VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

An illustration of the online 2020 Population Census of Indonesia, which covered 19 percent of the country's total population. 

According to the records of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), 54.1 million Indonesians registered for the population census, which was conducted online from 15 February 2020 to 29 May 2020.

"This number is very large because it is equivalent to almost twice as much as Australia's population. It is a very encouraging achievement, bearing in mind that this is the first population census conducted online in Indonesia,” said the head of BPS, Suhariyanto, as the September 2020 Population Census kicked off online in Jakarta on Monday.

Suhariyanto also lauded all parties and communities who contributed to the success of the online population census.

The census, however, is not yet complete because the 51.4 million Indonesians who took part in the online census account for 19 percent of the country's total population. Around 81 percent of Indonesians remain to be covered by the census.

Thus, starting September 1, 2020, population census officers will go to the field to do a census count to record population data that is yet to be recorded.

Suhariyanto explained that population data is important for planning in various sectors ranging from food, housing, education, health to transportation.

"There can be no precise policy without accurate data. To obtain complete population data, BPS together with 54 other countries will conduct a population census in 2020, " he added.

The first objective of conducting a population census is to provide de facto and de jure data on the number, composition, distribution, and characteristics of the Indonesian population.

The second objective is to provide demographic parameters as well as other population characteristics for population projection purposes.

“Thus, the data from the 2020 population census is not only important for current planning, but also for anticipating what will happen to Indonesia in the future," Suhariyanto noted.

The population census officers, who will go door-to-door to collect data on the country's citizens, will implement strict health protocols such as wearing face masks, maintaining physical distancing, and washing hands, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANTARA)