STATIN yet to complete census exercise; publication date for findings not set

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) has faced several challenges in completing the 2022 Population and Housing Census, according to recent statements. Officials have yet to confirm when the census will be published, citing “unprecedented” obstacles that have affected the process. Some of these challenges include the resignation and retirement of key personnel, the attrition of census takers, training and payment delays, and uncooperative respondents.

The primary data-collection phase, facilitated by contract workers, is now complete, and efforts are under way to pay these workers. This process was originally due to be completed in December 2022 but various delays pushed the deadline to March of the following year. The data collection process has seen completion in approximately 70% of the country’s 6,111 enumeration districts, requiring data collection from around 7,000 individuals.

STATIN officials have recognized that “under-coverage” is an ongoing issue in the process of counting, referring to instances where not all residents of a household or area are counted. Deputy Director General Leesha Delatie-Budair stressed that the census is not yet complete, and that this main phase is followed by an under-coverage assessment and, if necessary, supplementary activities. She noted that this under-coverage issue is not unique to Jamaica, and that all countries face challenges in conducting their respective census exercises.

Despite these challenges, STATIN is committed to maintaining standards and best practices in census collection. Delatie-Budair reassures the public that STATIN is continuously assessing and adjusting its practices in response to these challenges. She also noted that periodic updates on the census process will be provided at STATIN’s quarterly press briefings, but a release date for the full census findings has not been set.

The census, originally scheduled for April 2021, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the delays and complications, STATIN officials remain dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality data on Jamaica’s population. The importance of this data as a resource for planning, policy-making, and development in Jamaica underscores the importance of completing this process accurately and thoroughly.