Iraq to impose 2 day curfew for first census in 27 years

Iraq will implement a two-day curfew on 20 and 21 November for its first national census in 27 years, the government announced yesterday. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani stated that the curfew will be enforced across all provinces to facilitate the population count.

In a meeting, chaired by Al-Sudani, the ongoing preparations were discussed and “a set of decisions were taken to facilitate the preparation and training process for conducting the census.”

The population census is usually conducted every ten years in Iraq. However, the country’s last general census was carried out in 1997, excluding the three provinces of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Since then, attempts to hold a new census have been postponed multiple times, notably in 2010, due to conflicts and disputes over territories.

The census is a sensitive and complex exercise in Iraq as it indirectly determines sectarian and ethnic quotas based on population distribution. It also plays a significant role in the ongoing conflict between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the demographic affiliations in disputed regions such as oil-rich Kirkuk.

In preparation for the census, Iraqi authorities have collaborated with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), signing a memorandum of understanding in July. The UN agency highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating it “plays a crucial role in equipping Iraq with accurate demographic information, facilitating effective policymaking, and promoting inclusive growth.”

Iraq, which has faced decades of sectarian conflict and violence, has regained some stability in recent years, although sporadic violence and political instability remain. The current population is estimated to be around 43 million.

OPINION: The Development Road is gaining momentum