Census workers have begun visiting households across Antigua, officially launching the 2025 national census that will provide critical demographic and economic data for the twin-island nation’s development planning.

Enumeration teams started going door-to-door over the weekend in several communities, including Cassada Gardens and surrounding areas, marking the beginning of a comprehensive population count that will continue in phases across all parishes through October.

Chief Statistician and National Census Officer Stachel Edwards confirmed that the census is now underway after months of intensive preparation and training.

“Enumeration officially started over the weekend, and will continue to intensify in the weeks ahead,” Edwards said during an interview on Observer AM. “We did have a later start than planned, and we do apologize to the public for that delay.”

The census will cover all 400 enumeration districts in Antigua and Barbuda, with teams deployed strategically across different parishes using a phased approach rather than attempting to enumerate the entire country simultaneously.

The operation involves 50 teams comprising 200 enumerators, 50 field supervisors, 13 quality assurance supervisors, 13 headquarters staff members, and 19 IT technicians to support the tablet-based data collection system. While Antigua’s enumeration has begun, Barbuda’s census work is scheduled to start in October.

This year’s census abandons traditional paper questionnaires in favor of computer-assisted personal interviewing using tablets and software called Survey Solutions. The digital approach allows for real-time data quality checks and immediate transmission of information to secure servers.

“Instead of using a paper questionnaire, your questionnaire is developing this software which is located on a tablet,” Edwards explained, noting that multiple layers of security protocols protect respondents’ information.

With public safety concerns heightened by recent crime increases, Edwards provided reassurance about how residents can identify legitimate census workers. All enumerators will carry an official vest with the census logo, a photo ID issued by the Census Office, an official census bag, and a letter from the Census Office.

Residents with doubts can contact the Census Office directly to verify workers’ identities. Every census worker has undergone police background checks, interviews, and has signed oaths of secrecy binding them to strict confidentiality requirements under the Statistics Act.

The census aims to count every person residing in Antigua and Barbuda for more than six months, regardless of immigration status. The census does not share any information with police or immigration authorities.

“We’re not concerned about your legal status if you’re here in terms of you’re documented or undocumented, that’s not our concern. We do not report that information,” Edwards emphasized.

All published data will be presented only in aggregate form that cannot identify any individual, household, or institution.

The census employs a multi-tiered quality control system, with questionnaires reviewed by quality assurance supervisors and headquarters staff before finalization. The digital system prevents duplicate counting by marking enumerated households in the system.

To accommodate linguistic diversity, the Census Office has recruited multilingual enumerators for communities with significant non-English speaking populations.

Edwards highlighted the census’s crucial role in shaping national policy and development planning. The data informs decisions about education, healthcare for an aging population, labor market policies, and infrastructure investment, and provides essential information for organizations like the Boundaries Commission.

“That tells you, okay, what policies, what the development of the country, what changes are happening within the country,” Edwards said.

The Census Office continues recruiting additional staff. Those interested can apply online at statistics.gov.ag, visit the census office on Upper Nevis Street, or call 562-7495 or 462-4775.

As the census intensifies in the coming weeks, the Census Office plans to expand public communication efforts to ensure residents understand when enumerators will be in their communities and why their participation matters for national planning.