ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/SD/2019/TP.5
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Working papers
Cluster: Statistics, Information Society and Technology
Focus Area: Inclusive development, Statistics
Initiatives: Population & Housing Censuses
SDGs: Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords: Arab countries, Housing censuses, Population, Statistics
Using Internet Self-Enumeration in Population and Housing Censuses: Challenges, Opportunities and Best Practices
January 2019
This paper examines the development of smart applications to collect data using most of the devices used for the Internet, such as a laptop, tablets, smart phones, etc., through the contact and communication strategy for a successful use of those methods. The paper also addresses the importance to have available electronic methods for data protection by encrypting and protecting the data before sending it to a database. Moreover, the paper concluded with a series of recommendations, the most important of which is that the use of this method to be incorporated in the census implementation methodology based on multiple sources of data. Finally, this paper is expected to contribute in assisting the Arab countries in making decisions regarding the use of the Internet in collecting census data.
Experiences related to the 2010 round of population and housing censuses in many countries of the world in general, and in the countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in particular, have proven that the use of the Internet to collect population and housing census data is an effective and significant method for cost savings, and has led to improvement in data quality with its Geographical and spatial disaggregation exceeding that of other data collection methods. (survey carried out by the European Commission in 2013). Despite the many advantages that this methodology provides in reducing costs, privacy, reducing response burden and high data quality, there are some challenges that must be faced such as the presence of the appropriate environment and technological infrastructure, securing legal coverage and maintaining the confidentiality of personal data, and protecting the database from risk Intrusive hackers.
Related content
Inclusive development
, Statistics
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This paper examines the development of smart applications to collect data using most of the devices used for the Internet, such as a laptop, tablets, smart phones, etc., through the contact and communication strategy for a successful use of those methods. The paper also addresses the importance to have available electronic methods for data protection by encrypting and protecting the data before sending it to a database. Moreover, the paper concluded with a series of recommendations, the most important of which is that the use of this method to be incorporated in the census implementation methodology based on multiple sources of data. Finally, this paper is expected to contribute in assisting the Arab countries in making decisions regarding the use of the Internet in collecting census data.
Experiences related to the 2010 round of population and housing censuses in many countries of the world in general, and in the countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in particular, have proven that the use of the Internet to collect population and housing census data is an effective and significant method for cost savings, and has led to improvement in data quality with its Geographical and spatial disaggregation exceeding that of other data collection methods. (survey carried out by the European Commission in 2013). Despite the many advantages that this methodology provides in reducing costs, privacy, reducing response burden and high data quality, there are some challenges that must be faced such as the presence of the appropriate environment and technological infrastructure, securing legal coverage and maintaining the confidentiality of personal data, and protecting the database from risk Intrusive hackers.
