KAZAKHSTAN TO CONDUCT CENSUS IN 2009

UNCLAS ALMATY 004523 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (MUDGE) DEPT PASS TO CENSUS BUREAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN KZ ECONOMIC SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN TO CONDUCT CENSUS IN 2009 ¶1. Summary: Kazakhstani authorities have announced that the second national population census will take place in February 2009. Preparation for the project will begin in ¶2006. The methodology of the census process will be changed in order to produce more accurate results than the previous census in 1999. The National Statistics Agency will be responsible for preparing and conducting the census. End summary. ¶2. On December 20, the Kazakhstani cabinet of ministers met to discuss a new program of statistics development. According to Statistics Agency Chairman Abdiev, the purpose of the program is to improve the quality of information by introducing European standards - EUROSTA. The GOK plans to appropriate $5.9 million for the program over three years. During the session, the Statistics Agency chairman announced that the next population census will be conducted in February 2009. ¶3. Preparation work will begin in 2006. In 2006, a program on population and housing resources census will be approved. After normative acts are adopted in 2006-07, a republican commission for assistance during the population census will be established. In 2008, a pilot population census will be conducted in three Kazakhstani regions. Based on this pilot census, methodology and questionnaires will be prepared. The GOK plans to employ 40,000 temporary workers to conduct the population census in 2009. The duration of the census will be increased from one week, as in 1999, to three weeks. According to Abdiev, the duration has been increased with the goal of improving the accuracy of the census. The GOK estimates that approximately 200,000 people were missed in the 1999 census. The results will be announced several months after the census's completion. ORDWAY NNNN