The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says it is in the final stages of data validation for the 2022 Population and Housing Census and is on track to release the official population count by the end of September 2025.
Acting Director General, Leesha Delatie-Budair, confirmed the timeline during STATIN’s virtual Economic Statistics Media Stakeholders Meeting on Thursday, July 3. She noted, “We are currently in our final stages of data validation,” in response to a question about census progress.
The Population and Housing Census, conducted every 10 years, is a critical data source that provides benchmark estimates of the country’s population and detailed demographic and socio-economic indicators. These figures play a key role in policy planning and decision-making for both government and private sector stakeholders.
Originally scheduled for 2021, the census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection officially began in September 2022 and was initially projected to last four months. However, fieldwork was extended due to various delays.
In the meantime, STATIN also announced the official adoption of the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA), the latest internationally recognised standard for compiling national economic data. The SNA provides a comprehensive framework for measuring macroeconomic performance and is used by countries worldwide to standardise the reporting of economic statistics.
First adopted in 1953, the SNA was developed by the United Nations and other international statistical agencies. It was last revised in 1993 before the 2008 update.
The adoption of the new framework aligns Jamaica’s statistical reporting with global best practices, ensuring consistency, comparability, and accuracy in economic performance evaluations.
