Iraq to hold first nationwide census since 1987

FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the city of Baghdad, Iraq May 3, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will begin its first full national census in more than three decades on Wednesday, a pivotal moment as it looks to gather demographic data for future planning and development.

The census, the first full one since Saddam Hussein was President in 1987, aims to provide a comprehensive count of Iraq's population, estimated to exceed 43 million people by the end of 2024, said Iraq's planning ministry spokesperson Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi.