Census

A Population and Housing Census collects, compiles, analyzes, and publishes demographic, economic, and social data about all persons in a country at a specified time. A census can also be described as a form of stocktaking. It is a complete count of the population and living quarters. It provides detailed benchmark data on the size of the population, age structure, educational attainment, economic activity, disability, housing and household amenities, and other major socio-economic characteristics.

A Population and Housing Census is the single most extensive, complicated, and expensive statistical operation that a national statistics office will ever undertake. It is the main source of statistics, not only at the national level but also at the sub-national and Enumeration District (ED) levels. An ED is the smallest geographical area in a census and can be considered as a census or statistical ‘building block’.

Most countries conduct a census every 10 years; however, it is conducted every 5 years in some developed countries like Canada. In Belize, a population and housing census is carried out every 10 years. The last one was conducted in 2022.

There are various approaches for collecting data in a Census. Data can be collected through face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, self-administered questionnaires, or through the internet. In Belize, data collection will be carried out through face-to-face interviews by trained enumerators/interviewers using electronic questionnaires for the most part. Paper questionnaires will only be used when absolutely necessary.

During an intercensal period, many changes in the social fabric of a country may have taken place. These include changes in the population due to the number of births, deaths, and migration patterns, as well as changes in the characteristics of the population such as employment and school enrollment, all of which will have implications on the demand for social services such as health, education and infrastructure including water, electricity, transportation systems etc. Therefore, census data is useful to government policymakers, private industry, the media, academia, researchers, labor organizations, small and large businesses, and the general public itself.

The results of a census can be used as a critical reference to ensure equity in the distribution of wealth, government services, and representation nationwide. Census statistics can also be used as benchmarks for statistical compilation or as a sampling frame for sample surveys. Since census data can be tabulated for any geographical unit, it is possible to provide the required statistics in a remarkably flexible manner. This is important where the administrative area unit is not equivalent to the geographical unit required to make a decision. For example, for planning the location of a school, it is necessary to have data on the distribution of school-age children for a given geographical area rather than by village. Census results are also necessary for preparing population projections which is crucial for all segments of the public and private sectors.

The Census is carried out by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) under the authority of the SIB Act, No. 9 of 2009, and in accordance with the Census Act, Chapter 155 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011. The SIB was established on April 1, 2007, replacing the Central Statistical Office as the national statistical agency of Belize. The primary functions of the Institute are to collect, compile, analyze, and release official statistics pertaining to the demographic, social, economic, and general activities, and conditions of Belize on an impartial basis and in accordance with international standards. The SIB is located in Belmopan and is governed by a Board of Directors with representation from the government and non-government sectors.