18 November 2010
Statistics play a major part in development work. With accurate, up-to-date figures, governments and donors can see the scale of needs across a country. This African Statistics Day, 18 November 2010, we look at how UKaid is helping Zambia to improve its breadth of statistical information with a new national census.
Talking to Zambia's families
Mary Mupeta is 33 years old and lives on a compound in Ndola, Zambia's Copperbelt province. She looks after her nine children during the day while her husband goes out to work.
Mary and all of her nine children have been included in the new Zambian census
Emeliyah Mwalusaka is 66 years old and lives in Chongwe District with her two sons and grandson in the rural outskirts of Zambia's capital Lusaka. Since her husband passed away, Emeliyah has engaged in small-scale farming and building work to support her family.
Two weeks ago both families confirmed facts just like these for Zambia's 2010 population and housing census. Although they might not realise it, giving accurate information about where they live, their family size, and how many of their children go to school is really important for the Government of Zambia.
Seeing the population more clearly
With help from the UK Government, data collected from families like Mary's and Emeliyah's will be brought together to form an important snap shot of the Zambian population.
These statistics will paint a clearer picture of where vital services such as health care, schools and sanitation are needed. This in turn allows the Zambian government to plan improvements more effectively and target development programmes at those who need them the most.
But it's not just about allocating services - numbers like these can help decide the very future of a country. In Sudan, the 2008 census has provided essential information to identify how many Southern Sudanese will be eligible to vote in the referendum on seccession this coming January.
Incorrect data halts progress
Zambia last conducted a census in 2000, meaning most of the estimates on population size, age and where people live are now well out of date. With no real idea of how its population is living it has been difficult for the Government of Zambia to improve the lives of people like Mary and Emeliyah.
For example, eight of Mary's children are under the age of ten and so would not have been included in the last population count. Poor population projections made from the 2000 census have also led to inaccurate estimates.
When used with new statistics to track Zambia's progress, inaccurate population estimates can create confusing and impossible figures. For the last three years, net primary school enrolment and child immunisation rates have been reported at above 100% when based on estimates from the 2000 census.
Information is power
Data collected from the 2010 census will go further than simply righting the wrongs of 2000. For the first time there will be new data collected on indicators such as the number of women that die as a result of childbirth.
Previously Zambia has had to rely on estimates based on a relatively small number of households. This year, census officials are using bicycles to reach more than three million households in four weeks. By collecting data from every single household, the country will be able to know which areas have the highest rate of death as a result of childbirth and the true level of maternal mortality in Zambia.
This information will help the Zambian Government target interventions on maternal health as well as illustrating to donors like the UK where their support is needed.
Stats and facts
- The UK Government is providing £2.25 million to support Zambia's 2010 Population and Housing Census in 2010 - 2011 and is reviewing continued support for the next two years.
- Support from UKaid will help to provide census materials (questionnaires, pencils, etc) and technical assistance to support the Central Statistical Office to analyse the data.
- The population of Zambia is currently recorded as 13 million with half under the age of 15 years old.
- 59% of the population lives below the national poverty line.
- One in nine children dies before the age of five years.
- For every 100,000 babies born, 590 women die in childbirth.