The First Online Population and Housing Census in Iran Has Begun

On Saturday, October 3, for the first time, the public population and housing census in Iran began online. This census is the eighth round of public population and housing statistics in Iran, with preliminary results expected to be published in early December of this year and detailed results to be announced in the first half of 1396 (2017). According to Tasnim News Agency, this census will collect all identity and registration information of all family members, literacy levels, types of employment, migration status, marital status, fertility, type of housing, and family mortality. In this context, Omid Ali Parsa, the head of the Statistical Center of Iran, assured the public in an interview with IRIB News Agency that "all information collected under the public population and housing census plan is confidential by law and will not be provided to any organization." His emphasis on the confidentiality of this information comes after Mahmoud Vaezi, the Minister of Communications, revealed on July 4 of this year that all private information of subscribers from one of Iran's mobile operators had been handed over to "one of the organizations." Mr. Vaezi disclosed this only after he stated that a "violator" in that organization had sold the personal information of the operator's subscribers. Tasnim News Agency reported on Saturday that the Statistical Center of Iran has decided to encourage public participation in the new online census by offering a lottery prize of one million tomans to one thousand households that participate in the online census. According to Omid Ali Parsa, the head of the Statistical Center of Iran, "the number of questions has been reduced from 50 to 29, and sensitive questions will not be asked of the public, focusing instead on population, demographic movements, and place of residence." He noted that "given the 45% internet penetration rate in the country, it is possible for this proportion of the population to participate in the online census," adding that the online census will "reduce the number of enumerators by 35,000." He further explained that "the first phase of the public population and housing census will be conducted online from tomorrow until October 24, and then in the second phase, from October 25 to November 25, enumerators will visit the homes of those who have not successfully registered their statistical information online to collect the necessary data." He concluded by saying, "If anyone fails to register in these two phases, we will collect their information by phone."