United Nations Regional Seminar
on
Promotion and Utilization of Census Results
and on the revision of the Principles and
Recommendations for Population and Housing
Censuses
Presentation
by
Adwok Chol Awur
Director of Censuses & Surveys
Pretoria, South Africa
March 24 - 26, 2014
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Presentation outline
I. South Sudan overview
II. Why conduct a population and
housing census
III. Overall Objective of the forthcoming
PHC
IV.Specific objectives of the Census
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
South Sudan overview 1/2
 South Sudan attained her independence on 9th
July 2011 following a referendum in which people
voted for separation from Sudan,
 Area coverage 644,329 KM2 and a
 Population of 8.3 m (2008 PHC)
Male 4.29 m
Female 3.97 m
Population density: 15.8 KM2
 Capital city: Juba
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
South Sudan overview 2/2
The country has a decentralized system of
Governance with a national government that
exercises authority in respect of the people and
the states
State level government which exercises authority
within a state and the local government level
which is the closest level to the people
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Administrative divisions
The country is divided into
National
States 10
Counties 80
Payams 580
Bomas 2092
Villages
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Why Conduct Census? Limited Demographic
Information on South Sudan
• limited demographic information on South Sudan derived
from the censuses of the Republic of Sudan of which it
was a part until 2011. In all the censuses undertaken,
there was substantial under-enumeration of the population
in the area now referred to as RSS.
• The last census was carried out in 2008 as part of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The results of
the census put the population of then Southern Sudan at
8.26 million, which suggested that the population had
remained stagnant or had experienced very slow growth.
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Why Conduct Census? 2008 Census
Not Accepted by GOSS
• Given its unreliability, the Government of the
Republic of South Sudan has not accepted the
outcome of the 2008 census and thus directed
the National Bureau of Statistics to undertake
the first post-independence census.
•
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Why Conduct Census? Dramatic Transformation
in Population since Independence
• Since its independence in July 2011, the new
nation has faced dramatic changes in its
population.
• The country has absorbed a large number of
returnees from Sudan and other countries
who have now resettled across the country.
• Urban areas such as the capital Juba have
expanded at a very rapid rate, creating
various new residential areas.
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Why Conduct Census? Massive Population
Movements/Displacements in States
• Internal conflicts have led to displacements of
population in a number of states and the
continuing disputes and conflict between South
Sudan and Sudan have led to massive
movements and displacements of populations.
• The continued fighting between the Sudan
Armed Forces and rebels in the North has
resulted in large numbers of refugees migrating
to South Sudan.
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Why Conduct Census? Special
Rationale for South Sudan
• According to the Transitional Constitution of the
Republic of South Sudan 2011, Article 194, “the
National Government shall during the Transitional
Period conduct a population census the outcome of
which shall, inter alia, determine the number of electoral
constituencies for the next general elections”
• Accurate census data are therefore needed for the
efficient and equitable demarcation of electoral
constituencies and adjustment of administrative
boundaries
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Why Conduct Census? Census
Pivotal for NSDS
• The conduct of the PHC is pivotal for the
development and strengthening of the data
generation potential of the National Bureau of
Statistics. As South Sudan has recently
embarked on the development its first National
Strategy for the Development of Statistics
(NSDS), the Population Census takes on an
even more significant position in its planned
data collection programme.
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Overall Objective of the PHC
• Is to contribute to the improvement of the
quality of life of South Sudanese through
the provision of current and reliable data
for development planning, policy
formulation, service delivery and for
monitoring and evaluation of population
and development programmes.
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Specific objectives of the Census
1/6
• To know the present size of the population
of South Sudan and its spatial distribution
among States, Counties, Payams and
Bomas and among rural and urban areas;
• To determine the demographic, social,
economic, gender and other characteristics
of the population;
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Specific objectives of the Census
2/6
• To provide detailed information on the
population by main administrative units so
as to enhance the conduct of voter
registration and delineation of electoral
constituencies for the forthcoming national
elections;
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Specific objectives of the Census
3/6
• To provide the required population-based
estimates for national and international
frameworks adopted by government
including South Sudan Development Plan
and the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), which are heavily dependent on a
strong statistical base for their successful
implementation and effective monitoring;
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Specific objectives of the Census
4/6
• To constitute an updated database providing information
right down to the smallest administrative unit in order to
enhance government and development partner
programmes of post-war recovery, population
resettlement, reconstruction and development;
• To provide reliable data on maternal mortality at the
national and sub-national levels.
• To determine the rates of fertility, mortality and migration
among the population in order to come up with the natural
and overall growth rates of the population of the country;
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Specific objectives of the Census
5/6
• To improve on the knowledge relating to housing
conditions in South Sudan and to further employ this
information for a more elaborate poverty mapping of the
country;
• To provide an exhaustive list of localities along with the
available facilities, main economic activities and
population size for purposes of more rational regional
planning;
• To produce an updated sampling frame for the country
and maps for each Enumeration Area (EA) for future
sample surveys.
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Specific objectives of the Census
6/6
• To produce national population projections using updated
base demographic data and other information on
population dynamics such as to enhance future planning.
• To reinforce the technical capacity of the NBS in data
collection, processing, analysis, dissemination and in the
use of the census results and products.
• To lay the foundation of a time series of demographic,
housing and socio-economic and agricultural bench-mark
data at the national, state, county and payam levels.
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics
Thank you very much
The Republic of South Sudan
National Bureau of Statistics