> The comments that this rather expensive endeavour should just be about getting a head count are also amusing to me

Countries conduct censuses so they can understand, in great detail, what is going on with the people who make up the country.

With this accurate information, improvement plans can be made, and life can be improved for everyone.

The comments about just making it a head count give a very interesting window into the mentality of many these days. They don’t want to - it can’t fathom how to - make life better.

It’s sad, really

Eh, that’s the ‘if people do the right thing’ approach.

Many countries use census data to target (or even round up and murder) specific groups of people by religion, ethnicity, etc.

Or worse, they actively don't want to make life better for the "wrong" kind of people.