Periodicity of Population Censuses

Population and housing census is conducted at regular intervals:

• Every ten years, and it's called the decennial census.

• Every five years, and it's called the quinquennial census.

 Most countries of the world conduct their population census every 10 years.

Conducting censuses at regular intervals can provide a wealth of information. One census gives information a certain population at one point in time, whereas comparing data at 2 points in time allows the study of the levels and trends of population growth and perform population.

The Gulf cooperation Council of Arab States (GCC) agreed to unify the census technical basis and the schedules of holding them. An agreement has been reached to conduct the first simultaneous census of population and housing in all GCC States in 2010 in accordance with the unified basis.