Census results form the foundation for policies that drive national development. But the way countries count their people is evolving rapidly. Traditional paper-based enumeration is giving way to digital-first approaches—computer-assisted interviews, GIS mapping, real-time dashboards, and integrated administrative data are transforming what was once a slow, manual process into something far more dynamic.
India has been at the forefront of this transformation. Its transition to a tech-enabled census - refined through the challenge of counting 1.4 billion people across vastly different geographies - has positioned its institutions as valuable partners for countries seeking to modernise their own census operations while safeguarding data quality and inclusion. Now, countries in the Caribbean are looking to tap into that expertise.
To support them, the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in consultation with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (ORGI) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has developed a specialised training programme titled “Enhancing Census Preparedness in the Caribbean” for officials from Caribbean National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
Under this mission, eight officials from five Caribbean countries- Barbados, Belize, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago—along with a representative from the University of the West Indies participated in an intensive capacity-building program from 17 to 28 November 2025. The training was a collaborative effort between the Government of India, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) for India, and UNFPA.
At its core, the programme facilitated a structured exchange of knowledge between Caribbean National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and India's statistical machinery: the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (ORGI) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Mapping, Counting, Analysing: The Complete Census Journey
The training was hosted primarily at the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) in Greater Noida, a premier institute dedicated to fostering human resource development in official statistics - with a delegation visit to the UN House in Delhi. Over 10 days, participants engaged with the full census lifecycle: from boundary delineation and household listing to enumeration, data processing, and the dissemination of thematic reports.
Officials from NSSTA, MoSPI, and UNFPA India welcome the visiting Caribbean Delegation at the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) in Greater Noida
The participants engaged in rigorous learning sessions that included digital data collection, shedding light on monitoring tools and new initiatives for India’s upcoming 2027 census. They also discussed Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data quality and processing and population projections. The curriculum expanded into broader statistical territories, including sessions on the Indian Agricultural Census, providing a holistic view of its sampling techniques and methodology.
A key highlight for the visiting members was to observe the preparations for India’s upcoming 2027 Population and Housing Census, with a specific focus on the rollout of digital technologies for enumeration and data processing as well as census pilots.
Beyond the classroom, the mission fostered cultural diplomacy. Participants engaged in dialogues with various Indian dignitaries, including meetings at the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. These interactions helped cement the bond between the regions, moving the relationship from purely technical to deeply collaborative.
Leaders Speak Up: Voices Driving the Mission
During the visit, the delegation engaged with key thought leaders and prominent stakeholders, gaining critical insights into the foundational vision driving this mission.
Subhash Dasgupta, Deputy Registrar General, ORGI, underlined how digital transformation is reshaping census operations, saying:-
“India conducts its census in two phases within two 30-day periods, deploying nearly three million teachers as digital enumerators.”
Jenny Karlsen, Sub-Regional Director and Officer-in-Charge, UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean emphasised the implications of census on SDG indicators, noting:
“Population and Housing Censuses inform over 40% of the Sustainable Development Indicators. Disaggregated data is critical in a region where progress must not only be measured but safeguarded.”
Highlighting the broader strategic value of the collaboration, Andrea Wojnar, Representative for UNFPA India and the Country Director for Bhutan, said:
“This mission is not just about how to conduct a census—it’s about how a census can transform development planning and give a voice to those furthest left behind.”
The Caribbean Delegation, accompanied by UNFPA India officials, visits the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for a strategic knowledge exchange session.
The Dividends of Collaboration
This initiative underscores a deepening strategic partnership between India and the Caribbean. Driven by the spirit of South-South cooperation, the collaboration aims to fortify statistical systems across the region at a critical juncture—just ahead of the upcoming census cycles.
As the delegates return to their respective nations, they carry with them not just manuals and presentations, but a new perspective on what is possible in census operations. The learnings from this visit will form the baseline for development planning for the next decade in the Caribbean regions. By adopting the digital methodologies and quality assurance processes observed in India, Caribbean NSOs can produce faster, more reliable data to guide policy decisions. UNFPA India, through this initiative, supported India’s leadership and digital prowess while directly strengthening data collection in the Caribbean region.
