Morocco – start of the census – high logistical effort – important data. Maghreb-Post

From September 1 to 30, 2024, data on the population, its economic situation and social developments will be collected. New data should improve future planning.

Rabat – The national census, the Morocco Census, officially begins in Morocco today, Sunday, September 1, 2024. Under the leadership of the High Commission for Planning (HCP), current data on the country’s demographics, economic conditions and social trends will be collected nationwide. As the HCP explains, over the next 30 days, around 50,000 previously trained people will be familiar with data collection, e.g. by going door to door to complete questionnaires with the help of the large population. As the head of the HCP, Ahmed Lahlimi Alami, announced at a press conference, the census will cost the North African kingdom around 147 million US dollars.

This is a “national, sovereign operation with a Moroccan identity,” said the head of the HCP, Ahmed Lahlimi, proud of the preparation of the census at a press conference on the eve of its start. He stressed the non-political nature of the census and called on citizens to cooperate with the enumerators.

This year, the data will be collected entirely via an electronic platform and with the help of tablets, which promises faster analysis. While respondents will also be asked about issues such as access to the education system, the health system or social safety nets, as well as electricity, water and employment, there will be no specific questions about income or assets, their religious beliefs or personal lifestyle or personal freedoms.

Major logistical challenge

Morocco carries out a census every 10 years in order to be able to use current data for further development projects, particularly with regard to infrastructure, the health system or the new social security systems. A census is an enormous challenge for the country. In addition to the large amount of personnel required and the training required for those conducting the survey, usually teachers, researchers or students, the entire country must be covered within a short period of time. At the same time, data should not only be collected on private households, but also on economic structures. This also means locating companies, shops or businesses as well as markets.

In numbers this means:

• 37,109 census districts (25,167 in urban and 11,942 in rural areas),
• 10,958 control districts,
• 935 surveillance zones,
• Georeferencing of 4,138,900 buildings in urban areas,
• Georeferencing of 33,682 villages in rural areas,
• Georeferencing of 1,304,564 active businesses,
• 1,130,021 active economic entities with the intention of making a profit,
• 147,062 public service enterprises,
• 27,481 non-profit economic enterprises engaged in independent activities,
• Georeferencing of 1,022 active weekly souks / weekly markets.

High personal effort

• 40,883 interviewers,
• 11,904 inspectors,
• 1,071 municipal supervisors.

Data should be available quickly.

In one of his last speeches, King Mohammed VI himself assured that this census would be carried out professionally by the authorities and that the population would support the interviewers by providing honest information. At the same time, he has arranged for the results to be made available as quickly as possible to all bodies with a high planning need. The new figure for the population is awaited with great interest. The 2014 census showed that Morocco had a population of around 33.8 million people.