lao PDR from least developed nation.
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