Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) has begun work to update the Kingdom’s ‘Population Demographic Directory’.

This will be in coordination with government agencies as the first preliminary field initiative prior to facilitating the smooth conduct of 2020 Census Project.

The first phase includes the southern Asir, Al-Baha, Jazan and Najran regions and this will be followed by other phases covering all regions of the Kingdom this year.

The process also includes updating enumeration of houses and establishments and linking demographic details with the national address as well as with maps.

The Population and Housing Census Project 2020 aims at collecting and disseminating the demographic, social and economic data of the Kingdom’s population.

Housing surveys were conducted between April 17 and May 18 last year. It was revealed in the survey that about 49.91% Saudis were living in houses owned by them, 38% were living in rented homes, and 1.69% were staying in accommodations provided by their employers.

The number of Saudis living in mud houses decreased from 13.38% in 2016 to around 10% in 2017.

The survey also showed that 29.44% Saudis were living in villas and 43.67% in apartments.