Their complaints come after an official from the Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI) said the fourth National Census for Population and Housing ended “satisfactorily” on Wednesday.
“We thank all the Saudi nationals and expatriates who cooperated with the enumerators during the month long census,” said the CDSI’s head of media Abdullatif I. Al-Khamees. Al-Khamees said that the CDSI would examine the data gathered by the enumerators and after checking their accuracy, submit the statistics to the department’s office in Riyadh on May 20.
However, there are certain to be doubts about the accuracy of those figures based on the residents’ complaints. “I received a paper on my door letting me know when the enumerator would visit my house. I made sure I was at home to receive them. But still he did not come, or the day after, or the day after that,” said one Jeddah resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Al-Khamees conceded that the enumerators had encountered various problems. However, he said they solved these on their own or consulted authorities. One common problem that enumerators experienced was when occupants were not at home when they visited. Those who were out of the country while the census was being carried out are being urged to call the different census centers in the Kingdom.
“The census is very important. We urge them to call us so we can update figures on the population of the Kingdom and other relevant data,” he said. Al-Khamees said that they could call the field operations center in Riyadh toll free on 800-124-0440, or they may call CDSI centers in each of the Kingdom’s 13 provinces.
He added that illegal residents in particular would not have to fear being arrested, as they would only have to give information over the phone such as their names, occupation, age and education, among others.
Al-Khamees said enumerators experienced several cases of illegal residents hiding when they visited their homes, despite assurances that they would not even be asked to show their iqamas except in cases when they could not answer in English.
"The iqamas were required just to verify their identities and nothing else. Otherwise, the enumerators did not ask for them if the workers could answer questions satisfactorily in English," he said.
Those not interviewed because they did not know about the census can also call any of the centers.
The Saudi population as of 2009 was 28,686,633. Of this number, 5,576,076 were expatriates.
Saudi Arabia conducted the census along with other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as part of an agreement endorsed by the GCC Supreme Council.
Those in Riyadh may call (01) 4038906; Makkah, (02) 5584641; Jeddah, (02) 6658683; Taif, (02) 7463256; Madinah, (04) 8315792; Qassim, (06) 3269115; Eastern Province, (03) 8050441; Ahsa,(03) 5811987; Asir, (07) 2277300; Tabuk, (04) 4249858; Hail, (06) 5415770; Northern Region, (04) 7725131; Jazan, (07) 3217855; Najran, (07) 5230008; Al-Baha, (07) 7270619; and Al-Jouf, (04) 6267601.
