Iraqi Ministry of Planning Faces Backlash Over Donation of Census Tablets to Jordan

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A census employee holding a census tablet.

The Iraqi Ministry of Planning has come under intense scrutiny following its donation of 12,000 tablets—used during last year’s national population census—to the Jordanian government. The move has sparked widespread criticism, with concerns raised over data security and the potential misuse of sensitive information.

In a statement issued on Friday, 27 June 2025, the Ministry clarified that only 12,000 tablets were donated and that all devices had been fully reformatted prior to transfer. The statement emphasised: “Only 12,000 of these tablets have been donated to the Jordanian government and have been completely wiped of all data.”

Despite these assurances, several Iraqi parliamentarians have expressed alarm. MP Raid Maliki criticised the decision, stating: “These devices were used to collect information on all Iraqis during the population census. Given the existence of various data retrieval programmes, it is inappropriate to donate these devices. The census data contained within could potentially be recovered, posing a serious security risk.”

Maliki further suggested that the tablets would have been better utilised within Iraq, particularly in educational settings, adding: “The tablets could have been provided to Iraqi students and schools to support education. It is unclear what role the ministers played in approving this decision, as they vote on government policies.”

The Ministry of Planning’s second statement provided additional context, noting that a total of 135,000 tablets were employed for the 2024 census, with the 12,000 donated units representing a small fraction intended to support Jordan’s own census efforts. 

The Ministry explained: “All data stored on the devices was securely extracted and archived by a specialised team. The tablets were then reformatted and restored to their original factory settings. The entire process, including chip removal and data storage, was supervised by the General Authority for Statistics and Information Systems to ensure the highest level of data protection.”

Iraqi legislators have also highlighted the financial value of the donated tablets, estimated at over 4 billion Iraqi dinars, and criticised the decision to send equipment that could benefit Iraqi schools.

The Ministry’s initial statement, released on the night of 25 June, stated: “The tablets are completely free of content and represent only 5 percent of the total devices used in the 2024 Iraqi Population and Housing Census. The Jordanian government initially requested to borrow 12,000 tablets for their census, but the Iraqi government decided to donate the equipment as a gesture of bilateral cooperation and to strengthen relations between the two brotherly countries.”

The 2024 Iraqi General Population Census, conducted on 20 and 21 November 2024, aimed to collect comprehensive data on the population, housing, and residential institutions across Iraq, alongside household goods and business information. This census marked a significant milestone as Iraq’s first nationwide digital census, utilising tablets for data collection to enhance accuracy and efficiency.



PUKMEDIA