The Ethiopian Statistical Service has begun a nationwide census aimed at identifying and documenting all economic operators across the country.

The census, which started on October 12 and will continue until May 2025, is being conducted with the participation of 40,000 university graduates trained and deployed for the task. It covers enterprises engaged in manufacturing, trade, construction, mining, and service sectors in both urban and rural areas.

The exercise seeks to collect detailed information on the number and types of economic entities, their workforce, geographic distribution, sources of inputs, production and sales activities, export engagement, and the challenges they encounter in operation.

All enumerators hold at least a bachelor’s degree and have been trained to ensure consistent and accurate data collection. The information gathered will serve as a statistical foundation for national policy formulation, economic planning, and academic research.

The Ethiopian Statistical Service has stated that the data collected will be treated as confidential and used exclusively for statistical purposes. A legal framework requires organizations to provide accurate information, and awareness campaigns are underway to encourage full participation.

Source: Sheger FM 102.1