The Lao Statistic Bureau (LSB), Ministry of Planning and Investment and the United Nations Population fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized a technical consultation meeting in preparation for the country’s 5th Population and Housing Census (PHC) 2025.
The fifth Lao Population and Housing Census is planned for March 2025, with the census’ moment scheduled at midnight between the night of 1st to 2nd March 2025.
The Technical Consultation meeting on Draft Census questionnaire for the 5th Population and Housing Census (PHC) 2025 was held on March 30, presided by Head of the Lao Statistic Bureau(LSB) Mrs Phonesaly Souksavath, UNFPA Representative Mrs Mariam A Khan, Country Representative from USAID Mr Michael Ronning and the relevant officials attended.
Head of the Lao Statistic Bureau (LSB) Mrs Phonesaly Souksavath said: The meeting aims to present draft PHC questionnaires to government and development partners as the main census users, obtaining technical input, and ensuring the proposed questionnaire addresses to the extent possible the data needs in line with the national development priorities and to update the government and development partners on the status of 2025 census preparation, technical assistance needed and the next steps.
According to the UNFPA document, the government of Laos has conducted four Population and Housing Censuses (PHCs) since 1985. The last PHC was conducted in March 2015. Census results have provided key statistics on the demo-graphic and socio-economic characteristics of the Lao Population. These statistics are essential for the formulation, Monitoring and Evaluation, and assessment of national socio-economic development plans, national population and development policies, and exploring solution strategies to emerging population issues.
The country is preparing for the next census to continue tracking population change and updating information on the progress towards the implementation of the 9th National socio-economic development plans 2021-2025, formulation of the 10th NSEDP 2026-2030, as well as the progress toward the achievement of the ICPD PoA and SDGs.
Up to 107 of the 231 indicators of the sustainable development Goals require population data for monitoring and the census is a key source. The census also provides data on disadvantaged regions and vulnerable groups, such as the poor, the old, people living with disabilities, migrants, and adolescents and young girls. Census provides the basis for deriving samples of households for national surveys and the population of granular baseline population data, disaggregated by age and sex for development planning, that are also critical for contingency planning and response to disasters and humanitarian settings.
Population and Housing Census is amongst the government’s largest and most complex peacetime operations, requiring long and meticulous preparation. As such, the Lao Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Planning and Investment, in close collaboration with the UNFPA, have been preparing since 2021 for the upcoming census.
Source: Lao News Agency