Amman:The Swiss Embassy in Jordan, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has initiated a partnership to support Jordan's 2026 General Population and Housing Census. This initiative aims to enhance the Kingdom's national data framework.
According to Jordan News Agency, the launch of this partnership coincides with the Department of Statistics (DoS) beginning the enumeration phase of the census. UNFPA has stated that the 2026 census will provide an updated demographic profile to guide public policy, service planning, and resource allocation.
This census is a significant step towards modernizing Jordan's statistical operations. It introduces a hybrid model that combines administrative records, field collection, and digital self-enumeration, setting the stage for a future transition to a fully register-based census system.
The project, titled "Strengthening Jordan's National Data System through Support to the 2026 General Population and Housing Census," will see UNFPA working alongside DoS and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation to support the remaining operational phases.
Eileen Hofstetter, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy, emphasized that a modern census is crucial for informed long-term policymaking. She expressed Switzerland's commitment to aiding Jordan in enhancing data quality. UNFPA Representative in Jordan, Himyar Abdulmoghni, highlighted that Swiss support would improve data production, analysis, and utilization, facilitating evidence-based decision-making.