Census takers, along with local police representatives and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Việt Nam Matt Jackson, during a survey on Monday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

HÀ NỘI — The General Statistics Office (Ministry of Planning and Investment) on Monday launched the mid-term census on population and housing, which will take place across all 63 provinces and cities from April 1 until the end of the month.

Speaking at the launching ceremony in Hà Nội, GSO Director General Nguyễn Thị Hương stated that this is a very large-scale survey targeting the actual permanent population of residential households, including armed forces personnel and foreign nationals currently residing in Vietnamese households.

A 'household' unit may consist of a person living alone or a group of people living together. For households with two or more people, members may or may not be related by blood, marriage, or fostering and may or may not have shared income and expenditures.

The purpose of the mid-term population and housing census of 2024 is to collect information on population and housing to evaluate the implementation of the socio-economic development plan for the period 2021-25.

It aims to formulate policies, develop population and housing plans to serve the socio-economic development plan for the period 2026-30, monitor the implementation of the sustainable development goals committed by the government, and provide data for nationwide and local population statistics.

Key information gathered during the census includes demographic information of household members, migration information, education information, marital status, reproductive history of women aged 10-49, mortality information, housing conditions and living conditions.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Việt Nam Matt Jackson said the country is experiencing rapid economic and social growth.

The successful implementation of the socio-economic development plan for 2021-25, sectoral plans and the National Action Plan for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 depend heavily on high-quality and reliable data and statistics to build, implement, monitor and evaluate progress towards the socio-economic and SDGs goals.

He noted that the mid-term population and housing census of 2024 plays a crucial role, especially considering Việt Nam's position as the 15th most populous country in the world with over 100 million people.

Việt Nam is also undergoing significant demographic changes with rapid population ageing. This survey will collect essential data not currently available in the existing population database or other administrative data sources, such as women's reproductive history, mortality, migration, gender imbalances at birth, disabilities, marriage/divorce, education level, labour force and housing, emphasised the UN official.

According to the General Statistics Office, privacy-sensitive information collected during the census will be securely protected in accordance with the Statistics Law and other relevant legal documents.

The survey data will be used solely for statistical purposes, they are unrelated to issues like permanent or temporary residence, taxation, and won't be used for other purposes.

Despite the extensive use of information technology in the survey, the GSO insisted that it is only a supportive tool. The most important factor is the statisticians' knowledge, skills, and strict adherence to the survey process.

For a successful census, the head of the national statistics agency proposed that census takers strictly comply with survey regulations and procedures, with particular attention to the method of direct interviews.

Furthermore, it is necessary to clearly communicate the purpose and importance of the census to the surveyed, ensuring that each census taker serves as a messenger of the census, Hương noted.

Nguyễn Đình Khuyến, Vice Secretary of Hà Nội's Tây Hồ District Party Committee and Chairman of Tây Hồ District People's Committee (an area with a high concentration of foreigners in the capital city), representing the local authorities, said that, given the volume of surveys and the complexity of the district's areas, all administrative agencies of Tây Hồ are determined to carry out the census plans successfully.

The results of this census will be announced between November and December this year. — VNS