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Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has completed a nationwide mapping exercise ahead of the December 2026 Population and Housing Census, marking a major step towards preparations for the country’s first digital population and housing census.
The milestone was highlighted on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in Freetown during a High-Level Joint Census Technical and Advisory Committee Meeting convened by Statistics Sierra Leone with technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and funding from the Governments of Iceland and Ireland.
The meeting reviewed the National Mapping Completion Report, which outlined extensive spatial coverage across the country, strengthened quality assurance processes and validated locality and structure data.
The completed mapping exercise is expected to provide the geographic foundation for the census enumeration by helping ensure that households, structures and localities are accurately identified and covered.
Accurate mapping is particularly important for reducing the risk of population groups or geographic areas being missed during enumeration.
The mapping data will also assist Statistics Sierra Leone in planning and deploying field teams, improving operational efficiency and supporting the production of reliable and comprehensive population data.
Participants also reviewed lessons from the recent Mock Census conducted in August 2026.
The exercise tested field procedures, digital tools and coordination mechanisms in selected areas of the country, providing an opportunity to identify operational challenges and assess the systems required for the main census.
The meeting considered the lessons from the exercise and identified priority actions aimed at strengthening preparedness ahead of the December enumeration.
UNFPA Representative in Sierra Leone, Mr Kunle Adeniyi, described investment in census data as a high-value investment for national development.
“Investing in census data is one of the highest-yield investments a nation and its partners can make,” Adeniyi said.
He noted that reliable population data provide an important foundation for tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and advancing national development priorities.
Adeniyi also called for the National Mapping Completion Report to be viewed as a roadmap towards a shared future where every individual is counted and every community is visible.
He stressed the importance of using reliable, timely and credible evidence to guide policy and investment decisions.
Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer of Statistics Sierra Leone, Mr Andrew Bob Johnny, said the mapping exercise had established an important geographic foundation for the census.
“The mapping exercise has provided a geographic foundation for the Census, helping us define enumeration areas, deploy field teams, supervise the exercise, and ensure that no household or community is left behind,” he said.
The mapping exercise is therefore expected to play a central role in organising the enumeration process and supporting effective supervision of field activities.
Representatives from civil society organisations and political parties who participated in the meeting welcomed the progress made and commended the inclusive and consultative approach taken during the census preparations.
They emphasised the importance of continued stakeholder engagement to strengthen confidence in the census process as the country moves towards the December enumeration.
The December 2026 Population and Housing Census will be Sierra Leone’s first digital population and housing census.
It will build on the completed cartographic mapping exercise, the August Mock Census and ongoing consultations with stakeholders.
The resulting population data are expected to support national planning, resource allocation and development programs over the coming decade.
