Iraq To Hold Country's First Census In 27 Years

Iraq authorities announced the country’s first census in 27 years to be held in November. Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al Sudani said that the curfew will be imposed in all provinces of Iraq on November 20 and 21 to conduct a population census. For the upcoming census, the Iraqi authorities have teamed up with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Earlier, Iraq postponed the census several times because of tensions between communities over disputed territories. The last general census was held in 1997 in 15 Iraqi provinces excluding three northern provinces of the autonomous Kurdish Region. As per the current estimates Iraq’s total population is at around 43 million.

In the past, Iraq held a census every 10 years. However, the census was not organized in 2007 when the country amid the violence due to sectarian politics. Reportedly, Iraq has regained some political stability in recent years amid sporadic violence and turmoils.

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The upcoming census will play a crucial role in equipping Iraq to collect accurate demographic information that helps to facilitate effective policymaking and to promote inclusive growth, the census authorities said.

Iraq’s politics is significantly influenced by sectarian politics and divided in the region of influence between Shia, Sunni, and Kurds. The sectarian and ethnic differences between Sunni majority and Shia minority; and between Arabs and Kurds have shaped Iraqi politics over the last century.

The emergence of the Baath party and authoritarian rule under Saddam Hussain created discontent among the ethnic tribes especially Kurds whose rights were suppressed or denied under the successive regimes. The establishment of the Kurdish Autonomous Region in 1992 in Iraq with the support of the US influenced the internal politics of Iraq substantially.