The National Statistical Office mandatory domain lingers in the space of data which ultimately ends up as a powerful tool for development planning, investment and policy decision making, effective resource allocation and governance as well as tracking our development progress and envisage our future. Thats from the National Statistician Mr John Aseavu Igitoi. “Data is the only window through which we can look ahead and plan with confidence.” “The importance of having reliable population data for PNG cannot be overstated,” said Mr Igitoi. Igitoi added that without accurate population figures, all planning and programs risk being ineffective or futile given that the last census took place over a decade ago. This supplemented by limited population census surveys, and with growing demand for data to support evidence-based planning, electoral reviews, the development of the Medium Term Development plan, monitoring progress towards PNG Vision 2050, the Sustainable Development Goals and various sectoral plans, it is crucial for PNG to obtain up to date population data that serves multiple purposes. “Primary goal of the census is to accurately count all individuals in Papua New Guineas, encompassing men, women, children, newborns, the elderly, homeless, prisoners, and those with disabilities residing in all corners of this country.” “It is designed to capture the size, the composition and the distribution of the country’s population.” Igitoi highlighted that the 4th Census was in 2011 and 7.3million people were counted, however it is now over 13 years without proper stock of the population being taken so the question now is what the population number is now, and this question must be put to rest in this round of census. “Our strategy to conduct the Census has been always the face-to-face interview whereby interviewers recruited and trained will interview the heads of households as the main respondents.” In this round of Census, National Statistic Office (NSO) will use tablets to collect census data from respondents in a large-scale statistical operation since NSO started collecting census data for the country. This strategy will greatly reduce statistical processing time and improve data quality. “The provincial Administrations and the Local Level Government will play a crucial role in the census, they are the link between the field officers and the NSO, therefore support from the Provincial Administrations is highly needed,” said Igitoi. Mr Igitoi further assures the country that NSO has a very committed Census Team that is supported by UNFPA, US Census Bureau, Australian Government, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. “We ask for everyone’s support and cooperation because Census is about every one of us, you and me and you must be counted in order for you to be in the records of the Government and place yourselves in the development picture.” Igitoi further added that the National Government and the sub- national government must know it population size, sex and composition in each of the districts and LLGs in order to build the right number of classrooms and clinic, train enough teachers, nurses and midwives, procure the right number of drugs for our health facilities, connect everyone with air, sea and land transport, communication and electricity networks and so on. “Your numbers are very important, so you need to Be Counted this 2024 National Census.”