Official statistical information is an essential basis for mutual knowledge, comparison and trade among countries. It is for this reason that Statistics SA meets the international information requirements of bodies such as the International Monetary Fund and the International Labour Organisation. Statistics SA also has regular contact with other international statistical agencies to share professional expertise and experiences. This promotes the adoption of common concepts, standards, classifications and practices that support the international comparison of statistics. Approximately five years ago, the United Nations agencies and other international partners came to promote and support implementation of the 2010 round-up of population and housing censuses in African countries. They advocated for all African countries to participate in the 2010 round so that their populations could be enumerated. In the 2000 census round, about a third of African countries did not conduct a census and, as a result, about half of the African population was not enumerated during that census round.