Dili, October 21, 2022 – With over 90 per cent of households in Timor-Leste counted, General Department of Statistics (GDS) announced that as at 20 October, 1.3 million people had been enumerated in the first digitalized census in the country.

The 2022 Population and Housing Census is utilizing computer assisted personal interviews (CAPI) -- where the enumerators are using tablets to collect information during face-to-face interviews.

According to Mr. Elias dos Santos Ferreira, Director General, GDS, the Population and Housing Census enumeration, that was earlier scheduled to end on 5 October, has been extended until end of October 2022. The census will generate critical data to aid in planning and implementation of development projects, and in updating statistical information on demographic, economic and social characteristics of the population.

In a media briefing to commemorate Statistics Day held at GDS conference room in Dili, Mr. Alvaro Marcal, Chief of Cabinet, Office of Vice Minister of Finance on behalf of Vice Minister of Finance, Hon. Antonio Freitas, reiterated the importance of Statistics Day to create awareness about the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy making, and appealed to the public to provide accurate information to enable GDS to compile accurate statistics.

The Government of Timor-Leste, through the GDS has been collecting information on every resident in the country since 5 September, 2022. Only a few households in Dili are yet to be enumerated. The data generated from the census will help in planning of development programs in health, education, agriculture and other programs.

“The census data will be critical in the implementation of Timor-Leste’s National Strategic Development Plan for 2011-2030 – particularly in updating indicators and for monitoring global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.  We would like to recognize the support of development partners in the census such as UNFPA, UNDP, WFP, UNICEF and UN Women among others,” said Mr. Alvaro Marcal.

UNFPA continues to provide technical and financial support to the Government of Timor-Leste to ensure that the census is of high quality, credible, uphold international principles and standards, and produce data that are widely disseminated and utilized to support the development of the country.

In her opening remarks during a media briefing to observe Statistics Day, Ms. Lorna Rolls, UNFPA Timor-Leste Representative a.i. affirmed UNFPA’s commitment to strengthen national capacities to implement high quality, timely, relevant and disaggregated census data that is aligned to international principles and standards.

“UNFPA invests in building institutional and national capacities in strengthening data collection, analysis, dissemination and utilization of development data.  Across the world, UNFPA supports countries in population and housing censuses, and other population based surveys through long standing partnerships with Statistics Offices around the world – including Timor-Leste.” said Ms. Lorna Rolls.

Since 2004, UNFPA has continued to provide technical assistance to the GDS to conduct census.

For more information, contact:

Suleiman Okoth

Communications and Programme Support Specialist
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Timor-Leste

UN House, Caicoli Street
Dili, Timor-Leste

Mobile: +670 75169796
WhatsApp: +254 780534026

Email; okoth@unfpa.org