A population census is a largely standardized statistical operation, which is carried out in most
countries of the world. In its essence, censuses everywhere follow the standards set in the United Nations
Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Census (United Nations, 2008). Within those
standards, the modalities of data collection have evolved to take advantages of new technologies and to
adjust to the specific situations of each country. In its traditional format, each individual and its
characteristics are registered by completing the census enumeration forms. In most developing countries the
forms are filled in by census enumerators who visit each household and interview the residents to collect
these data. In some countries (usually with a relatively more advanced stage of statistical development)
census questionnaires are delivered and collected by census enumerators, but the forms are filled directly by
the respondents. Censuses are increasingly delivered or collected by mail or utilizing Internet, to reduce
logistics and costs where country conditions allow it. These adjustments to reduce costs and take advantage
of technology and faster communications are becoming more prevalent.
Yet, in a number of countries –usually less developed countries- the incidence of social and political
conflicts or crisis of different nature, demand other types of adaptations in census taking exercises. Such
adaptations aim to: i) ensure that data collection is still feasible under very difficult conditions; ii) produce
information that is relevant to a society facing great sufferings and hardships; iii) obtain data that are reliable
and available to decision makers within a reasonable timeframe to guide humanitarian, relief and recovery
interventions; iv) build into census strategies, management and planning some mechanisms that enhance
credibility and secure acceptance of census results in a social and political environment where controversy
can seriously damage proper acceptance and use of the statistical data. The number of countries and people
under these conditions is not negligible. In a recent interview reported by Associated Press (July 20, 2011),
Valerie Amos, the U.N.’s top humanitarian and emergency relief official, declared that $7.9 billion was
needed this year (2011) by the U.N. and hundreds of other aid organizations to help those suffering from
disasters, drought and violence in 31 nations.
This paper attempts to review the different challenges facing census operations in situations of post
crisis and post conflict, drawing from the experience of operations supported by the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) in different countries. It analyses diverse options available to census planners in
their efforts to ensure adequate strategies to respond to such challenges.