Census officials attend a training​ session on the Post-Enumeration Survey.

Follow-up survey planned to ensure accuracy of 2025 census

The Lao Statistics Bureau has conducted a training session for enumerators and supervisors involved in the country’s first digital Population and Housing Census, in the run up to the Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) scheduled for early February.
The survey is designed to assess and verify the information collected during the main field operations of the 5th Population and Housing Census.
The three-day training, which began on January 26 in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, brought together 277 field staff who will be deployed across the country to collect verification data from 184 Enumeration Areas and nearly 55,200 households.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Head of the Lao Statistics Bureau Ms Phetsamone Sone highlighted the importance of the PES in ensuring the accuracy of census data.

“The Post-Enumeration Survey is essential to evaluate the coverage and accuracy of the census results and to ensure the reliability of data that will guide national development planning,” she said.
Following four years of preparation and extensive technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Laos launched nationwide field data collection for the landmark digital census on November 3, 2025.
The census was supported by a wide range of development partners, including DFAT Australia, China Aid, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Luxembourg Development Cooperation, the United States of America, and GIZ.
The Post-Enumeration Survey is a globally recognised methodology used to measure census coverage and data quality. Its findings will play a key role in finalising the census results, which are expected to be released in mid-2026.
UNFPA Representative Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Laos’ data systems, describing the census as a strategic investment in the country’s future.
“The 2025 Census is more than a population count; it is a commitment to leaving no one behind,” he said. “The Post-Enumeration Survey serves as a critical tool to assess the quality, accuracy, and integrity of the data that will shape national policies and development priorities for the next decade.”
Dr Kadyrov added that the rollout of the first digital census reflects the strong cooperation between the Lao government, UN agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders working together to build an inclusive, evidence-based future for Laos.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update January 31, 2026)