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Based on evidence from papyrus manuscripts and Pharaonic temple monuments, Egypt was likely one of the first countries in the world to carry out a census - purportedly in 3340BC.1 The country undertook its first modern census in 1882, with its most recent one occurring in 2006.
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In another historic first, Egypt is also the first country in Africa to share its census results using the CensusInfo2 database system. This decision by Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reflects a growing global awareness of the importance of user-friendly census data dissemination. Indeed, according to the UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, “A census is not complete until the information collected is made available to potential users in a form suited to their needs.” 3
CAPMAS had initially researched various modern technologies used in the dissemination of census data. After reviewing the online CensusInfo portals maintained by India and Palestine, CAPMAS decided that Egypt could also use CensusInfo as a tool for sharing its census data. According to Zeinab Zohier Hosney, General Manager in IT Sector, CAPMAS, “We already had published the national census data on our CAPMAS website, but we wanted to take advantage of the beautiful outputs – maps, graphs and tables - available through the CensusInfo software.”
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Percentage unemployment rate, 2006 |
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CAPMAS expressed its aims and objectives to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), which gladly agreed to provide the needed support. Three CensusInfo training workshops were organized from May to October 2010, during which time a sample census database was created and put through extensive testing to identify any possible technical and/or data-related issues.
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Following the workshops, work began in earnest on the development of two distinct national census databases. The first contains data from the 2006 and 1996 census rounds, down to the governorate level, and is freely available on CD ROM and online at CAPMAS’ website, www.capmas.gov.eg.
The second database contains data from the same two census rounds, but at the lower markaz and kism administrative levels. This second database is available through the CAPMAS website only to paid subscribers.
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Population (thousands) by age and sex,
Cairo, 2006 |
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CAPMAS has developed a combination of audio-visual and print material using the ci Video and ci Book features included with the CensusInfo software, to guide users in quickly learning how to navigate the application. CAPMAS has also advertised widely through regional seminars, press conferences, and traditional mass media outlets (radio, television, print) to raise awareness of this new data resource.
Exclaims Zeinab Zohier Hosney, “Using CensusInfo, it’s so easy to compare the results of the 1996 and 2006 census rounds!”
With the help of CensusInfo, Egypt is making huge strides in giving all stakeholders access to its population and housing census data - who can in turn use this data to support evidence-based decision making to further national development.
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Data making a difference. |
For more information, please contact Zeinab Zohier Hosney, General Manager, IT Sector, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, at zeinab_zohier@hotmail.com.
1 Website of the 6th Africa Symposium on Statistical Development,
http://www.statssa.gov.za/assd2010/interesting.asp, accessed 1 July 2011.
2 CensusInfo is an innovative and flexible database technology for the dissemination of population and housing census results. The software has been developed by the United Nations Statistics Division, in partnership with UNICEF and UNFPA, to help countries disseminate their census results at any relevant geographical level, on CD-ROM and on the web.
3 Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Statistics Division, http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/docs/P&R_%20Rev2.pdf, p. 57, accessed 1 July 2011.
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