Guinea-Bissau Launches First Census in 15 Years
Guinea-Bissau has officially launched its first general population and housing census in 15 years, with transitional President General Horta Inta-a urging citizens to put aside political differences and participate “massively” in the data collection effort.
The census, which began on Saturday, is the fourth in the nation’s history. It comes at a critical time for the West African nation, which has been under transitional military rule since a coup d’état on November 26, 2025. General Inta-a, appointed by the Military High Command, was the first citizen to be registered by enumerators.
“Not a Political Exercise”
In a broadcast addressed to the nation, General Inta-a emphasized that the census is a matter of national governance rather than partisan maneuvering. “I appeal to all citizens of Guinea-Bissau to register,” he urged. “This is not for partisan political purposes. Let us set political issues aside. We should dedicate one day to answering the enumerators’ questions.”
The President argued that accurate data is essential for leadership. He stated that as the head of the transitional government, he needs to know exactly “how many people are under his responsibility” to govern effectively.
A Long-Overdue Count
The last time Guinea-Bissau conducted a census was in 2009. While international standards recommend a population count every ten years, technical and financial hurdles delayed the 2019 cycle. Transitional Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té, speaking at the official launch in Bissau, noted that the current exercise is vital for the country’s development.
“Everything in Guinea-Bissau is currently mixed with politics,” Té said, reinforcement the President’s message. “This census has nothing to do with parties. The data collected will be used by all the country’s future governments.”
The Prime Minister also addressed the public in Creole, assuring citizens that the country remains “calm and on a good path” thanks to ongoing cooperation with international allies.
International Funding and Demographic Estimates
The census, which will run through June 21, is heavily supported by the international community. The World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) provided the bulk of the $19 million (€17.5 million) required to fund the operation.
Roberto Vieira, president of the National Institute of Statistics (INE), said the project will finally clarify not just the size of the population, but the living conditions and geographic distribution of the Guinean people. Current World Bank estimates place Guinea-Bissau’s population at approximately 2.2 million, with an annual growth rate of 2.2%.
Despite the domestic push for transparency through the census, media freedom in the country remains under pressure. The Lusa news agency continues to monitor the situation remotely following the government’s expulsion of Portuguese media representatives in August.
Image: Pexels – Pok Rie
