The Central Bureau of Statistics unveiled its preliminary report of the 12th national census on Wednesday, putting Nepal’s population at 29,192,480. It was a rise of 10.18 percent from the previous census in 2011.

However, the population, contrary to general assumption, is a little shy of reaching 30 million. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in 2014 estimated that Nepal’s population is projected to grow to 30.4 million by 2021 and 33.6 million by 2031.

It has been three days since the CBS unveiled the country’s population at 29,192,480, but the Health Ministry appears to have been continuing with the projection data.

In its daily Covid-19 update, the Health Ministry has been putting Nepal’s population at 30,378,055. As per this, the targeted population for vaccination (65 percent of the total above 18 years of age) stands at 19,992,164.

The Health Ministry said on Friday that 13,734,390 people have been fully vaccinated so far. Going by 30,378,055 as the total population given by the ministry, 45.2 percent of the people have been fully vaccinated.

But if the population is revised as per the CBS report, 47.04 percent of the total population have been fully vaccinated.

As per the revised population, the targeted population that needs to be vaccinated also changes to 18,975,112. That way, 72.38 percent of the targeted population has been fully vaccinated. The Health Ministry’s current data suggests 68.9 percent of the targeted population has been fully vaccinated.

It was not immediately clear when the Health Ministry, which in the past too has come into question for data discrepancy, is going to update its numbers as per the new CBS report.

Officials at the Health Ministry said they are aware of the new population report and that they would soon make changes to the daily Covid-19 updates accordingly.

Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel told the Post that the ministry will change the population size as per the CBS data.

“But the ministry has to wait for the National Immunisation Advisory Committee’s suggestions before doing so,” Pokhrel told the Post. “The committee will convene its meeting soon, and we will do what the committee suggests.”

Data is considered key in the fight against a crisis like the ongoing pandemic. Nepal’s authorities, however, remain poor when it comes to data management. From a public health perspective to fighting the pandemic, data and numbers play instrumental roles in helping officials make right decisions.

Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson for the Health Ministry, said the population data needs revision and it will be done soon.

“We have to receive the information from proper channels while officials involved in the vaccination programme also need to be kept in the loop,” said Adhikari in a text message because of his inability to talk properly as he has caught Covid-19.

Adhikari, Health Secretary Pokhrel, spokesperson Dr Sangeeta Mishra and joint-spokesperson Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari have been infected with the virus, officials said.

Nepal on Friday reported 6,827 covid-19 cases—4,608 in 13,791 polymerase chain reaction tests and 2,020 in 6,078 antigen tests. The Health Ministry said that 10 people died of coronavirus infection in the last 24-hours.

Active cases stand at 89,941 throughout the country on Friday.