The Cuban government has officially announced that the Population and Housing Census will take place in 2025, as confirmed by officials from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). According to a report in the official newspaper Granma this week, most provinces are nearing completion of preparatory seminars, which are crucial for the pre-registration phase of the census.
Henry González Galbán, director of the Population and Development Studies Center at ONEI, provided this information, stating that the software application needed for the process is already prepared. However, he acknowledged that many municipalities still face technological challenges, such as the lack of wifi connectivity on desktop computers that enumerators will use. He assured that this issue is expected to be resolved soon.
For the first time, approximately 3,800 social workers will be actively involved in the census process. Additionally, georeferencing tools and a microinformatics platform will be utilized to enhance data collection. The questionnaire will comprise 18 questions concerning housing and 23 concerning individuals, as detailed by provincial authorities in Ciego de Ávila, noted Granma.
In March, the Cuban News Agency reminded that the census was initially scheduled for 2022 but was postponed due to the pandemic's impact and the country's structural challenges. González outlined that the census will proceed in three phases: Preliminary Registration, Census Rehearsal, and finally, the Census Enumeration, with results anticipated ten months post-completion.
Last year, the Cuban government announced the census delay to 2025, citing economic constraints as a prohibitive factor. Originally slated for 2022, the island's severe economic crisis forced a postponement, as explained by the government. Official sources admitted to international media about the economic strain on ONEI but asserted that the Cuban state maintains "very strong records."
Despite the absence of a recent census, the regime acknowledged an unprecedented demographic crisis: in 2024, Cuba's population decreased by over 300,000, recording its lowest birth rate in decades. These figures underscore an accelerated population decline exacerbated by economic hardship, massive emigration, and an aging populace.
Conversely, an independent demographic study highlighted an alarming reduction in Cuba's resident population over recent years, now below eight million. This represents a 24% drop within just four years, a statistic the study's author likens to wartime scenarios.
The study, conducted by esteemed Cuban economist and demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos and accessed by EFE, estimates that by the end of 2024, the island's population was 8,025,624, significantly less than the official Cuban statistics of 9,748,532.
Key Aspects of Cuba's Upcoming Census
Why was the Cuban census postponed to 2025?
The census was delayed due to the economic crisis in Cuba and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered the country's ability to conduct the census as originally planned in 2022.
What new technologies will be used in the 2025 Cuban census?
The 2025 census will incorporate georeferencing tools and a microinformatics platform to improve data collection and statistical value.
How has Cuba's population changed in recent years?
Cuba's population has significantly decreased in recent years, with a decline of over 300,000 people in 2024, reaching its lowest birth rate in decades.