No Fines For Unanswered Census Questions, Statistics Department Says

Amman, Sept. 3 (Petra) -- The Department of Statistics (DoS) denied reports claiming that citizens could be fined for being unable to answer census questions or for not being home when field researchers visit.

DoS Director General Haider Freihat told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that previous censuses included cases in which researchers could not obtain data from some households, describing this as a normal occurrence within the expected statistical margin of error.

Freihat apologized for any misunderstanding arising from earlier statements, stressing that he had not intended to cause offense.

He said field researchers involved in the 2026 Population and Housing Census have undergone training, qualification, and readiness assessments and are instructed to deal flexibly with households while respecting the privacy and circumstances of citizens and residents.

The researchers assigned to collect census data are teachers affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, he added.

Freihat said census questions are generally clear and straightforward and that respondents are not pressured to provide information they do not have. If a visit cannot be completed or some answers are unavailable, researchers may schedule another visit to complete the required data.

He added that the department relies on information provided by citizens and residents and considers public cooperation and accurate responses essential to the census process.

The DoS urged citizens and residents to cooperate with field researchers to help complete and update census data used in planning and public services.

//Petra// AO

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