The 4th National Census for Population and Housing was launched at 12:01 A.M. Wednesday and will continue until May 12. During this period, census officials will visit households to collect data that defines the demographic, social and economic status of the nation's population. Around 35,000 enumerators and a staff of 10,000 census officials that include supervisors and inspectors have been deployed throughout the country to carry out the national census. Data collectors from the Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI) Tuesday midnight visited areas frequented by travelers, said Abdullatif I. Al-Khamees, Head of Media Center, CDSI, Ministry of Economy and Planning. Al-Khamees said the CDSI officials were monitoring the launch of the huge census operation by establishing contacts with supervisors in each province of the country. He said the enumerators led by area inspectors visited the country's airports and seaports, entry points for pilgrims coming for Umrah, the Two Holy Cities of Makkah and Madina and the Meeqat. Enumerators started counting travelers at seaports, such as Jeddah Islamic Port and those in the Eastern Province and Tabuk, and airports, such as King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah and King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, as well as other seaports and airports in the country, Al-Khamees said. The idea is to cover the population of travelers, pilgrims or visitors present within the Kingdom's boundaries, including both Saudi citizens and foreigners, he said. He added that census officials have also visited the Meeqat in Makkah and Madina to compile data on pilgrims. Other areas covered by census officials include hospitals and prisons across the country, he said. A ceremony under the patronage of Khaled Bin Mohammed Al-Gosaibi, Minister of Economy and Planning, was organized at CDSI premises to mark the launch of the national census Tuesday night. Meanwhile Abdul Rahman Al-Thumairi, director of the National Census for Population and Housing in the Eastern Province, said that 7,000 enumerators are working with the census this year in the province. At a press conference Monday, Al-Thumairi requested all residents to cooperate with the visiting enumerators in order to make the national census a great success, stressing that data presented to census officials is always confidential. He said that enumerators will normally approach family residences from 5 P.M. to 9.30 PM in order to fill out a 59
