Isaiah Chol, Chairperson, National Bureau of Statistics/Charles Wote/Eye Radio.

The National Bureau of Statistics said the current population estimate which put the number of South Sudanese to 12.4 million, will not be used to roll out elections because it doesn’t account for external displacements.

According to the National Population Estimate Survey recently released by the Bureau of Statistics, the country has 12,44,018 people including internally displaced persons.

The population estimate survey was conducted from May-June 2021 in all ten states and three administrative areas.

It was designed based on satellite-derived information and a system of equally sized grid squares.

Isaiah Chol Aruai, the Chairperson of the Bureau of Statistics, the survey was intended to generate a reliable modeled population estimate on population density and basic demographic characteristics for all levels of administration.

It was also meant to generate indicators for monitoring and evaluation of programs prior to the population housing census, demographic and health survey, and demographic dividend study.

Mr. Chol said the current estimate obtained will only be used for planning purposes and not for the rolling out of elections.

“There is no way we will use this figure because this figure came as a result of a sample survey, not a full count, it has its own limitations,” he said during the launching of the population estimate in Juba on Thursday.

“We had what we called a population estimation survey which is overtaken by this because the population projection is not account for displacements externally. There will be another debate, at the moment, we have no answer for elections”.