10-07-202646
Population censuses in United Nations member states are conducted on a regular basis every five or ten years. As in all member states, this important undertaking was carried out in Uzbekistan in two stages. In the first stage, part of the population registered online through a specialised electronic system, while in the second stage, citizens who had not managed to register during the house-to-house enumeration were covered.
In the course of this process, it is natural for some citizens to ask: "Why is this necessary?" and "What benefit does it bring?" Some individuals even considered the undertaking superfluous. So why is a population census necessary, and why is this process carried out on a regular basis in developed countries? The main reasons substantiating the relevance and necessity of this undertaking are set out below.
First, the population census is directly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations, and corresponds to the following goals:
Goal 1. Eradicating Poverty.The income levels and living conditions of the population are determined. This, in turn, makes it possible to identify low-income groups and develop appropriate decisions for lifting them out of poverty.
Goal 3. Good Health.The age composition of the population, birth rates, and mortality rates are analysed, regional specifics are identified, and a basis is established for developing plans to strengthen public health. In certain regions, the availability and number of medical institutions and the degree to which they meet population needs are also determined.
Goal 4. Quality Education.Data on the literacy level and education of the population are collected for each region. The census serves as the basis for constructing kindergartens and schools in newly established areas and, in general, contributes to the development of educational infrastructure.
Goal 5. Gender Equality.The numbers of men and women are determined and existing disparities are identified.
Goal 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth.Labour resources and employment levels are determined, providing the basis for creating jobs in accordance with actual needs.
Goal 10. Reducing Inequality.Territorial and social disparities are identified.
Goal 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities.The census enables the study of urbanisation levels, internal migration, and its causes.
Goal 16. Effective Governance and Strong Institutions.Analysis of the collected statistical data enables the adoption of important decisions in the sphere of public administration, and this process plays a key role in forming a distinctive profile of each region.
Second, the census plays a role of strategic importance in developing plans for the country's advancement and for a better understanding and fulfilment of the population's needs through analysis of the collected data.
For example, a citizen may be permanently registered in one district while actually working or residing in an entirely different location for years on end. Situations are frequently encountered where dozens of permanent residents are registered at individual households, while in practice only a few people live there, and the majority of those registered are actually residing in another region or district. This creates uncertainty not only with regard to providing people with the necessary conditions or in determining the territorial location of those in need of material support, but also gives rise to problems concerning one of citizens' fundamental rights — participation in the electoral process. In particular, cases have been observed where electoral ballots are sent to individuals who have no actual possibility of participating in voting.
Third, the census provides local government bodies with the opportunity to gather data needed to provide attention and create conditions for socially vulnerable groups of the population, as well as to appropriately encourage their entrepreneurial initiatives. According to WHO data for 2022, persons with disabilities constitute 16 per cent of the world's population. In Uzbekistan, as of the end of the first quarter of 2025, the number of persons with disabilities stands at 1,031,609, or 2.7 per cent of the country's total population. This constitutes an important source of information for ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.
In conclusion, a population census is an undertaking that must be conducted and monitored on an ongoing basis in order to form a comprehensive profile of the country and create a corresponding roadmap for its sustainable development, to identify the population's needs in a timely manner and take necessary measures, to prevent sharp social stratification and disparities, to create decent conditions for persons who are factually residing but not reflected in official documents, and to ensure the provision of quality education and medical services. The analysis of collected data makes it possible to identify and resolve numerous problems before they become serious.
Sardorbek JO'RAYEV,Expert, Centre for Sustainable Development