The Statistics Department is currently conducting a post enumeration survey in 7 different locations in Tonga.
The two-week survey is to verify the information collected from the population census of 2016.
Winston Fainga’anuku of the Statistic’s department says the survey is held after every census to ensure no one is left behind or counted twice.
Radio Tonga reports the questions asked are the same as the questionnaires on the population census such as head of the family, marital status, employment, religion to name a few.
Enumerators will conduct the survey in Fasi, Ma’ufanga, Havelu and Houma in Tongatapu, Angahaa in ‘Eua, Faleloa in Ha’apai and Neiafu Vava’u.
The theme for the population census is “Remember to be Counted.”
In the preliminary count, Tonga’s population for the first time recorded a slight decline from the provisional results of the 2016 census compared to that of 2011.
In the 2011 census, the population was more than 103,000 people while the 2016 census recorded 107,000 people.
The 2016 population census also recorded more females than males, with 50,400 females and 50,300 males, a difference of 121.
Photo file: Tourism Tonga - Market in Neiafu