The government of South Sudan has launched its first ever population estimation survey in an effort to update figures on its population size.
South Sudan’s government still relies on the 2008 housing and population census undertaken before gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.
Addressing journalists during the launch on Thursday, South Sudan’s Vice President for economic clusters, Dr. James Wani Igga said the launch was a milestone for the East African nation without a proper data bank since attaining independence in 2011.
“Population estimation survey is an important undertaking that provides effective coordination across the country. Insufficient data is a major challenge to evidence-based planning and programming in South Sudan. The data available for the country is derived from the 2008 population and housing census conducted when South Sudan was still part of the Republic of Sudan and a few national household surveys conducted.” Vice President Dr. James Wani explained.
Speaking during the same event on Thursday, South Sudan’s Director for statistics Mr. Isaiah Chol says the survey will help inform the government on various changes affecting the population size in the country.
“The population numbers at local level are fundamental data for many critical applications, including the delivery and planning of services, election preparation and response to disaster. National population and housing censuses are the primary sources for such data but lack of resources and security challenges, makes gathering new and reliable demographic data at subnational levels a challenge.” Director for statistics Isaac Chol stressed.
South Sudan’s population distribution dynamics has substantially changed, impacting the internal and external displacement, particularly during the periods of conflict in 2013 and 2016.
With implementation of peace agreement Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees are returning home to their communities, providing another dimension to the country’s population profile.
The 2008 housing and population census indicates that South Sudan had 8.26 million people consisting of 4.29 million males and 3.97 million females.
In his statement to the media during the occasion, the Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Jamal Arafat says the initiative is aimed at providing up to date data in South Sudan.
“South Sudan population estimation survey was the very first initiative aimed at coming up with up-to-date and accurate population data for South Sudan, which the United Nations are eagerly awaiting. The survey is a very important exercise that will ultimately benefit the South Sudanese people because the information that will be gathered is critical for good governance, policy formulation, development planning, risk reduction, crisis response, social welfare programmes and business market analysis.” Jamal Arafat Said.
