Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the long-delayed national census will be completed in 2026, calling the exercise essential for planning public services and shaping social policy.
Browne made the announcement during Thursday’s presentation of the 2026 national budget, where he confirmed that funding has been set aside to finalize the population and housing count after repeated delays in recent years.
He said completing the census is necessary to give government accurate data on the country’s demographics, economic activity and living conditions.
“The completion of the national census is a priority,” Browne told Parliament, noting that updated population information will guide decisions in education, healthcare, housing, infrastructure and social protection programmes.
The census is also used by regional and international agencies to measure national development and assess eligibility for support.
The Prime Minister said government ministries rely heavily on data to set budget allocations and evaluate the impact of programmes, particularly those aimed at vulnerable households.
He added that next year’s funding will ensure the statistical work moves forward without further interruption.
Officials are expected to release a timeline for the remaining stages of the census when the budget debate continues next week.