BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

The Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census is the second post-independence census, the first one having been undertaken in 1991. The census was undertaken in accordance with the Statistics Act of 1976. Cabinet authorised the National Planning Commission Secretariat to undertake the Population and Housing Census in 2001. Under powers vested in the President by Section 3(2) of the Statistics Act (Act No. 66 of 1976), His Excellency Dr. Sam Nujoma determined that a census of population and housing of the Republic of Namibia should be taken on the 27^th August 2001. This determination of the date for census taking was issued in the form of Government Notice by order of the President-in-Cabinet and duly gazetted under the Government Gazette No. 2597 of 2001.

Census Objectives

The main objectives of the census are to:

	Provide an objective and adequate statistical basis for overall social and economic planning
	Provide an adequate statistical basis for measuring the size and growth of the population
	Determine the structure and composition of our population by age, sex, region and other socio-economic characteristics
	Provide a basis for estimating basic demographic characteristics, which include, among others, the levels of fertility and mortality, not only at national and regional levels, but also for specific population sub-groups
	Make it possible to estimate future population trends through population projections
	Provide information for updating the Electoral Register
	Provide information for the delineation of Regional as well as Constituency boundaries
	Serves as a database for up-dating the Frame for the National Master Sample

Census Preparation

Preparation for the 2001 Population and Housing Census commenced in 1999 when the draft Census Project Document was prepared and approved by the Cabinet.

The census pre-enumeration activities were then put in place. These included, among others, the establishment of the various census committees, the procurement of equipment and materials, geographic demarcation of the country, preparation of the various census materials, including questionnaires, manuals and census publicity.