National census slated for November 2015 — minister

AMMAN — The national population and housing census is to be conducted in November 2015, according to Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ibrahim Saif. 

Earlier this week, Saif said that the nationwide census will be conducted by the Department of Statistics and its affiliated agencies across the Kingdom.

In a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times, the minister was quoted as underlining the social, economic and demographic importance of the census in providing precise information about the present that helps decision makers plan for the future. 

The minister’s remarks came at a workshop on Monday, during which he officially launched the census, according to the statement. 

According to the 2012 amendments to the 1950 General Statistics Law, a population and housing census is to be conducted every 10 years, the statement noted, adding that the last census was carried out in 2004 putting the total number of the Kingdom’s population at 5.1 million.

According to the ministry, Jordan’s population is estimated to reach around eight million by 2015.