Official preparations are underway for the national Population and Housing Census of Bhutan (PHCB) 2027, a landmark national exercise that will become the country’s first fully digital census, marking a major shift from traditional paper-based data collection to a modern technology-driven approach.
The National Statistics Bureau (NSB), the lead agency responsible for conducting the census, has initiated a series of technical and operational activities aimed at laying the foundation for a comprehensive, accurate and inclusive enumeration process.
The 2027 census will adopt a Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system, enabling enumerators to collect data electronically using digital devices rather than paper questionnaires. Officials say the transition is expected to improve data quality, reduce processing time and enhance the overall efficiency of census operations.
As preparations gather momentum, the NSB is working closely with development partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to strengthen planning, methodology and institutional readiness for the nationwide exercise.
According to officials, preparatory activities currently underway include technical planning workshops, methodological reviews, stakeholder consultations and capacity-building initiatives designed to ensure that the census meets international standards while responding to Bhutan’s national development needs.
One of the key milestones in the preparatory process was the first PHCB 2027 Questionnaire Consultation Workshop, convened by the NSB in April this year.
The workshop brought together policymakers, researchers, technical experts and representatives from government agencies to review and develop the census questionnaire that will form the basis of data collection.
Participants included representatives from the National Land Commission Secretariat, Centre for Bhutan Studies, National Assembly, National Council, Ministry of Health, and several other institutions.
The consultative process is intended to ensure that the census captures information that will be relevant for policy formulation, development planning and evidence-based decision-making over the coming decade.
The population and housing census is regarded as one of the most important statistical exercises undertaken by any country, providing critical information on population size, demographic characteristics, migration trends, housing conditions, employment patterns, and socio-economic conditions.
The data generated will help policymakers better understand changing population dynamics, urbanization trends, internal and international migration patterns, household characteristics and emerging development challenges.
The findings will also support monitoring of national development priorities, including the objectives of the 13th Five-Year Plan, while contributing to the measurement of progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments.
To support Bhutan’s transition to a digital census, UNFPA has been facilitating knowledge-sharing and technical exchanges with countries that have already implemented CAPI-based census systems.
Bhutan has been drawing lessons from regional experiences, including recent digital census operations conducted in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, allowing technical teams to better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with digital enumeration.
In addition, UNFPA is expected to facilitate further knowledge-sharing with India’s Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (ORGI), which is preparing to conduct its own first CAPI-based census.
Officials believe these regional partnerships will provide valuable practical insights and technical expertise as Bhutan advances its preparations.
The shift to a digital census is expected to deliver several advantages, including faster data processing, improved accuracy, reduced manual errors and more timely dissemination of census results.
Digital data collection will also enable better monitoring of field operations and improve the quality assurance mechanisms required for a national exercise of this scale.
However, authorities acknowledge that successfully implementing the country’s first digital census will require careful planning, extensive training and close coordination among government agencies, development partners and local communities.
The NSB emphasized that ensuring a census that is credible, inclusive and impactful will depend on sustained collaboration throughout the preparation and implementation phases.
Over the coming months, additional consultations, technical workshops, training programmes and public awareness campaigns are expected to be conducted across the country. Officials say these efforts will help build institutional readiness while ensuring that citizens understand the importance of participating in the census.
Tashi Namgyal, Thimphu
