Censuses form the cornerstone of national statistical systems. They are a critical accelerator for the Sustainable Development Goals, providing the demographic intelligence needed to realize rights and choices for all.
As the global leader in census support, UNFPA assisted about 160 countries during the 2020 census round (2015–2024). This support ensures that every person is counted and accounted for, everywhere.
This independent evaluation assesses UNFPA’s strategic positioning, effectiveness, capacity, and partnerships for census support during the 2020 round. Providing a critical analysis of UNFPA’s performance, the evaluation offers strategic recommendations and a roadmap for the future to help the organization refine and elevate its engagement for the upcoming 2030 census round.
The evaluation found that UNFPA’s census support remained effective even as internal prioritization decreased and resources tightened. While UNFPA facilitates high-quality demographic data and analysis, this technical success has not consistently translated into data-driven national policies.
Furthermore, UNFPA lacks the formal institutional architecture to turn census expertise into consistent action globally, often dependent on individual initiative rather than robust organizational systems. This reliance on a small, overstretched pool of experts is unsustainable as census methodologies grow more complex.
The evaluation recommends that UNFPA establish a comprehensive operational framework to reinstate census support as a core priority, fully integrated within its broader work on demographic resilience. This involves reimagining the institutional architecture to meet evolving country needs through enhanced coordination, expanded global partnerships, more efficient regional support models and stronger knowledge management. Furthermore, it requires structured mechanisms to build internal capacity and source external expertise.
