Discrepancies of 31% to 90% depending on the region

According to the National Institute of Statistics, only 48% of dwellings had been surveyed by December 19, 2025.

While the campaign was scheduled to end on January 10, 2026, half the period has already passed, and many municipalities are significantly behind schedule. The progress rate varies considerably from 31% to 90% across different regions. These discrepancies primarily reflect differences in the level of commitment and preparedness of the municipalities.

In the field, census takers are encountering numerous obstacles, according to an unofficial source. Some dwellings are empty during school holidays, some residents refuse to open their doors, and teams find themselves isolated in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The confidential memo also reveals organizational shortcomings: incomplete training, undistributed information letters, a lack of official posters, and virtually no follow-up with census takers. In some neighborhoods, data collection never even began. In others, it’s already finished.

Furthermore, the safety of the census takers is another challenge. In some slums, they have been threatened, turning the mission into a high-risk operation. Some supervisors have even lost all contact with their teams, leaving certain areas completely uncovered.

Beyond the census itself, the legality of the process is in question. The law mandates a “general and accurate” data collection. An incomplete census undermines the validity of the figures, which are used to allocate funding, assign electoral seats, and guide public policy. To mitigate the impact, extensions are being considered on a municipality-by-municipality basis.