The population of the Kingdom as of the middle of this year has been estimated at 25,373,512 persons, according to the Central Department of Statistics and Information. Abdullah Al-Batil, deputy operations manager for the population census, added that over 18 million of the total are Saudi nationals, made up of 9,307,550 males and 9,235,969 females. The statistics, based on birth and death rates for nationals and annual immigration figures for non-nationals, put the number of foreign expatriates at 6,830,266, with 4,687,043 males and 2,143,223 females. The estimations come ahead of the national population census which is scheduled to start early in the second quarter of 2010, possibly in tandem with other GCC states. Expatriates have been urged to cooperate with census officials, and the Central Department of Statistics and Information has stressed that it has no link with the Passport Department, Ministry of Interior or the police.? Questionnaire forms will seek information such as name, age, nationality, marital status, number of children, qualifications and duration of stay in the Kingdom.? A census official said last month that personal data collected would “be used for better planning to serve the people.” “Expatriate workers, even if they don't possess a valid iqama (residence permit), can cooperate and furnish personal information to visiting census officials,” he added. Abdullatif Ibrahim Al-Khamees, Director, Social Statistics, Central Department of Statistics and Information, Ministry of Economy and Planning, told Saudi Gazette last month the ministry had already started preparations to this effect by launching training programs, setting up panels to supervise the entire process, printing brochures and opening a media center in the capital. “It is most likely that the forthcoming population census will be held together with other GCC states,” he said. If everything goes as planned the exercise would be the world's first six-nation joint census. Al-Khamees said the GCC states will conduct the census on their own. However, they can exchange information and cooperate with one another during the process.
