Ajloun: The Department of Statistics (DoS) Director General Haidar Freihat announced the commencement of the 2026 General Population and Housing Census as a significant national endeavor to collect accurate data for guiding public policy and setting development priorities.
According to Jordan News Agency, Freihat made these remarks during a meeting with members of Ajloun Governorate's Executive Council. The meeting, also attended by Ajloun Governor Nayef Hdayat and members of the Governorate Council, was part of a series of coordination sessions aimed at enhancing readiness for the upcoming census. The actual field count is set to begin on October 1, with approximately 10,000 teachers from the Ministry of Education participating.
Freihat provided updates on the current listing phase, noting that completion rates have reached 67.8 percent for buildings and 68.2 percent for residential blocks. He highlighted that 21 percent of households have shown interest in the self-enumeration service, urging more public participation in this time-efficient mechanism, newly introduced in Jordan's census history.
Fieldwork is progressing according to the established timetable, with cooperation from authorities in various governorates. Freihat emphasized the necessity of a genuine partnership among stakeholders and called on citizens to cooperate with field researchers by providing accurate data. This cooperation is vital to ensure high-quality and reliable census results.
Freihat assured that all collected data will remain confidential and protected by law. The information will be used solely for statistical purposes, and no personal details will be published. To ensure trust, citizens can verify field researchers' identities through official identification cards with QR codes, and researchers will wear vests displaying the census logo.
Ajloun Governor Nayef Hdayat expressed the governorate's commitment to supporting the national project by providing necessary resources. He highlighted the importance of local cooperation with census teams, emphasizing that the census results will be crucial for future development planning and improving service distribution based on the needs of local communities.