The General Statistics Office (GSO) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) on Nov. 21 announced two websites for data on population and housing, as well as family planning and annual population movement in Vietnam .

Data on the 2009 national census on population and housing is available at http://www.gso.gov.vn/khodulieudanso , while information on family planning and migration is at http://www.gso.gov.vn/khobdds.

Visitors to these sites can access results of the population and housing census, as well as population forecasts, information on education in the country, migration and urbanisation trends and major target achievements.

Speaking about the sites, UNFPA chief representative Bruce Campbell said the data provide a scientific basis for the Vietnamese Government to create suitable policies and programmes in order to fulfill the socio-economic development strategy for 2011-2015.

He pledged to continue assisting the Vietnamese Government to improve the quality of information collection, analysis and dissemination.

He also recommended that the Government, ministries, sectors, research institutes and enterprises use these statistical sources in policymaking and implementation at all levels.

According to the 2009 census, Vietnam is now in a golden population structure period, with young people aged between 10-24 accounting for nearly one third of the nation’s total population.

UNFPA says the country can take advantage of the young workforce by ensuring that they all have access to basic social services, education and training. This will help them contribute to the country’s future socio-economic development./.