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Tuesday, November 4, 2025
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Laos Kicks Off First-Ever Digital Census with Nationwide Field Data Collection

This Week

UNFPA – Santiphab Phomvihane, Minister of Finance and Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for the 2025 Population and Housing Census, led a field visit in Vientiane Capital on 3 November, accompanied by his delegation.

The visit marked the launch of nationwide data collection for Laos’s first digital census.

The census will run from 3 November to 28 December, following the training of 11,000 enumerators who will collect information from all residents and households using handheld digital devices, including foreign nationals who have lived in Laos for six months or longer.

The delegation included Athsaphangthong Siphandone, Vientiane Mayor, Visone Laomao, Deputy Head of the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), and Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative, alongside officials from the central census office and local authorities.

They visited Chanthabouly district to observe enumerators conducting household interviews and to engage with local officials on potential issues to ensure a smooth enumeration process.

The 2025 Population and Housing Census will collect data on population size, structure, growth, and distribution, as well as ethnicity, disability, housing, access to services, and education.

The results will guide government policies, support the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2026–2030), track progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, and strengthen strategies for empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

During the visit, Santiphab stressed the census’s importance and urged local committees to facilitate enumerators.

“Accurate data is fundamental to effective national development. When data is inaccurate, policies and plans risk being misaligned with the real needs and priorities of the people,” he said.

Bakhtiyor Kadyrov noted that, after four years of preparation, nationwide field data collection had officially begun. He highlighted UNFPA’s support alongside development partners including DFAT Australia, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), Luxembourg, GIZ, the United States, and China Aid.

“UNFPA is proud to be part of this national effort. Together with our partners, we will continue to provide the support needed to ensure the success of this first-ever digital Population and Housing Census. We believe the census is not only about counting the population, but about recognizing and empowering people, because behind every number is a person, a story, and a dream,” he said.

Preparations for the 5th Population and Housing Census began in 2021 under the guidance of the Census Steering Committee, with technical support from UNFPA and partners. The 2025 census will be the first digital census in Lao history, enhancing data accuracy and accessibility while laying the foundation for a modernized national statistical system.

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