FORWARD

The socio-economic development initiated through Five Year Plans have propelled Bhutan into an era of modernization, socio-economic growth, prosperity and happiness. Bhutan is now on the threshold of the 10th Five Year Plan due to begin from 2007. And as the country gears up for yet another multitude of socio-economic development planning and programmes ahead, His Majesty the King has emphasized the importance of balanced development through practical and sustainable decision making based on reliable statistical data.

With the rapid socio-economic progress of the country, planning and decision making have also become equally complex and difficult and this has resulted in the increasing need for timely and reliable statistical data and information. The country's information base, however, remained relatively weak due to the lack of reliable database, mainly the population and housing data, on which most of our socio-economic indicators depend upon.

Data collection activities of some form or the other have existed for a long time in Bhutan. However, the data collected through this system did not conform to international standards and definitions, e.g. population, where everyone, regardless of nationality, living within the geographical boundaries of a country at a certain time period is included in its population.

With this urgent need in mind, the Population and Housing Census of Bhutan (PHCB-2005) was undertaken in May 2005. The Office of the Census Commissioner (OCC), have carried out a systematic collection of population and socio-economic data through a nationwide population and housing census. Over 7500 trained census enumerators were employed to carry out the data collection through out the country. The census was completed within two days.

I am happy to state that whole process, right from the planning to data collection and processing and preparation of the reports, has been carried out successfully by national staff. Another unique feature in this census is the use of the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology where every structure and housing unit has been mapped by using the Global Positioning System (GPS). In fact, we are the second country in the world after East Timor to use GPS for every structure.

Over the months the staff of the Office of the Census Commissioner worked round the clock to compile and analyze data and produce information in form of a comprehensive population and housing census report and prepare the census atlas. This census atlas,

consisting of a number of socio-economic indicators, mapped to the lowest administrative level of a Gewog, display information that will enable policy makers and planners to understand population and other social indicators at a single glance.

It is also for the first time in the history of Bhutan such a large scale and comprehensive data collection has been undertaken. A great deal of energy, diligence, manpower expertise, money and time have been put together to make the data collection exercise systematic and as authentic as possible and in conforming to international standards. It is hoped that the population data and socio-economic indicators of the PHCB-2005, will provide the basis for evaluating the current development situation, monitoring progress and directing the future course of formulating policies and plans.

Besides giving the total count of the people and housing characteristics, the census data will provide reliable sampling frames to the statisticians and also make it possible for the planners to develop more focused and realistic plans.

I am sure that the result of this population and housing census will be of immense use to the people working at all levels of administrations and policy making, planning and development practitioners, students and researchers and the general public both within and outside the country.

I would like to put on record that the smooth and successful undertaking of such a gigantic task is the result of the dedicated leadership and management provided by the Census Commissioner with full support from his technically sound and hardworking staff. Although it is not possible for me to mention individually all the people who contributed to the success of this undertaking, I would like to, on behalf of the Royal Government and the people of Bhutan, thank the United Nation Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) for all the support they have provided. I would also like to thank all the ministries, departments and agencies that have rendered full cooperation and support to this exercise and I am confident that such cooperation will be forthcoming in similar undertaking of the Government in the future. Last, but not the least, I would like to thank the Dzongkhags, the Thromdes and the public at large for the enthusiasm and the cooperation they have rendered for the very successful and result oriented Population and Housing Census of Bhutan 2005.

Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley
Chairman, National Census Committee
Royal Government of Bhutan