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Census Frequently Asked Questions |
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Census FAQ
This is needed because the government has to know how many people live in the country and what the needs of the people are.
The information is used to measure the needs of the population so as to plan and build facilities like schools, hospitals and roads. The information is also needed to plan for the elections and the referendum. The elections and referendum are part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the CPA, just like the census.
Elections will result in a new government which will represent everybody in Sudan. In the referendum, the people of South Sudan will choose between a united Sudan and an independent South Sudan.
To organize elections and later the referendum, it is necessary to know now how many people live in Sudan.
And the government wants to know how many people live in the country and where, in order to provide the services all communities in Sudan need.
A census is a survey to collect information.
During this census all people living in Sudan will be counted and questions will be asked about them, about the people living in your home and the facilities in your home. Census Officials will come to your home.
They will count everyone who slept in your home on census night. Census night is the night between the fourteenth and fifteenth of April.
Census officials may come to your home any day between the fifteenth and thirtieth of April
Yes, that is true.
What about the people who don't have a home to stay in? There will be special arrangements for those who are nomads, homeless, refugees or travelling on the census night.
Also those in institutions like prisons, hospitals or boarding schools will be counted through special arrangements.
The Census is organized by the Government of National Unity in all parts of Sudan. It does this through the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and the Southern Sudan Commission for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (SSCCSE).
The Census is part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which brought the current peace between North and South Sudan, which is why the Government of National Unity has organized it.
Yes, you are required by law to take part.
You are obliged to give the census officials all the information needed.
Also, remember, it is against the law to be counted more than once, to refuse to be counted or to give false information.
Will the information I give be used only for planning elections and improving our lives? The Census Commission says information collected by its officials will only be used to plan for elections, for development needs and for CPA issues such as re-distribution of wealth and power. Census information will be used to determine election constituencies.
It will not be used for other purposes such as taxation or food distribution.
The information or results obtained from the census will be published and will be accessible to all. Listen to your local radio stations which are expected to report on the outcome of the census some time after April.
Listen to your local radio station, there will be much more information on the census. Some of it will be in Simple Arabic or English so if you don't understand those languages look for a relative or friend who understands. He or she can help you with a translation.
You can also contact the local government where you live.
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