Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has taken another major step towards conducting a credible, efficient and fully digital 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC) following the receipt of 25,000 branded tablets, power banks and protective tablet cases.
The equipment was officially received on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, as preparations intensify for the nationwide census enumeration scheduled to begin in December.
The latest consignment adds to the 4,000 tablets received in 2025 for the national cartographic mapping exercise, further strengthening Stats SL’s technological capacity ahead of the main data-collection exercise.
The procurement of the 25,000 tablets and accompanying accessories was fully funded by the Government of Sierra Leone as part of its commitment to providing the resources required for the successful implementation of the 2026 Census and strengthening the country’s national statistical system.
The arrival of the equipment marks a significant milestone in preparations for a fully digital census. The tablets will serve as the primary devices for electronic data collection, allowing census personnel to capture, validate and transmit information directly from the field.
The digital approach is expected to improve the efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of the census process while significantly reducing dependence on paper questionnaires and manual data entry.
Built-in validation checks on the devices are also expected to strengthen data quality by helping enumerators and supervisors identify and address errors or inconsistencies during the enumeration process.
Speaking during the official receipt of the equipment, Chief Technical Adviser for the 2026 Census, Dr. Colins Opiyo; Director of Communication and Public Relations, Samuel Ansumana; and Officer-in-Charge of Operations and Logistics, Moses Johnson, described the arrival of the tablets as an important milestone in the technical and operational preparations for the census.
They noted that the devices will play a central role in the digital data-collection process and enable field personnel to collect, validate and transmit information more efficiently.
Stats SL reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible, accurate, reliable and inclusive 2026 Population and Housing Census that reflects the realities of people and communities across Sierra Leone.
The institution said it continues to strengthen its systems, processes, technology and technical preparations to ensure that the census meets the required standards of quality and integrity. Reliable census data will be critical to national planning, policy formulation, resource allocation and evidence-based decision-making.
Stats SL also called on members of the public to support the exercise by providing accurate information, cooperating with census personnel and ensuring that every household and individual is properly counted.
According to the institution, the success of the 2026 Census will depend largely on the active participation and cooperation of citizens and residents across the country.
Census Night is scheduled for December 1, 2026, while nationwide counting will begin on December 2, 2026.
