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Tuesday Evening March 17th, 2020 is the Beginning of the Fifth Census’ Actual Enumeration GASTAT: Saudi Arabia is One Year Away Until the Saudi Arabia Census 2020 The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed that the fifth census of population, housing and establishments in Saudi Arabia “Saudi Arabia Census 2020” will start on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020, which is the beginning of the actual enumeration “evening of time reference”. The census will provide a broad statistical database to be used as a reliable basis when conducting studies and research required by the development programs and plans in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Vision 2030. Furthermore, it provides statistical data and indicators to measure changes in population characteristics over time, conducts local, regional and international comparisons, and review and evaluate future population estimates. In this Census, GASTAT will rely on different methods to ensure getting accurate information through linking data together in addition to the cooperation with the National Information Center and the Saudi Post. This is done in accordance with the preparations made by GASTAT and their partners in order to implement the “Saudi Arabia Census 2020”. This census will be different from previous censuses due to the change in the enumeration method by integrating the register-based data with field data. The official spokesman of GASTAT , Mr. Taiseer Al-Mufrrej, said that GASTAT has completed the updating of the populated areas directory in all regions of the Kingdom, in addition to updating the postal addresses in several administrative regions, which are: Makkah, Madinah, Jazan, Najran, Al-Baha, the Northern Border, Tabuk, Hail and Al-Qassim. He also explained that during the month of Sha'ban the postal addresses in the city of Riyadh and the eastern region will be updated. He also added that the preparation of the operational plans for manpower, training, and publishing has been initiated. This is the first phase of the Saudi Arabia Census 2020, which will be followed by the second phase (the actual enumeration phase), then the third phase (data processing phase) then finally the announcement of the results. The first official census in Saudi Arabia was conducted in 1394H. (1974), then the second was conducted in 1413H. (1992), followed by the third in 1425H.(2004). Finally, the fourth census made by the Central Department of Statistics and Information prior to the transformation into the General Authority for Statistics was conducted in 1431H. (2010). The total population in the 2010 census was (27,136,977) people.

Saudi Arabia Ends its Participation in the Works of the United Nations Statistical Commission (50th Round) Yesterday 9, Mar 2019, Saudi Arabia Ends its Participation in the works of the United Nations Statistical Commission (50th Round). It started last Tuesday until yesterday evening at the United Nations headquarter in New York City. The delegation was headed by his Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Sulaiman Altekhaifi, president of the General Authority for Statistics. The participation was an extension of the Authority strategy for international collaboration, Altekhaifi said. Also, to benefit from the best statistical practices to be reflected on the development of the statistical sector in Saudi Arabia, he added. Moreover, Saudi Arabia has reviewed a number of development axes for the statistical sector. The works of the (50th) meeting dealt with a number of important topics related to the role of statistical data in the development process, the fundamental principles of official statistics, open data and national quality assurance frameworks, regional statistical development, discussing all the matters related to national accounts and price, international trade statistics, industrial statistics, and statistics related to disasters, in addition to education statistics. the General Authority for Statistics of Saudi Arabia will publish a statistical report of the goals of sustainable development indicators with social, economic and environmental dimensions in time series that will ensure measuring the progress in achieving them, President of GASTST clarified. Saudi Arabia is working alongside with international organizations of the indicators to measure all the indicators correctly, he added. The Authority participated in the Works of the United Nations Statistical Commission through a variety of themes and issues, including: educational Statistics which indicated that training and education sector in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnesses an increasing attention under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and national transformation program which has developed many initiatives related to the development of education and training and aims to raise the quality of education and training outputs, make them relevant to the labor market and encourage creativity and innovation in scientific research as the policy-making and planning in this field requires accurate and comprehensive data to support decision makers. It has also developed register-based data of education, through conducting a household survey regularly every three years for training and education. General Authority for Statistics will provide a quality services in order to reach the expectations and the needs. It will also provide high quality services through statistical data collection as well as analyzing, keeping and publishing the data. Also, through implementing and improving the quality system. It seeks to fully implement the National Accounts System 2008 which helped in developing many forms of economic and household surveys to assist obtaining the necessary data to apply all the accounts in accordance with the concepts of the System of National Accounts 2008, GASTAT is also working to build national accounts and economic statistics capabilities to enable them to carry out their tasks in accordance with the recommendations of international standards. GASTAT also stressed on the importance of understanding the system of national accounts for urgent economic developments, and prepare accessories to the System which clarifies how to address these developments through theoretical framework and applied framework as well as show experiences of countries. It is worth mentioning that Saudi Arabia has been chosen with (11) countries globally to fill the membership of the board of directors of the International Comparison Program in the United Nation of the period 2017-2019, based on the vote of the Statistics Division of the United Nation and Data Development Group of the international bank to represent the countries of Western Asia. Saudi Arabia has been chosen to this membership as appreciation to the positive role of GASTAT in various statistical programs organized by the United Nation. The formation of the administrative structure of the International Comparison Program includes: United Nation Statistical Commission, management board (GASTAT membership), the joint work teams among agencies, consulting and technical coordination committees, as well as the implementing international agency (World Bank), regional offices, the Statistical Office of the European Union (Euro stat), the Organization of Cooperation and Development, and the participating national statistical offices.

According to Households Sport Practice Survey in Saudi Arabia GASTAT: (17, 40%) of population are practicing sports for more than 150 minutes on a weekly basis GASTAT has released today the results of Households Sports Practice Survey, 2018. Households Sports Practice is one of the Saudi Vision 2030 requirements. In addition, this kind of practice includes indicators that are targeted by 2030.The data of survey allows conducting many developmental studies and plans in general, and in the sports field in particular. These studies and plans should support the development of many programs and initiatives that do increase the rate of Households Sports Practice. The survey methodology and form considered international standards and recommendations issued by ILO. According to the survey results, the percentage of individuals (15 years and over) who are engaged in sports activities for more than 150 minutes weekly reached (17, 40%) compared to (82,60%) of individuals who do not practice sport. Saudi males and females practicing sport activities for 150 minutes or more per week hit (13.08%) of the total population of the Saudi Arabia for those aged 15 years and over. The percentage of Saudi males was (10.14%) while it hit (2.94%) for Saudi females. On the other hand, the percentage of non-Saudi males and females practicing sports activities for the same category was (4.32%). The results of the survey showed that the percentage of individuals practicing walking activity was (56.05%) of the total number of sports participants. Walking is the most practiced activity by individuals in Saudi Arabia, followed by football activity where it reached (25.69%) out of total number of sport participants. In addition, the percentage of individuals who are engaged in bodybuilding activity reached (5.80%) out of total sport participants, running activity on the other hand hit (2.72%) out of total sport participants. Swimming activity is the least practiced sport activity by individuals according to the survey results where it reached (2.34%) out of total sport participants. (8.46%) represent the percentage of other types of sport practiced by individuals out of total sport participants. The survey results revealed that the reasons of not practicing sports among Saudi population varied. Some individuals have no desire to practice sport with a percentage of (44.73%), followed by those who do not have the time to practice sport with (29.74%) out of total number of individuals who do not practice sport. Those who didn’t have accessible facilities inside the district which reached (13.09%) out of total number of individuals who do not practice sport. Additionally, individuals who cannot practice sport due to injury or disability reached (10.83%) out of total number of individuals who do not practice sport. Finally, individuals who cannot practice sport due to other reasons reached (1.64%) out of the total number.  Field survey of Household Sport Practice aim to provide recent statistical data and indicators about the extent of sport practice for households as well as identifying the reasons behind not practicing sports according to the kind of relationship with the household head. The classification was by gender, nationality, educational status, age and marital status. The survey also provides data about the percentages of sport practice by households at the administrative regions level.