GASTAT: Fieldwork of Saudi Census 2020 begins

“Building Numbering”

Field works of “Saudi Census 2020” started on Monday, 9 Jumada Al-Thani 1441H, corresponding to February 3, 2020. The first stage of such works is “numbering buildings and real estate units, and enumerating households”. The stage will take 33 days, and will run through until Friday, Rajab 11, 1441H, corresponding to March 6, 2020.

This stage is one of the field works of the Fifth Census of Population, Housing, and Establishments in Saudi Arabia "Saudi Census 2020". The Census is implemented in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution No. (209), dated 4/4/1438 H , which entitles GASTAT  to conduct the General Population and Housing Census for 2020, along with all preparatory works, starting from 1438 H, until the stage of actual enumeration and results dissemination.  However, the second stage is “actual enumeration”, which will start on Tuesday evening, Rajab 22, 1441H, corresponding to March 17, 2020. This stage takes 20 days, and lasts until Monday 13 Sha’aban 1441H, corresponding to 6 April 2020.

“Building numbering stage” aims to provide information on buildings and real estate units to be used in the Census project, distribute the workforce necessary to enumerate population, and provide data on the number of households and their members. In fact, more than 11,000 monitors are assigned to participate in this mission after being trained specifically for this stage to use the national address in the Census, count buildings using appropriate rules and methods, and number real estate unit. Further, to probably handle possible cases during buildings enumeration and real estate numbering, complete the questionnaire of enumeration and numbering, and make field and office review of this process. They were also well-trained to know how to divide monitors’ working zone, assign the researchers ’areas automatically, use different methods of field works, and handle different types of questionnaires used in the Census.

In  the stage of" Building Numbering ",  GASTAT relies on the national address of Saudi Post available on the buildings in addition to the method of numbering buildings, in order to achieve inclusiveness and raise census quality level. The concerned monitor will place a sticker, which contains the building number, real estate unit number, total real estate units, and details of the main and secondary entrances to the buildings. The sticker also includes preliminary data on households, number of individuals, building type, occupancy of real estate unit, and households wishing to use self-enumeration system to complete the Census questionnaire electronically at appropriate times. This is one of the modern technological means used in population censuses, where households can complete censuses questionnaire electronically without the need of researchers’ visit.

“Self-enumeration system" aims to serve households, facilitate the completion of the required data at appropriate times during the time specified for conducting the Census, and keep pace with digital transformation to take advantage of modern technologies. Also, to provide greater privacy for households’ data, reduce the administrative and financial burden to collect field data, and minimize field researchers' visits to households’ dwellings.

GASTAT has made a full use of its all human and technical capabilities for implementing "Saudi Census 2020", with the participation of more than 60,000 national human cadres in order to make this national project a success, achieve its desired goals, and contribute to national development.

GASTAT has called on both citizens and residents to cooperate with workers of the Census (monitors and field researchers); they are representatives of a government entity assigned for carrying out a national mission. To facilitate their tasks, all are kindly requested to provide them with correct information and data. In this regards,  GASTAT expresses its sincere thanks and appreciation to all government agencies, private sector, citizens, and residents for their cooperation  in "Saudi Census 2020".

Census 2020 aims to provide a broad base of statistical data to be used as a reliable basis to conduct studies and researches required by development programs and plans in Saudi Arabia, and to achieve 2030 vision. In addition to provide statistical data and indicators that cloud be used to measure the change in population characteristics over time, conduct local, regional and international comparisons, and review and assess future population estimates.