"Leh Den Kont You Oh!": Stats-SL in Kenema Prepares for 2026 Census Cartographic Mapping

Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats-SL) on 17 October 2025 engaged district officials, Paramount Chiefs, and other stakeholders in the Eastern Region on the upcoming 2026 Population and Housing Census Cartographic Mapping exercise.

Held under the theme “Census 2026: Leh Den Kont You Oh!”, the event brought together key local authorities, government representatives, and development partners to discuss the preparatory phase of the national census.

The session aimed to sensitize stakeholders on the importance of the cartographic mapping exercise, which serves as a crucial foundation for accurate data collection during the 2026 Census. The mapping process involves identifying and recording all residential areas, communities, and key landmarks to ensure that every household is counted.

The engagement, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with Statistics Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and other partners, emphasized collective participation and community cooperation in the census process.

Stakeholders expressed their commitment to supporting the initiative, recognizing its significance in national planning, resource allocation, and development programming.

As part of the engagement, Paramount Chiefs received megaphones and other communication tools to help raise awareness about the census activities in their chiefdoms and localities.

The 2026 Population and Housing Census is expected to generate up-to-date demographic and housing data to guide government policies and sustainable development efforts across Sierra Leone.