RIYADH: There are just 60 days to go until the start of the 2020 Saudi Census. Families will have 20 days, from Mar. 17 until Apr. 6, to submit their information.

The General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) issued the reminder on Thursday, as the final preparations continued for the Kingdom’s fifth General Census of Population, Housing and Establishments. The next phase, running from Feb. 3 until Mar. 6, involves a survey of buildings, property units and families.

Previously, census takers visited people in their homes to collect the required information about their families, but thanks to advances in technology, residents will for the first time be able to complete an online census form instead.

The 2020 Saudi Census will provide a wide range of up-to-date data about the population that will be used to plan and carry out studies and research required by development programs and plans, and to help achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

It will reveal changes in population characteristics, and the data will be used to make local, regional and international comparisons and to review and evaluate future population estimates.

As part of the preparatory work, Gastat has updated its population records and postal addresses, and the online app that people will use to enter their details has been designed and tested. Training of census workers is also continuing.

To ensure the collected information is as accurate as possible, given the changes to the collection process and the increased use of technology, Gastat has linked a number of data platforms. It is also working with the National Information Center and the Saudi Post.

Saudi Arabia conducted its first official census in 1974, the second in 1992, the third in 2004 and the fourth in 2010. As of the last census, the Kingdom’s population was 27,136,977.

Arab News: Copyright: Arab News © 2017 All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( www.Syndigate.info ).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.