The official ceremony, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane on Oct 20, was a vibrant affair marked by a ribbon-cutting, the launch of a census countdown clock, and the traditional striking of a gong by key figures including Santiphab Phomvihane, Minister of Finance and Head of the Lao Statistics Bureau, and the UN Resident Coordinator. The event united national and provincial steering committees, development partners, and international organizations, with local officials from across the country joining via online platforms.

In a pre-recorded video address, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone emphasized the census's critical role. "Over the past 40 years, the census has included every household and every person living in the Lao PDR," he stated. The data collected provides an essential foundation for designing the national socio-economic development plan, monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and shaping strategies for human resource development and population policy.

The Prime Minister issued a rallying cry, calling on all sectors—from party-state agencies and the private sector to local authorities and every citizen—to "proactively take part in this census, ensuring it achieves its planned objectives."

Echoing this call to action, Minister Santiphab stressed the urgency of a robust public awareness campaign. "To ensure Lao people nationwide are aware of the upcoming census and take part in this undertaking widely and inclusively, we are here today to launch the census campaign," he declared.

The Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), in collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), has already embarked on an extensive multimedia campaign. Achievements to date include the production of promotional videos, jingles, posters, and the distribution of information via major media outlets and social media. Banners have been installed at key locations like the Lao-China Railway and airports, with plans to intensify efforts through street banners nationwide and a nationwide SMS blast to inform every mobile phone user about the upcoming data collection.

Mr. Atsaphangthong Siphandone, Mayor of Vientiane Capital, confirmed the city's readiness, highlighting the completion of crucial preparatory steps like finalizing enumerator areas and training of trainers. "I am confident that the census will provide accurate data on the population and housing that aligns with the current actual situation for Vientiane Capital," he said.

International partners hailed the census as a transformative moment for the country. UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Bakhodir Burkhanov described it as "a milestone in Lao PDR’s digital transformation and national development journey."

“Today’s census is more than a statistical exercise—it is a national commitment to data, to development, and to digital transformation," he stated. "It will provide the evidence needed to guide policies that ensure every person is seen, heard, and counted.”

Dr. Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative, underscored the census's unifying power. “It provides the foundation for planning better schools and hospitals, creating safer communities, and building a more inclusive society," he said. "As the data belongs to everyone, it will guide the actions of government, businesses, and citizens alike."

The 2025 PHC will be the most comprehensive yet. It will serve as a fundamental source of data on population dynamics and will also function as a national GIS database for land and forest management. Crucially, it will provide a detailed overview of vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, migrants, and stateless persons.

This critical data will be instrumental in designing evidence-based policies to guide Laos toward its national development goals, including the ambitious target of graduating from the Least Developed Country status. As the countdown to November 3, 2025, begins, the nation mobilizes to ensure that every single person is counted, paving the way for a future built on accurate, inclusive, and transformative data.

KPL