Cuba is preparing to conduct a new Population and Housing Census, the first in twelve years.
The National Statistics and Information Office (ONEI) is leading the process, which is already advancing in its initial phase known as pre-registration or presensus. This step seeks to update information on housing, real estate and workplaces throughout the country.
In a report Sergio Chirino, director of ONEI in Havana, explained that this stage does not require sensitive data or official documents. Surveyors will only collect general information such as the number of people per dwelling and the type of property. If the residents are not present, neighbors or relatives could collaborate to complete the questionnaire.
After pre-registration, a trial census will be conducted in the municipality of Santa Cruz del Norte, in the province of Mayabeque. The exact date of the national census will be announced later. According to Chirino, the census is the most important and costly statistical research carried out by the country and depends to a great extent on citizen collaboration.
The last national census was conducted in 2012. Since then, Cuba's social and economic situation has changed significantly. At the close of 2024, ONEI reported an official population of 9,748,532 inhabitants. However, independent studies estimate that the real figure could be only 8,025,624 people. This would reflect a drop of almost 24 % in just four years, largely due to sustained migration.
The new census will make it possible to update the country's demographic data and better understand the current situation of the population and their living conditions.