Ajloun, June 8 (Petra) — Department of Statistics (DoS) Director
General Haidar Freihat said the 2026 General Population and Housing
Census is a major national project that will provide accurate data
and indicators to guide public policy, set development priorities,
direct investments, and improve services across sectors.

Freihat made the remarks Monday during a meeting with members of
Ajloun Governorate’s Executive Council, attended by Ajloun Governor
Nayef Hdayat and members of the Governorate Council. The meeting was
part of a series of coordination sessions held by the DoS to enhance
readiness for the 2026 census.

Freihat said the actual census count will begin on October 1, with
around 10,000 male and female teachers from the Ministry of Education
to take part in this phase.

He reviewed progress in the current listing phase, saying completion
rates nationwide have reached 67.8 percent for buildings and 68.2
percent for residential blocks, while 21 percent of households have
expressed interest in using the self-enumeration service.

Freihat urged the public to use the self-enumeration mechanism, which
he said saves time and effort and is being introduced for the first
time in Jordan’s census history.

He said fieldwork is proceeding according to the set timetable and in
cooperation with authorities in the governorate.

Freihat stressed that the census requires a genuine partnership among
all stakeholders, calling on citizens to cooperate with field
researchers and provide accurate data to ensure high-quality and
reliable results.

He affirmed that all collected data is subject to the highest levels
of confidentiality and privacy, protected by law, and may be accessed
or used only for statistical purposes. No individual or personal
information will be published under any circumstances.

Freihat said citizens can easily verify the identity of field
researchers, as each carries an official identification card with a
QR code that can be scanned to confirm their information. Field
researchers also wear vests bearing the census logo.

For his part, Hdayat said the governorate will place all its
resources at the service of the national project and provide the
necessary support and facilitation to ensure the success of census
work in Ajloun.

He stressed the importance of cooperation by local authorities and
citizens with census teams, saying the census is a key foundation for
future development planning and that its results will help improve
the distribution of services and development projects according to
the needs of governorates, districts, and local communities.

//Petra// AO