1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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.

5. 2. The use of technology in PHC phases
Sources:
UNSD: Overview of national experiences for PHC of the 2010 round.
ESCWA: A study of age reporting in selected Arab censuses of population

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 2.4 Benefits and risks of using technology in PHC operations
Benefits: Increasing quality and decrease of time, % : using technology decreased cost
Risks: 29% considered using technology increased cost

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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 ( )
Algeria , Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan
Countries in conflict
Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Palestine
Use of technology ( )
Morocco, Comoros, Mauritania, Tunisia, Djibouti

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

14. 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.

15. Thank you