Iran to Use Web-Based Technique for National Census

Iran will for the first time carry out an Internet-based survey in a national, quinquennial census, due to begin on September 24, Tasnim informs.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Saturday, Head of the Statistical Center of Iran Omid Ali Parsa said the Internet-based census will kick off on September 24 and will last until October 15.

Thereafter, he added, the face-to-face method will begin, which will also take a month.

At least 45 percent of the Iranian people are expected to take part in the survey on the Internet, Parsa explained, saying the number of questions in this round of national census has decreased from 50 to 29.

Using the Internet-based survey has helped the Statistical Center of Iran to reduce the number of census workers by 35,000 people, leading to a big cut in the expenses, he noted.

Last week, President Hassan Rouhani ordered the whole state organizations to cooperate in the census plan and provide whatever manpower, services and equipment necessary for the nose-counting.

In a decree issued on Monday, President Rouhani described the plan to count the country's population and housing as a major work for reaching a realistic image of Iran.

According to the 2011 census, the population of Iran was 75 million, showing a four-fold increase since 1956.