Uzbekistan has concluded its population and agricultural census, the first such event in 37 years, marking a significant effort to update demographic and economic data. The two-phase process covered a total of 8.3 million households, providing a crucial foundation for future policy-making and planning in the Central Asian nation.

The initial phase, conducted online from January 15 to 31, saw over 30 million residents from 82.3% of 7.6 million addresses independently complete questionnaires. Jakhongir Kambarov, head of the National Statistics Committee, highlighted that this participation rate leads among CIS countries and approaches levels seen in developed nations like Canada and Australia, reflecting growing digital infrastructure and public trust.

A second phase from February 4 to 28 targeted citizens who missed the online registration or made errors. During this stage, more than 55,000 neighborhood committee staff conducted door-to-door visits, inputting data directly into an electronic platform via tablets. Overall, over 100,000 individuals were directly involved in the census operations, underscoring the scale of the logistical effort.

The process faced several challenges, including confusion among residents in over 6,000 neighborhoods without multi-story buildings, who were required to fill out agricultural questionnaires despite limited farming activities. Additionally, rumors about potential data leaks led some citizens to opt out, though officials noted such cases were minimal and emphasized legal provisions allowing non-participation without penalties.

Data processing is currently underway, with final results to be released later. While the census sets a benchmark for Uzbekistan’s development trajectory, the long hiatus and complex organization reveal ongoing hurdles in modernizing statistical systems and ensuring comprehensive public engagement.

Source: www.gazeta.uz