Above: Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape officially launching the 5th National Population and Housing Census (2020).
Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) 5th National Population and Housing Census (2020 Census) was officially launched by Prime Minister James Marape on the 17th of August 2019 in Port Moresby.
The launch signified the start of another comprehensive assessment of PNG’s population. The result of this undertaking will assist governments of all levels, institutions, development partners and relevant stakeholders to develop programs and activities to help improve upon present services delivery systems in the country in the coming years.
Prime Minister James Marape during his keynote address highlighted the need for having accurate population statistics for the country as the basis for PNG to advance its socioeconomic development aspirations.
“Our country is at a time where the need for concrete facts and data about our population and housing remains critical.
“Besides, we are approaching the 5th round of census which is a major national undertaking every ten years administered by the National Statistical Office.
“What’s so important to understand is that socio-economic planning geared towards human development and the elevation of the social status of our people must be based on data representing accurate and realistic conditions of our human population.
“Upon knowing the exact country’s population by country, provinces, districts and LLG (Local Level Government) wards, the government can be able to appropriately plan and achieve the development targets for its people,” Mr. Marape said.
Mr. Marape highlighted that the national population census is one crucial exercise that provides that basis as a huge set of data which is a vital information source for development, monitoring and evaluation of various socioeconomic policies, strategies, and development plans at the national, sub national and sectoral levels.
In his address to the nation, he encouraged everyone in the country from the urban centers to the remote areas to be counted in the 2020 census as this is the only way for them to be represented in the development picture.
Mr. Marape concluded his address with an announcement of 100 million kina as the government funding commitment for the 2020 census operations.
The launch was attended by over 750 stakeholder participants comprised of Members of Parliament, Government Ministers, Departmental Heads, representatives from Donor and Development Partners, Private Sector Heads, and Heads of Churches and NGOs.
