Despite April 12 having been announced as the day to kick-start the 2026 Housing and Population Census countrywide, that has not been the case as only four districts have started while others have not started the counting process.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday, Bureau of Statistics Director Mrs. 'Malehloa Molato confirmed that the counting has only started in four districts of Berea, Quthing, Qacha's Nek and Botha-Bothe while the other remaining six districts, training of Enumerators is scheduled to start on Monday therefore counting in such districts will be delayed. She said this is due to lists of Enumerators which were only issued on Friday.

She indicated that this would mean extension of the counting to maybe the second week of May instead of the end of April as it was supposed to be.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Training Professor Ntoi Rapapa on Saturday made an official statement where he indicated that the Census is continuing as planned and urged Basotho to take part by opening doors for Enumerators starting April 12. He added that this exercise will run for about four weeks therefore appealing for cooperation from the nation.

The Census is crucial for updating data on population size, distribution and living conditions which directly informs government decisions on healthcare, education and infrastructure among others.

This exercise which is conducted every 10 years, is being spearheaded by the Bureau of Statistics under the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, with significant technical and financial support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The 2026 Housing and Population Census is the seventh undertaken by Lesotho since that of 1966.