Maldives Bureau of Statistics has announced that a census eill be taken on 17 September 2021 to gather statistics on the population and economic status.

Speaking at a press conference held by the Bureau today, the Head of Population and Social Statistics, Fathimath Riyaaza said that the clerical preparations for the census are already underway. She said that the biggest part of the preparation would be establishing the questionnaire and it would be done after meeting the public.

Riyaaza said that next year's census would be taken in person and all the answers would be collected all together. And a pilot program would be conducted in March to test the procedures.

The Statistics Bureau said that over 4,000 staff would be required for the census with over 2,000 alone for the Male' City. And after taking a census of population, household and economy, the data will be announced in October 2021.

A nationwide census is taken every ten years in the Maldives however, this would be the first time data would be collected on the economic front as well.