Zarylbek I. Kudabaev is Ph.D. in economic sciences, the Chairman of the National Statistical Committee of the
Kyrgyz Republic since 1997. Member of National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic on Population. More than 50 scientific and methodological papers on different issues and 2 monographs on economy of Kyrgyzstan.
To be or not to be - that is the question
(Hamlet, III, i, 57)
W.Shakespeare
Abstract.
This paper covers main aspects of the first national population census of the Kyrgyz
Republic during which use was made of new organizational methods or know-how which contributed substantially to the success of the census and enable one to speak of a Kyrgyz model for census-taking. A vast advertising campaign concerning the census was conducted on television, radio and in newspapers, and a lottery draw based on the questionnaire forms was held and people could win many valuable prizes (one of the prizes was an apartment in the centre of Bishkek). This played an enormous role in involving the public in the census.
Following the pragmatic approach described above, the decision was taken to hold a pilot census in
Kantsky district. The pilot census conducted half a year before the general census served as dress rehearsal for the first national population census.
A great deal of work was carried out to attract the help of sponsors and an international agreement was signed with the Government of Switzerland and funds were allocated to conduct the pilot census in
Kantsky district. Substantial support was also obtained from the United Nations Population Fund.
1. Introduction
The first national population census in the Kyrgyz Republic was held from 24 March to 1 April 1999 throughout the Republic's territory, with the exception of some regions of difficult access. In those latter regions the population census was held from 22 to 30 April 1999. The census was conducted as part of the
1995-2004 round of population censuses and following the recommendations of the Statistical Commission of the United Nations, UNFPA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the CIS
Statistical Committee. In 1995, at a conference of directors of CIS statistical services, it was decided to hold the population census in CIS countries in early 1999 according to a uniform methodology. However, оnly four CIS countries Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were able to conduct the population census at the appointed time. The rest of CIS countries deferred the population census until a later date.
In the context of tight financial situation under the limited budget of the Kyrgyz Republic issue on expedience of conduct of the population census has been discussed but the sharp necessity in complete information on population which can be received only during the census and pragmatic approach of National
Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic showed during the preparation and conduct of the pilot census had predetermined decision to conduct the first national population census at the appointed time.
The preparation and conduct of the first national population census had a wide impact on Kyrgyz society, involving an address by the President to the people, an extensive publicity effort to explain the purposes and significance of the population census in the life of the young sovereign State on the threshold of a new century and, the holding of lottery draws with valuable prizes for those taking part in the census.
2. Kyrgyz Republic (background information on Kyrgyzstan)
Kyrgyzstan is a sovereign State located in the south-eastern part of Central Asia. The total surface area of the Republic is 199,900 square kilometres, of which more than 90 per cent consists of mountainous regions at an altitude of 1,500 metres or more. Kyrgyzstan is bounded in the north by the Republic of
Kazakhstan, in the east and south by the People's Republic of China, and in the west by the Republics of
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The present administrative-territorial division of the Kyrgyz Republic is as follows: the country consists of 7 oblasts and the capital: every oblast includes rayons and towns subject to the oblast. The rayons include aiyl-keneshes and towns subject to rayons.
The capital of the Kyrgyz Republic is Bishkek city.
Population is the carrier of state, cultural and economic achievements of each country. Public development process is largely determined by population number and structure accordingly.
Kyrgyzstan's population on March 24, 1999, according to the results of population census was 4.8 million, of which one third constituted the urban population and two third was the rural population.
Since 1913 population had been increased to 4 million or 5.6 times. The growth of urban population was 4 times more than rural, it means that the process of urbanization was speeded, up to 1989, but it was decreased since 90th. So the specific weight of urban population in 1999 was 35,3% against 38,2% in 1989.
The growth of population was on the basis of natural reproduction and migration in general. High growth of population (3,2% on the average a year) was marked between the censuses (1959-1970) with substantial inflow of population to the country. In that time, the rapid process of industrialization was in the
Kyrgyz Republic.
Since beginning 80 th slight tendency of migration outflow of population from the country was envisaged which reached more significant sizes at the beginning of 90 th . During 30 years and up to 1999 the natural growth was from 23 to 30 per mille a year, at the end of 90 th it was decreased up to 15 per mille. It was a reason for decreasing the growth of population (2% on the average a year-1979-1989; 1,2%-1989-
1999)
Kyrgyzstan’s population in demographic relation is young: 38,1% are children and teenagers; 52,7% are able to work age and 9,2% are older than able to work age. Regarding to this the load on able to work age population is high
Last census data characterize improving comparison of sexes: per 1000 women – 975 men in 1999
(in 1989 – 953, in 1979 – 941 men)
Kyrgyz Republic is a multinational state. More than 90 nationalities are living in it.
Educational level of population of Kyrgyzstan is high. It is respected by the results of population census. From total adult population: 12% - higher education, 11% - secondary specialized, 50% - complete secondary general (11 years), 18% - primary(8 – 9 years) and only 8% - elementary general.
3. Previous experience with holding population censuses in Kyrgyzstan
A population census was held for the first time in the territory of modem Kyrgyzstan under the
Russian Empire in 1897, but the census covered only a few provinces and cities. The first complete population census in Kyrgyzstan was actually held in 1926 as part of the all-Union population census.
Further population censuses were held in 1939, 1959, 1970, 1979 and 1989. On account of the far-reaching changes taking place in the demographic and socio-economic structures of society, another population census in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan was especially necessary. For instance, to record the appearance and development of new population groups with the transition to a diversified market economy, the development of the private sector and the appearance of unemployment. As a result, the number of population by all indicators and its location on the territory of the Republic significantly changed. The change in living conditions of the population markedly affected birth and death rates, and encouraged large-scale immigration and out-migration. All this necessitated the collection of relevant data, which is possible only with a population census.
4. Preparation and conduct of the first national population census in the Kyrgyz Republic
4.1 Legal framework
Intensive and comprehensive legal framework was established for successful conduct of the First national population census :
Law on the population census , was adopted in May 1998. This law set forth basic principles and concepts, the rights and obligations of the State's statistical organs and citizens, matters to be taken into account during the preparation and conduct of the population census, etc. It should be noted that article 9 of the law provided that the population census was obligatory and interviewees could not refuse to provide the

details required on questions included in the census documentation, failure to do so rendering the persons concerned liable under the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic. A population census in fact constitutes interference with human rights, and it would be improper to conduct such a census without the appropriate authority (Law on the census).
1.
The decree on the conduct of a population census in the Kyrgyz Republic in 1999, dated July
1995 set the year of the population census and gave instructions to the Government of the
Kyrgyz Republic for dealing with organizational and financial matters;
2.
The decree on the National Commission on Population of the Kyrgyz Republic defined the main task of the National Commission as being that of providing organizational support for the first national population census. State Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic heads the commission;
3.
The decree on holding a population census in the Kyrgyz Republic, dated November 1998, set the actual date of the population census as 24 March 1999 and gave specific instructions to the
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and to the heads of local State administrations concerning the timely and high-quality conduct of the population census.
Appropriate Government decisions of the Kyrgyz Republic were adopted for execution of
Presidential decrees.
Presidential decrees and Government decisions on aspects of the population census served at all levels as guidance for action and made the successful conduct of the first national population census a matter of honour. State administrations and local government bodies at all levels took decisions to select, approve and train about 27,000 people for the population census. More than 4,000 premises were chosen and equipped for the accommodation and work of the census units. Local State administrations made premises available for enumerators and supervisors, and assistance was also provided for this purpose by private firms, schools and religious communities. Census staff was allocated 515 vehicles.
4.2 Institutional framework
Population census holding is a great and painstaking statistical job required the careful preparation which is implemented not only by statistical offices but substantially by local offices, Ministries and institutions.
In 1996 the National Statistical Committee set up a special population census division, which was given responsibility for all organizational and methodological preparations. Then, in 1997, population census departments were created in all regional statistical committees and in Bishkek city statistical committee, and a standing census commission of the National Statistical Committee was also established. From 1997 onwards, a total of 298 commissions and support groups for the population census, consisting of 2,035 members, were set up in all regional, district and city State administrations and local government bodies, as well as in a number of organizations, institutions and educational establishments. In 1998 Deputy Chairmen on population census were nominated in all rayon and urban statistical committees. All these committees began to implement the following immediate organization questions:
specification of list and boundaries of urban settlements and large villages, regulation of addresses
specification or compilation of urban settlements and large villages plan schemes, scheme map of rayons
provision of correct and full registration of population by the Ministry of Internal Affairs bodies
compilation of home lists in urban settlements and large villages, and lists of rural settlements
The implementation of these measures served essentially to build the foundations for the population census and, more specifically, the formulation of organizational plans for the preparation and conduct of the population census, including the following components:
(a) definition of census district boundaries of census department supervisory sections and enumeration areas;
(b) numbers and workload of census staff and schedules for their training;
(c) public information work to explain the purposes and tasks of the forthcoming population census.
Organizational plans for holding the population census at all levels (districts, cities, regions) were adopted only by agreement with the local governing bodies. On the basis of these plans, 477 census departments, 3,513 supervisory sections and 14,800 enumeration areas were formed. In addition, census areas were established in the areas of military units, correctional-labour colonies and other closed

institutions, as well as in embassies and missions of the Kyrgyz Republic abroad, Thereafter, in order to refine the organizational plan to prepare for and conduct the population census, pre-census checks and provisional inspections of premises were carried out.
4.3 Methodological framework
When formulating the organizational and methodological provisions and programme, account was taken of the socio-economic changes that had occurred in our young State during the reform period. For the sake of continuity and comparability of the census results, use was made of the organizational and methodological provisions of the all-Union population census of 1989, the recommendations of the United
Nations Statistical Division, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Federal Statistical Office of Switzerland, Statistical Committee of CIS.
First of all, “ Main organization and methodological regulations of population census of the Kyrgyz
Republic,1999”, program and order of its conduct were prepared and approved by census commission.
More than 50 instructions and methodological regulations as the theoretical basis for conduct of the pilot and the First national population census in Kyrgyzstan and also more than 70 documentation forms for preparation and conduct of the census were issued by the specialists of National Statistical Committee during the preparation and conduct of the population census
This included instructions, methodological directions and forms for the compilation of addresses and cartographic material, lists of homes and lists of rural settlements, the drawing up of organizational plans for holding the population census, organizing and holding a pilot census of the population in Kantsky district, organizing and conducting the first national population census of the Kyrgyz Republic, a pre-census check, preliminary and supervisory inspections, reception and packaging of census materials, processing of control forms, etc.
Pilot population census in Kantsky district.
The pilot population census in Kanstky district in
October 1998 was very useful in testing and refining the organizational and methodological provisions for the first national population census in the Kyrgyz Republic in 1999, the programme and procedure for holding it and the processing of the census results. The pilot census helped determine the optimum workload for census staff and the attitude of the population to this important State undertaking was studied.
In the process, the contents and form of the output tables with the results of the pilot survey, their relationship to one another and convenience for users were tested. The results of the pilot census allowed to study the characteristic errors of census staff, coders and operators, and to find means to deal with such shortcomings.
In accordance with the draft plan for the organization of the population census and the government decision to hold the pilot census was to have been held in the first quarter of 1997, i.e. one and a half to two years before the general census. Due to lack of funding, however, the pilot census could not be held at that time, but was instead taken in October 1998, with financial support from the Swiss Government. Upon consideration of options for the location of the pilot census, it was found most appropriate to hold it in the territory of Kantsky district, Chuy region, where there is a 30 per cent urban and 70 per cent rural population, which approximately corresponds to the ratio of the population size of these categories in the Kyrgyz
Republic as a whole.
Population of Kantsky district are multinational, all nationalities live by compact groups that allow to evaluate objectively the relation of population to the census. Besides, foreigners without citizenship and other categories of population live in district that allow to check the census conduct of such categories of citizens. This district is near to Bishkek city and it facilitated the provision of staff participating in pilot population census with accomodation.
At the same time, the short period between the pilot and general census of the population also had some positive aspects. Thus, the preparation for the pilot census was considerably aided by the fact that lists of homes and lists of rural settlements had already been compiled and the organizational plan for the population census had been formulated on that basis. The main purpose of the pilot population census in Kantsky district was not only to test all phases of the preparation, conduct and processing of the results of the census, but also, and most importantly, to train staff of the National Statistical Committee and directors of all regional, district and municipal statistical committees, since very few of those who had participated in the
1989 population census were still available.

As instructed by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on 28 August 1998, the pilot census in
Kantsky district was completed in eight days, from 14 to 21 October 1998. The critical moment of the pilot census was set at midnight between 13 and 14 October. Lists of residents and questionnaires were completed by the enumerators directly through interviews, with account taken of two population categories:
permanent population (including residents temporarily absent);
present population (including temporary residents).
A great deal of work was carried out to provide material and technical support for the census. Census departments were supplied in good time with instructions and census documentation, office equipment and supplies, and the enumerators received new folders. Enumerators and instructors were housed in convenient and well-equipped premises. Computers, together with printers and photocopiers, were installed in the district census headquarters. Those involved in the census were provided with transport, hotel accommodation and food. All of these measures helped ensure the successful conduct of the pilot census, which was greatly facilitated by the assistance and active participation of the district State administration, district headquarters for the preparation and conduct of the pilot census and senior secretaries of the aiyl okmotu (village administrations), as well as the good arrangements for publicizing the work undertaken.
The preparatory measures - compilation of lists of homes and lists of rural settlements, preparation of cartographic materials and formulation of the organizational plan for the population census - met the requirements for holding a census of the population. The census showed that the average workload per enumerator under the organizational plan (400 persons in urban settlements and 300 in rural settlements) was the correct decision and the eight days assigned for interviewing proved sufficient. Supervisory sections were organized from four to five enumeration areas, and census departments were established from 5 to 10 supervisory sections. The pilot census showed that these were appropriate standards.
10 per cent of participants involved in previous population censuses and surveys were engaged in the population census. Persons with higher education accounted for 18 percent, teachers and educators for 7 per cent, and planning and accounting staff for 15 per cent of the total number of census staff.
At the same time, the census results also showed shortcomings in the work with census staff. Thus,
20 per cent of staff were recruited by the leadership of the aiyl kenesh for work involving the holding of several posts, which is formally prohibited. A large proportion of unemployed persons (60 per cent of the total number of census staff) were recruited. That also had an extremely negative impact on the quality of the census. It had been correctly decided that groups for instruction should include no more than 25 persons.
This standard was applied during instruction sessions at all levels and in the training of staff for the first national population census.
The complex census programme calls for careful selection of qualified staff and their assimilation of the most detailed instructions, as well as a daily review of issues and errors, especially during the first days of the census, in order to avoid subsequent mistakes. This requirement must be observed consistently.
However, when the census materials were received it became clear that not enough attention had been given to detecting errors committed during the first days. In this connection, when holding the general population census the National Statistical Committee provided for urgent reports to be obtained on the second day of the census from regional statistical committees on mistakes and issues arising during the first day. These were reviewed by the National Statistical Committee and communicated to local offices on the same day.
The pilot census also showed the need for pre-census checking, especially in villages with a population of less than 3,000. This work was conducted by the heads of census departments and their assistants. Thus, on the basis of the results of this checking, changes and amendments were made to the cartographic material, organizational plans and other documents. It should be noted that instructors and supervisors are obliged to take an active part in preliminary tours of inspection and verify how the work is performed by the enumerators, etc. Practice confirmed that allocating four days for a preliminary tour was fully adequate, however, since the results showed that some omissions had been made a tour of inspection had to be performed.
Conduct of the General Referendum in October 17, 1998 did not influence on dates of action execution but there periodically were the cases of temporary removal of premises and communication.
The exercise also showed that a census can not be combined with other activities. There were cases of public dissatisfaction at repeated visits to households with various questions (poll-takers for the referendum, interviewers monitoring poverty and, lastly, enumerators).
Lessons of the pilot census.
The holding of the pilot population census, subsequent keying of census documentation and data entry in personal computers established the need for a number of changes. First of

all, under law of the Kyrgyz Republic on the population census, and in line with the procedure for acting on proposals by employees of regional and district statistical bodies, almost all the census documentation
(instructions, list of households, questionnaires, control forms, etc.) was compiled both in the State language and in Russian. Considerable changes were introduced in the text of the census documentation and in the layout of the questions, with alterations being made to the order of questions and instructions, etc.
On the first page of List of living in premises two new indicators have introduced:
number of listed persons
number of permanently living households (in given premises)
Introduction of this indicators facilitates considerably sum up the results of the population census by census places, settlements and operators work during the input of information into personal computers.
The questionnaire remained virtually unchanged from that of the pilot census, with the exception of a few cases where the questions needed to be made more specific and detailed.
Question 1 ("Relationship to the person listed first in the household") was placed horizontally for the pilot census. Practice showed this arrangement to be inconvenient and likely to cause errors. All the codes for the question in the new form were set out vertically. In question 7 (place of birth ), 9 (a) (year of uninterrupted residence), 15 (b) (place of work), the word “region” was replaced by the word “town, district”. This change was made because our Republic is relatively small and it is practically impossible to track migration with reference to “region”. The practice of the pilot census showed that the question "Are you a refugee or forcibly displaced person?" should be asked only of persons having changed their place of residence between 1989 and March 1999. There were a few editorial changes to question 11 on education.
The text of the question for persons with higher, incomplete higher or special secondary education
("Speciality by education") was replaced with the text "Qualification by education", which corresponds to the entry on the acquisition of a specific qualification, as given in the diploma of a specialist.
The most complicated and interrelated questions in the questionnaire were those in the section on the economic characteristics of the population:
-question 14: Means of subsistence sources
-question 15: Population employment
-question 16: Main occupation
-question 17: Look for a job
In question 14 “Means of subsistence sources”: Employer - holder of the own enterprise and agrarian farm had been included into one item.
In accordance with international standards and rules, and in implementation of the statistical reform programme, since 1998 the national statistical system in Kyrgyzstan has been converting to the state industrial classification of economic activities - accounting for enterprises, organizations and institutions by type of economic activity. Therefore, when holding the pilot census and during the general census, it was necessary to obtain answers concerning the specific kinds of activity engaged in by our working or job holding population. On this question, we do not need to be given the name of the enterprise, but it is very important to know the type of economic activity (or simply the activity) engaged in by the enterprise and the people working for it. Therefore, these questions were formulated and explained in great detail in the
Instructions, as a result, specific answers in line with the requirements of the state industrial classification of economic activity were obtained.
Question 17 “Look for a job”: During the general census this question was given to all persons at the age of 16 and older : unemployed persons; employed persons at the census moment but didn’t change the work by some reasons.
In Question 18 “Women at the age of 15 and older”: Item “no answer” 99 was set up. It was marked by women who refused to inform the number of born children by some reasons. In this case , any information can not be asked from these women.
The coding of the pilot population census materials was conducted in three cycles, unlike during the
1989 all-Union population census, where the work was carried out in four cycles. Practice showed that reducing the process by one cycle does not affect the quality of the coding. Therefore, during the coding materials from the general population census, this method was used.
When coding materials from the pilot population census it was found that numerous errors and inconsistencies remained in the census material. In order to avoid this during the general population census, materials were prepared for census staff indicating the typical errors committed by enumerators during the

pilot population census. In addition, the mistakes of the first days were examined during the general census and great attention was paid to the quality of the materials upon reception from census departments at all levels.
In addition, the practice of coding materials from the pilot population census showed that particular difficulties arise in handling questions related to types of economic activity and occupations, and this was likewise given a great deal of attention during the general census. Thus, with the transition to a market economy and private ownership, many small enterprises of the same name appeared, these names being completely unreflective of their kind of activity. For example, there are more than 40 economic entities in the Republic under the name "Ak-Maral" alone. Enumerators must therefore record the kind of economic activity (i.e. the activity engaged in by the enterprise).
For the convenience of coding we drew up short lists of enterprises, institutions and organizations, as well as a list of industrial enterprises by region, which help not only to save time in coding, but also to obtain more precise data.
The dictionary of occupations was based on the uniform system of classification adopted in the international practice of accounting and statistics. We compiled a short alphabetical list of occupations most commonly found at present in order to facilitate the work of coding. Practice showed that the transition to new classifications is a very complex and labour-intensive process.
It should be pointed out in particular that the holding of the pilot census showed up the serious shortcomings in the dictionaries and allowed them to be taken into account in the preparation of reference material for coding during the general population census.
The pilot census carried out in Kantsky district less than half a year before the general census was a dress rehearsal for the full census and upon its completion all the necessary changes were made in the census documentation and organizational measures. As practice showed, it is sufficient under present circumstances to hold one pilot census as close as possible to the general census of the population and to carry out the necessary adjustments on the basis of its results.
From the results of the pilot population census, a review document entitled "Main lessons of the pilot population census", including organizational and meth-odological issues, was prepared for use in training census staff for the general census to be conducted. Specialists of the National Statistical Committee, on the basis of the materials of the pilot census, were able to process and issue the results for the necessary basic tables and breakdowns, which were comparable with the results of the 1989 census. Some of these tables were published in abridged form in the compilation "Main results of the pilot census of the population in
Kantsky district in October 1998".
For the first time, using the results of the pilot census, the State cartographic agency of the Republic has produced thematic colour wall maps, as well as this maps have been prepared for all publications with the results of general population census.
5. Publicity campaign
The successful conduct of the population census was greatly facilitated by good publicity.
The
National Statistical Committee adopted the tactic of pursuing an active information campaign through posters, advertisements, television broadcasts and a lottery draw with various prizes for participants in the census. Thus, television and radio newsreels on the conduct of the census were produced in Kyrgyz and
Russian and broadcast on the Republic's radio and television, Russian public television and commercial channels. Broadcasts devoted to the preparation and conduct of the census and features on the work of statistical bodies were systematically aired. Posters and leaflets addressed to the public were produced in large print runs. Billboards on the population census theme were put up in Bishkek and other cities.
The question of involving the public in the progress of the census was discussed during its preparation, since the difficult financial situation created the danger of numerous refusals. Here it should be pointed out in particular that the idea of holding a lottery draw on the basis of the questionnaires, as we know it is“Know – How” in the world practice. Bishkek administration held a lottery in Bishkek itself (aside from the Republic - wide lottery) and television repeatedly showed commercials to advertise the census and the lottery (one of the prizes was an apartment in the centre of Bishkek). The statistical problem of providing virtually complete coverage of the population was thereby resolved.
Great assistance was also provided in this effort by regional, district and urban State administrations.
More than 1,000 lecturers and speakers were chosen to address issues relating to the population census. All

census staff likewise took part in explaining the aims and purposes of the population census. Daily broadcasts on television and radio were, of course, of the greatest value.
In order to ensure the quality of the census material and observance of the time-frame for the census, the National Statistical Committee instituted strict monitoring of the progress of the population census. First of all, during the preliminary and supervisory inspection tours and census, an operations headquarters, including managers and the specialists of census departments and international cooperation staff, were established. These headquarters were granted exceptional powers. Similar headquarters were established in all regional, district and municipal statistical committees.
District, municipal and regional statistical committees were provided with up-to-date reports on the preparation, conduct, results and collation of materials of the first national population census, including information on the numbers of enumerators, on readiness for the census and its commencement on 24 March, as well as on its completion and the handing over of materials. In addition, the National Statistical
Committee arranged for all census departments, starting with supervisory units, to have a daily "population census screen" for the relevant area to be completed daily at the end of the day. As a result the National
Statistical Committee had information each day on the number of persons covered by the census in each region, in the city of Bishkek and in the Republic as a whole.
The data obtained were used to provide brief information for news broadcasts on radio and television, as well as for publication in the newspapers. Thus, for more than 10 days the census was the most important event in the public life of Kyrgyzstan. Moreover, people who had not been covered for one reason or another approached census units and asked to be counted in the census.
The public support which the census received from the President of the Kyrgyz Republic was especially important for the perception of the census as a national event and for motivating professional statisticians as well as local authorities and census staff. On the first day, in the early morning, the President was personally interviewed by an enumerator from the statistical committee of Bishkek, where he is a resident , and this marked the official beginning of the census. Afterwards, he spoke for 10 minutes to various television, radio and newspaper journalists, and delivered a speech on the significance of the census for the country's future. He publicly thanked the United Nations and the Government of Switzerland for their assistance. His supportive position underlined the political importance of the census and helped encourage staff working on the population census in general.
Particular attention should be drawn to the active participation in the census not only of staff of the population census division but also of senior managers, heads of sectional departments and other persons working for me National Statistical Committee.
They were given a special mandate signed by the State
Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic and Chairman of the National Commission on Population . All senior members of the National Statistical Committee were assigned specific regions and districts.
The same arrangement was made in all regional statistical committees. These measures naturally contributed to observance of the timetable for the census and ensured the quality of the materials obtained.
After the census, as in the case of the 1989 all-Union population census, an inspection tour was made to ensure fall coverage of the population. During the inspection tour in the capital (Bishkek), census points were opened at city markets and in educational institutions to interview persons whom it was difficult to enumerate by place of actual residence (those living in apartments, with relatives, etc.), where the heads of household were not interested in having a census conducted for fear of checks by the tax service, representatives of communal services, etc. In addition, by a decision of the census commission of the
National Statistical Committee, the inspection tour was extended in Bishkek city owing to the complexity of the area to be covered.
Census materials were received strictly according to schedule by the census staff. In district or municipal and regional statistical committees, census documentation was received according to the schedule established by decree for the relevant committee. The enormous preparatory work carried out on schedule made it possible to conduct the first national population census at a high organizational level.
6. Staffing
The National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic and its local bodies paid special attention to the recruitment and training of census staff at all levels. In the course of 1998 training was provided for the compilation of lists of homes and lists of rural settlements and the formulation of organizational plans for holding the census.

The pilot census in Kantsky district, held prior to the first national population census, also served as training for the staff of regional and district statistical offices. A total of 110 staff of statistical bodies at all levels took part in the census in Kantsky district and gained a large amount of technical experience from the holding of the census. This helped greatly in the conduct of the first national population census of the
Kyrgyz Republic, for which a very careful selection of enumerators and supervisors was made. After training these staff underwent special testing.
Within the first quarter of 1999 National Statistical Committee has conducted the next series of briefings of the workers of a republican and regional levels on conduct of population census. Then all of them have gone away in areas, districts and cities, fixed behind them. It has allowed successfully to conduct training (briefings) of the specialists of district (urban) statistical offices, heads of census divisions and their assistants. Simultaneously responsible workers of district (urban) State Administrations and local authorities have been trained with them.
Thereafter, specialists of National Statistical Committee and regional statistical offices executed the control behind training of the instructors - inspectors and enumerators.
The practice of previous population censuses showed that the time allocated for work on the population census to the deputy chairman of a district or municipal statistical committee (3.5 months) was completely inadequate.
The deputy chairman of the district or municipal statistical committee dealing with the population census should take a direct part in all stages of the preparation and conduct of the population census, and above all in such complex and labour-intensive work as the formulation of the district or municipal organizational plan, the selection. training and deployment of census staff and the choice of premises for their work . In this connection, the National Statistical Committee , taking account of international experience, decided to appoint deputy chairmen on the census in district and municipal statistical committees for II months beginning as early as the period of formulation of organizational plans for the conduct of the population census.
In addition, second deputies were designated from January 1999 for a period of six months in 16 districts and towns with a population of more than 100,000. They also took part in the examination of control forms, the submission of census materials to the regional statistical committees, the completion of files with census documentation and their delivery to the Main Computing Centre of the
National Statistical Committee for keying, coding and machine processing.
The practice of the pilot census showed that training for instructors or supervisors and enumerators has to be conducted in two stages. This arrangement markedly improved the quality of the training and selection of staff for the work involved.
Great attention was paid for census staff selection. Among them 75 per cent were employed in social sector and 25 per cent were unemployed. Their educational level is high.
Representatives of the United Nations, the statistical office of Switzerland and the statistical bodies of Mongolia noted especially that the enumerators consistently met present requirements, interviews were conducted by means of preliminary visits to households, and instructors and supervisors were very active in all enumerating departments.
7. Financial support
Financial support was an especially difficult problem in organizing the population census in
Kyrgyzstan . According to the original estimates, the cost of the census was put at $7 million. It was not possible to gather such a sum in the budget of our State. Consequently, the cost estimate was revised several times.
A total of $1.8
million was allocated from the republican budget for 1996-1999. Due to lack of funding, it was not possible to hold the pilot population census in the first quarter of 1997 and the method of processing the census materials was changed (instead of scanning, data entry had to be performed manually).
It proved necessary to reduce costs under literally all headings for material and technical supplies, transport, etc.
More than US$ 200,000 were allocated from local budgets during this same period and used for the compilation of addresses, production of carto'graphic materials, equipment and repair of offices for census units, transport expenses, public information activities and the training of census staff.
Timely and substantial support was given to us by international organizations.
The United Nations
Population Fund allocated $400,000, including more than $250,000 worth of computing equipment. The
Government of the Swiss Confederation allocated $82,000 for the pilot population census, then another
$200,000 for the general population census, to cover technical and methodological support for data processing. So, the census of one person in Kyrgyzstan was 55 cents.

8. Conclusions
During the preparation and conduct of the first population census in the Kyrgyz Republic, use was made of new organizational methods as “Know-How which contributed substantially to the success of the census and enable one to speak of a Kyrgyz model for census-taking.
1) A law on the census was passed and relevant decrees were adopted to provide a sound legal framework for the holding of the census.
2) The President of the Kyrgyz Republic repeatedly made statements and lent his personal support at all stages for the preparation and conduct of the census. On the first day, in the early morning, the President was personally interviewed by an enumerator from the statistical committee of Bishkek, where he is a resident , and this marked the official beginning of the census. Afterwards, he spoke to various television, radio and newspaper journalists, and delivered a speech on the significance of the census for the country's future.
3) A vast advertising campaign concerning the census was conducted on television, radio and in newspapers, including a direct television line where citizens could ask questions regarding the census and receive answers from the Chairman of the National Statistical Committee. For the first time, as far as we know, a lottery draw based on the questionnaire forms was held and people could win many valuable prizes
(one of the prizes was an apartment in the centre of Bishkek). This played an enormous role in involving the public in the census, and in fact only isolated individuals were not enumerated.
4) Following the pragmatic approach described above, the decision was taken to hold one pilot census. The pilot census, conducted half a year before the general census, was a dress rehearsal for the first national population census of the Kyrgyz Republic and was carried through to its logical conclusion, i.e. the results of the pilot census were processed and published, a bulletin with cartographic and tabular material was issued and census staff were given practical training.
5) Given the tight financial situation of the Republic's budget, optimum arrangements were made to combine financing of the census both from the Republic's budget and from local budgets and a great deal of work was carried out to attract the help of sponsors. For example, an international agreement was signed with the Government of Switzerland and funds were allocated to conduct the pilot census in Kantsky district, while technical and methodological assistance was provided for the general census; substantial support was also obtained from the United Nations Population Fund.
6) It should be noted that representatives of the United Nations and the statistical office of
Switzerland as well as the statistical bodies of Mongolia , Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, who visited our country during the pilot and general population census, gave a high assessment of the methodological and organizational preparation and conduct of the first national population census and wished our Republic success in processing the materials of the census and obtaining final results.
Main aspects of the First national population census of the Kyrgyz Republic are presented in this report.
All staff of National Statistical Committee expresses assurance that the census results will affect the growing population well-being in our country in the future.