On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the College of Administration and Economics, University of Salahaddin-Erbil, hosted a specialized workshop on Iraq’s new population census system, focusing on cutting-edge mechanisms, emerging technologies, and advanced data analysis methodologies. The workshop explored how modern technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and advanced statistical techniques, contribute to enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of census data collection and analysis.

The workshop attracted a diverse audience, including faculty members, students, experts from the Department of Statistics, and stakeholders from Erbil. It served as a dynamic platform for discussion, allowing participants to engage in critical conversations on data collection challenges, technological advancements in census implementation, and their implications for national planning. Additionally, attendees explored strategies for leveraging census data in evidence-based policymaking, with a focus on urban development, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability planning.

The event was jointly organized by the College of Administration and Economics, the Erbil Statistics Department, and the Sard Organization for Society Support (SOSS). The workshop featured four distinguished speakers, who shared expert insights on various aspects of the census:

• Dr. Dilzar Hama Saleh Qadir, Head of the Erbil Statistics Department, discussed the strategic framework and implementation of Iraq’s new population census system.
• Ms. Vian Adeeb Mohammed Karim, Director of Geographic Information Systems at the Department of Statistics, presented on the role of GIS in the Iraqi Population and Housing Census.
• Dr. Rizgar Maghdid Ahmed, Professor of Statistics and Informatics at the University of Salahaddin, addressed the opportunities and challenges associated with utilizing the 2024 Iraq Population Census results.
• Dr. Delshad Shaker Butani, President of the Sard Organization for Society Support (SOSS), provided insights into demographic information derived from the census, based on data from the Iraqi Ministry of Planning.