TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia has said it is unable to conduct a general population census in 2012.

Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat, says even though there was expected to be conducted a census this year, it is not feasible.

The statement says that it will require about one year of preparation to conduct a census, which means it will not be possible in 2012.

In July 2005, the UN’s Economy and Social Council adopted a resolution, which called on member countries to conduct population census in the period 2005-2014.

The Georgian government was set up coordination commission to do a population census. This commission will gather in the near future and fix the dates for the process.

GeoStat also says that a long time ago they already started preparing for the next population census, with the support of the state budget and the UN population fund.

Specifically, they prepared questionnaires, instructions, digital and cartographic material to prepare preliminary lists of households and expressesed readiness to implement the program when the dates are announced.

In the last census in 2002, Georgia had a population of  4.3 million. According to a recent survey by Liberal Academy Tbilisi, 23% of Georgia’s population has since left, 80% of which are illegal migrants. It is widely believed that the real population level today is about one million lower than what authorities claim.