By: Elizabeth A. Kaine
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has announced that Sierra Leone will conduct a nationwide Population and Housing Census (PHC) from December 2 to 15, 2025. This census will provide essential data for implementing the country’s development plans and assessing progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
President Bio emphasized that the 2025 Census is aligned with the decennial Census calendar and is crucial for the country’s development planning. He pointed out that the 2025 PHC will provide essential data for implementing Sierra Leone’s 2024-2030 Medium Term National Development Plan and assessing progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a deadline of 2030.
“The data from this decennial Census in 2025 will guide the implementation of various development programs,” President Bio stated, underscoring the importance of reliable statistics to track national development and identify critical challenges.
The 2025 Census will continue Sierra Leone’s long history of census-taking, dating back to 1802, with modern iterations conducted in 1963, 1974, 1985, 2004, and 2015. Building on lessons from the 2021 Mid-Term Census, the government plans to use advanced technologies such as Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) for data collection, further enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
President Bio assured the nation of the government’s commitment to providing substantial financial and logistical support for the census. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of international partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the United States Census Bureau through USAID, in ensuring the census is successful.
Statistics Sierra Leone, the government agency responsible for supervising and managing the census, has been preparing for the event, according to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development. The President, acting on this advice, officially set December 1, 2025, as Census Night, with the census itself commencing the following day.
The 2025 Population and Housing Census is expected to provide updated and crucial data to shape Sierra Leone’s developmental policies and assess the impact of ongoing interventions. This large-scale national project will offer a baseline for economic planning, housing needs assessment, and social services provision.
President Bio concluded his address by expressing his gratitude to all involved parties and invoked divine blessings on the Republic of Sierra Leone.
