The Expert Group Meeting on Population and Migration Statistics, organized by the Statistical Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) jointly with the Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS, is being held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 26 to 28 November 2025.
The National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus is represented at the meeting by the Deputy Chairperson, Zhanna Vasilyevskaya.
The Meeting is discussing issues relevant to the statistical community related to the implementation of the recommendations of the Conference of European Statisticians on Population and Housing Censuses in the 2030 round, with the provision of geospatial data on population, measurement of emigration, as well as innovation and the use of artificial intelligence in population and migration statistics.
In her speech on the digital transformation of the upcoming census of the population of the Republic of Belarus, Zhanna Vasilyevskaya stressed that preparations for it have already begun:
"Taking into account the adoption this year of the Resolution of the UN Economic and Social Council on the World Population and Housing Censuses Programme in the 2030 round, Belstat started preparing to conduct a population census in the Republic of Belarus in 2029".
The Deputy Chairperson noted the complex nature of the work to be undertaken, including legislative, methodological and technological changes. It was noted that a draft law on the amendment of the current version of the Census Act had been prepared and publicly discussed.
Zhanna Vasilyevskaya announced plans for the upcoming census: preservation of the combined data collection method with maximum use of administrative data sources.
In her speech, Zhanna Vasilyevskaya paid special attention to the prospects of using artificial intelligence and data from mobile operators:
"Machine learning algorithms, large language models, neural networks for imprinting, data deduplication and automation of complex processing steps will reduce the impact of human factors, minimize input errors, increase speed, accuracy and completeness of final data production".
Zhanna Vasilevskaya stressed that the introduction of artificial intelligence, expansion of administrative data use, integration of mobile positioning will be an important step towards a modern, digital and intelligent census system.
In addition, a special meeting will be held on 29 November for representatives of the national statistical services of the CIS member states, which will focus on the preparation of the 2030 round of population censuses in the CIS region.
© National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. When using information reference to the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus is mandatory.
