By: Ismail Lubbad: ESCWA Statistics Division The Use of Technology in the Arab population and Housing Censuses By: Ismail Lubbad: ESCWA Statistics Division Amman - Jordan 28 November – 1 December 2016

Contents Overview of census-taking in the Arab region The use of technology in the census phases Potential use of technology in Arab PHC in 2020 census round Conclusion

1. Overview of census-taking in the Arab region Source: Prepared by ESCWA Statistics Division

1. Overview of census-taking in the Arab region (cont..) Arab countries did not undertake PHC in: 1990: Lebanon, Palestine, Libya, Djibouti 2000: Lebanon, Somalia, Djibouti 2010: Leb., Iraq, Somalia, Jordan, Syria, Yemen A decrease in the number of Arab countries that conducted a PHC in 2010 census round. 73% of the Arab population was enumerated in 2010 census round While, 93% around the world.

2. The use of technology in PHC phases Sources: UNSD: Overview of national experiences for PHC of the 2010 round. http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/wphc/UNSD/overview.pdf ESCWA: A study of age reporting in selected Arab censuses of population https://www.unescwa.org/publications/study-age-reporting-selected-arab-censuses-population

2.1 Use of technology in PHCs in 2010 Country Hand- held devices GIS Computer-assisted OMR OCR Others Bahrain   1 Egypt Iraq Kuwait Morocco Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Sudan Tunis UAE  1 Arab (%) 25 83 66 17 42 World (%) 11 64 49 33 50 38 3 Arab countries used PDA, Bahrain: registered based census 4 Arab countries used OCR/OMR 8 Arab countries used GPS in PHC (in preparation phase)

2.2 Enumeration methods for the 2010 census round Majority of countries collected PHC by paper questionnaire 17 % of Arab countries followed a self enumeration.

2.3 Obstacles faced in the use of new technology during the 2010 census round Expertise, financial resources and Infrastructure are the main obstacles faced Arab countries in the use of technology during the 2010 census round

2.4 Benefits and risks of using technology in PHC operations Benefits: Increasing quality and decrease of time, 36 -55% : using technology decreased cost Risks: 29% considered using technology increased cost

2.5 Using technology in dissemination, 2010 census round One third of Arab PHC disseminated on web pages Arab countries did disseminate PHC data on interactive online DB.

2.6. Cooperation: Receipt of assistance for preparation of census for the 2010 round Tow third of Arab countries received assistance in mapping and data dissemination; One third of Arab countries received technical assistant in data collection, a half of respondents received assistance in using new technology

3. Potential use of technology in Arab PHC in 2020 census round 2000: once country used PDA 2010: 3 countries used PDA, 4 countries used scanning 2020: Jordan electronic census and sharing experience 6 GCC countries Registers based census in 2020 Use of technology (2015-2018) Algeria , Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan Countries in conflict Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Palestine Use of technology (2020-2024) Morocco, Comoros, Mauritania, Tunisia, Djibouti

Arab population and housing Censuses A web page contains: Information: Arab PHC Arab PHC questionnaires Publications Events PHC experts DB https://www.unescwa. org/sub-site/arab-population-housing-censuses

4. Conclusion and way forward There is a tendency of moving from paper questionnaire to electronic questionnaires in some Arab countries; The use of modern technologies contribute to reduce the cost and the time period. However, its application requires staff expertise and financial resources, 33 % the Arab countries disseminated PHC on web page. Technical assistance in the Arab region: data capturing, cartography /mapping, data processing and data dissemination; The Arab countries to make use of the Jordanian census experience in 2020 census round.

Thank you lubbad@un.org