By: Mohamed J. Bangura
Statistics Sierra Leone has commenced a 12-day nationwide training programme for supervisors and field enumerators as preparations intensify for the 2026 Population and Housing Census, the country’s first fully digital census.
The training began on Monday, 9 November 2026, and is being conducted simultaneously across all 16 districts. A total of 296 venues and 488 training halls have been designated to facilitate the exercise nationwide.
The programme is designed to equip supervisors and field enumerators with the technical knowledge, practical skills and operational understanding required to conduct the census effectively and ensure the collection of accurate and reliable population and housing data.
The training marks a significant milestone in preparations for the December census, which will involve thousands of personnel gathering information from households and communities across Sierra Leone.
As the country’s first fully digital census, the 2026 exercise represents an important step towards modernizing Sierra Leone’s national statistical system. The adoption of digital technology is expected to improve data collection, minimize errors, enhance operational efficiency and strengthen the accuracy and reliability of census information.
The main enumeration exercise is scheduled to begin on 2 December and continue until 16 December 2026, following Census Night on 1 December.
Ahead of the main enumeration, house-listing activities will be conducted nationwide from 23 to 28 November 2026. This exercise will involve identifying and listing houses and other residential structures to ensure proper planning and effective coverage during the census.
House listing is a critical preparatory activity that will help establish information on residential structures and ensure that households are properly identified and included in the main enumeration.
The deployment of 296 training venues and 488 training halls reflects the scale of the logistical arrangements being made to prepare census personnel across the country.
By conducting the training simultaneously in all 16 districts, Statistics Sierra Leone aims to ensure that supervisors and enumerators are adequately prepared to carry out their responsibilities in urban, rural and hard-to-reach communities.
The training will also strengthen field personnel’s ability to follow established census procedures, engage households professionally and collect information accurately during the enumeration period.
The 2026 Population and Housing Census is expected to provide essential information on Sierra Leone’s population size, distribution, demographic characteristics and housing conditions.
The resulting data will serve as an important foundation for national development planning, policymaking and resource allocation. Government institutions, development partners, researchers and other stakeholders will rely on the information to identify population needs and guide investments in critical sectors, including education, healthcare, housing, water and sanitation.
Reliable population data will also enable the Government to better understand the distribution of people across the country and make informed decisions on public services, infrastructure development and other national priorities.
With the commencement of the 12-day nationwide training, Statistics Sierra Leone has taken another step towards delivering the country’s first fully digital Population and Housing Census in December.
The successful implementation of the exercise is expected to strengthen the country’s statistical capacity and provide reliable data to support evidence-based decision-making and sustainable national development.