10. It should be noted that according to the results of the programme review, over
80 per cent of the responding countries use United Nations census guidelines, most
notably the Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses,
Revision 2, for the preparation of their censuses (E/CN.3/2012/2, para. 66).
Challenges
11. While the 2010 census round is generally regarded as a success in terms of the
number of countries that conducted their national censuses and in introducing
innovations, there were reported, observed and documented challenges. As part of
the Programme review, many countries — around 67 per cent (E/CN.3/2012/2,
para. 21) — identified census cost as a major challenge in the planning and conduct
of their censuses for the 2010 round. Census cost was the number one challenge in
all regions of the world among respondents. Owing to the fact that countries have
become more innovative in respect of census-taking, in particular with their use of
advanced technologies, and the demand for data that is more accurate, of higher
quality and more rapidly produced, the cost of conducting censuses has
concomitantly gone up.