Photo: Enumerators undergoing fieldwork training in January 2026, ahead of the Nationwide Geospatial Data Update Exercise. Credit: The Central Statistical Office
The Central Statistical Office has been undertaking a nationwide Geospatial Data Update Exercise or GDUE, in preparation for Trinidad and Tobago’s National Population and Housing Census in 2027.
In January 2026, media coverage highlighted the CSO’s announcement of trained field staff visiting communities collecting geo-located and attribute data on every building, household, business, institution and agricultural holding using digital technology.
The Geospatial Data Update Exercise or GDUE (pronounced gee-due), marks a major step in transitioning the CSO from a primarily paper-based system of mapping and data collection to incorporating a fully digitised approach to this process.
This exercise ensures that every household, business, institution and agricultural holding is captured and accounted for in the CSO’s listing frame. It guarantees that remote or unplanned developments are counted and not omitted when critical national planning initiatives are being undertaken.
This exercise provides data on local population density as well as numbers of dwelling units, agricultural holdings, businesses and institutions within a community and or municipality, all of which are needed for planning, research and business development opportunities.
The GDUE is also a critical component of the CSO’s modern, bimodal digital census strategy. This method aims to have all dwellings accurately mapped and included in the Census, helping the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) or “Self-Enumeration” system, which allows individuals to complete the census questionnaire online at their convenience using their own devices to function effectively for each location.
Following the CAWI phase, the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) method will be used, with trained Field Enumerators visiting households and businesses to assist individuals who are unable to complete the census online, securely capturing data on tablet devices.
Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh, as line minister, emphasised the Planning Ministry’s and the CSO’s commitment to this current data collection process as well as the National Census’ undertaking in 2027, which are vital for achieving government’s thrust towards greater evidence-based decision making. This is important for the right policies and services to be implemented, so that the best solutions for enhancing Trinidad and Tobago’s social, economic, environmental and human development goals can be achieved.
To view the full list of communities where field staff will be gathering data for the duration for the exercise, see the list below, then visit www.cso.gov.tt
The CSO encourages everyone in the communities selected to participate in the exercise. Public cooperation is essential because the data collected during this exercise will form the foundation of the upcoming National Population and Housing Census and inform national development planning.
The CSO emphasises that safeguarding public trust and security is a top priority. All field staff, including Field Enumerators and Field Supervisors, have undergone rigorous training in professional data collection and ethics. Official CSO personnel can be identified by their CSO-issued Employee Identification Badges and their blue, CSO-branded high-visibility vests.
Members of the public can verify the identities of field staff or obtain additional information regarding this exercise by contacting the CSO at (868) 226-0180 or via WhatsApp (text messages only) at (868) 252-9899.
The Central Statistical Office is the primary agency charged with the Statistics and data mandate of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development.
