2026 Census Budget Rises From $7 Million to Nearly $60 Million – Stats SL Boss Andrew Johnny
Sahid Bangura Sierra Leone’s 2026 Population and Housing Census budget has increased from an initial estimate of US$7 million to nearly US$60 million, according to Statistics Sierra Leone official Andrew Bob Johnny.
Johnny disclosed the revised cost during an event marking the 50-day countdown to the 2026 Population and Housing Census at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown, organised by Statistics Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
He explained that the initial budget was prepared before the nationwide cartographic mapping exercise, which helped establish the scale of the census and determine the resources required to carry out field operations.
According to Johnny, the revised budget covers the entire census process, including enumeration, data collection and the dissemination of results.
Funding for the national exercise is expected to come from the Government of Sierra Leone, international development partners, donors and private-sector contributions.
The 50-day countdown event also highlighted ongoing preparations for the census and the need to raise public awareness and encourage widespread participation to support the successful implementation of the national exercise.
