Population and Housing Census 2002

The Government recognizes the fact that Population and Housing Census is the single most important source of demographic and socio-economic data in the country. Population and Housing Census data are important in the preparation of social and economic development policies, in monitoring improvement in the quality of life of the population and in establishment of the system of sustainable development. Population and Housing Census data will also provide a sampling frame for intercensal surveys which will be conducted in order to generate policies which will support the implementation process of the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and the Zanzibar Development Vision 2020as well as social and economic reforms in a decentralized Government framework.

At the planning level, the Population and Housing Census data will play a central role in the formulation of realistic development of people. In the Tanzania situation where the Government is decentralizing its functions to the district level, reliable and up-to-date population and Housing Census data will help district authorities to prepare development plans, which will reflect the aspirations of the people.

Given the Government goals of, one, reducing the proportion of Tanzanians living in absolute poverty by the year 2010, and two, of eradicating absolute poverty by the year 2025, the 2002 population and Housing Census has enabled the Government to get data which will be used to develop poverty status predictors. As such the 2002 population and Housing Census is an important source of data for poverty monitoring activities. Finally, the 2002 population and Housing Census has enabled the Government to get data on population growth and distribution by age, sex and location and their relationship to the resource base i.e. their impact on the environment.