Kyrgyzstan launches nationwide census

BISHKEK. March 24. KAZINFORM Kyrgyzstan launched its second nationwide population and housing census on Tuesday, which is due to last until April 2, a government spokesman said.

"Preparation for the census has been going on since 2000. Its aim is to gain full information on the demographic situation," the spokesman said. The previous census, conducted in 1999, put the country's population at 4.8 million. In 2007, the Kyrgyz population was estimated at 5.2 million. The survey will ask 18 questions of respondents, including their age, sex, nationality, ethnicity, education and income level. The results are expected to be announced by November 2009. Under Kyrgyz law, all citizens of the country, as well as foreigners, must take part in the survey and are subject to a fine if they refuse to participate. The Central Asian country marks on Tuesday the fourth anniversary of protests dubbed the "tulip revolution" that brought President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to power. Bakiyev made March 24 a public holiday in the ex-Soviet country, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.