Quality statistics are key to informing decisions, policies and investments that address issues such as food security, malnutrition as well as sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. FAO, as part of its core mandate, is committed to collecting, analysing, interpreting and disseminating these statistics. 

Within this work, the World Programme for the Census of Agriculture (WCA) provides support and guidance to countries to carry out national agricultural censuses. FAO is the leading UN agency providing guidelines for these national statistical operations, which are critical to obtaining an understanding and comparable picture of the structure of agriculture sector. Through these guidelines, Members can better ensure that their census results are harmonised and internationally comparable. 

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the agricultural census. In light of this milestone, the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) endorsed the World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2030 guidelines at its 57th Session last week.  

Since its establishment in 1945, FAO has supported countries in conducting national agricultural censuses in each round, using standard international concepts, definitions and methodologies.  

The first WCA was launched in 1928 for the 1930 census round by the International Institute of Agriculture (IIA) - when member countries agreed to promote a coordinated implementation of agriculture censuses worldwide. This was implemented in 63 countries and territories. Since its development, it has been the main data collection instrument that produces agricultural statistics at the most precise geographical level.    

Following the dissolution of the IIA in 1946, FAO assumed responsibility for the WCA and has successfully guided nine decennial rounds, continuing to enhance the methodologies and standards to meet the world's evolving needs. 

The WCA works through direct gathering of information from agricultural holders through interviews, using either paper or digital data collection methods. As Jairo Castano (Team Leader, Agricultural Censuses, FAO Statistics Division) explains, "The typical structural data collected in a census of agriculture are the size of holding, land tenure, land use, crop area harvested, irrigation, livestock numbers, labour and other agricultural inputs. "Data are collected at the holding level, but some community-level data may also be collected." 

This information is vital for agricultural planning and policymaking, research and development, and monitoring agriculture's environmental impact.  

José Rosero Moncayo, FAO Chief Statistician and Director of the Statistics Division, added, "Over time, FAO’s support to the WCA has shifted from a focus on operational assistance for single census exercises toward long-term capacity development and system strengthening." 

This support includes promoting international standards through the WCA, supporting integrated census and survey programmes, strengthening statistical farm registers, and expanding technical assistance on digital data collection, geospatial integration, and the use of administrative data and cost-effective methodologies, ensuring sustainability. 

The census is one of the key pillars of a national statistical system, and, in many developing countries, it is the only means of producing statistical information on the structure of the agriculture sector. "Countries may face capacity gaps such as limited human and institutional capacity, including shortages of trained staff for census planning, fieldwork, data processing and quality assurance", explained Jairo Castano. 

Other challenges include weak census frames or farm registers, limited integration of the agricultural census within the national statistical system, and insufficient experience with digital data collection, georeferencing and use of administrative data. 

The WCA is a central component of the Organization's mandate on food security, sustainable agriculture and evidence-based decision-making, and countries are now expected to adopt the WCA 2030 guidelines for conducting their national census of agriculture. 

The WCA 2030 specifies 27 essential items to be recorded by all Members and offers guidelines to support countries in determining whether other items should be included. For example, countries wishing to set up a list frame of holdings practicing hydroponic/vertical farming may include this item in the census by complete enumeration to support the design of specific sample surveys on this type of holding. 

"Adopting the guidelines will help countries develop an integrated census and survey programme, use innovative and cost-effective methodologies, and broaden the dissemination of census data for informed strategic decisions", said Jairo Castano. 

Into the future, agricultural censuses can better support evidence-based policymaking by providing high-quality, policy-relevant structural data that are fully integrated into national agricultural statistical systems and aligned with FAO’s mandate. 

José Rosero Moncayo added, "By focusing on essential items, ensuring complete enumeration, and enabling analysis at small administrative levels, censuses generate robust benchmarks and frames for surveys that inform targeted agricultural, rural development and food security policies. Incorporating sex disaggregated data, community level information and links with geospatial and administrative data, future censuses can address emerging priorities such as sustainability, climate change and gender equality, while improved dissemination and accessibility ensure that census results are effectively used for planning, monitoring and evaluation."