Iraq begins first census in 37 years amid political tensions

Iraq has launched its first nationwide population census in 37 years, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to modernize data collection and improve resource allocation.

However, the census is fraught with political and ethnic tensions, especially in disputed regions like Kirkuk, Diyala, and Mosul, where control remains contested between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government.

Ali Arian Saleh, executive director of the census at the Ministry of Planning, explained that agreements on how to carry out the census in these contested areas were reached after talks involving Iraq’s top leadership. “Researchers from all major ethnic groups — Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Christians — will conduct the census in these areas to ensure fairness,” he said.

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The census has sparked concerns among minority groups, who fear that a documented decline in their numbers could lead to diminished political influence and reduced economic benefits under Iraq’s sectarian power-sharing system. With its potential to reshape the distribution of resources and budget allocations, the census is expected to have far-reaching implications for Iraq’s political landscape.

The last nationwide census in Iraq was conducted in 1987, with another in 1997 that excluded the Kurdish region. This new census, however, will use advanced technology for data collection and analysis, offering a more accurate and comprehensive snapshot of the country’s demographics. Approximately 120,000 census workers will be deployed to survey over 160 housing units each across the nation.

In a bid to maintain security and order, the Interior Ministry has imposed a nationwide curfew during the census period, restricting movement across cities and rural areas, with exceptions for humanitarian cases. The census will follow the “de jure” method, counting individuals in their current place of residence, rather than their original communities. This means that Iraq’s internally displaced persons will be counted where they now live, not where they came from.

Iraq’s population is estimated at 44.5 million, with the Kurdish region’s share of the national budget — currently 12% — based on an estimated population of 6 million. The census is expected to provide more accurate figures that will influence both political and economic decisions. Public employees in the Kurdish region will also be accounted for, providing clarity on the region’s contributions to the national workforce.

While the federal court has mandated the exclusion of questions regarding ethnicity and sectarian affiliation to prevent further divisions, Hogr Chato, director of the Public Aid Organization in Irbil, emphasized the inevitable political consequences of the census data. “The data will inevitably have political and economic implications,” Chato stated. “It’s also fair to allocate budgets based on population numbers, as areas with larger populations or those impacted by war need more resources.”

As Iraq begins this pivotal undertaking, leaders across the country are urging citizens to participate. In Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district, Abdul Wahhab al-Samarrai, preacher at Imam Abu Hanifa Mosque, called on residents to cooperate with the census, highlighting its importance for the nation’s future.