The census is estimated to cost about US$58.5 million. Much of its success is hinged on the mutual commitment of the government and its international partners. It has been emphasized that the success of the program will be rooted in looking at the census not as a one-way communication but as a two-way communication that will allow for dialogue between local authorities and the general public.

David Scott Mathieson, the senior researcher on Burma in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) told the IRIN media group that “the logistical and security challenges of the census process are immense”. Mathieson addressed issues associated with accessing many of the isolated and persecuted populations in the rural regions of the country, calling it a “huge undertaking”.

In addition to accessing the conflict- zones, census staff also needs overcome many of the ethnic populations’ long-standing distrust of the state.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), have stated that over 80,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in Kachin and northern Shan states. Kachin rights groups assert that the number is as high as 150,000 people that have been affected

Issues will also arise in tallying the approximately 800,000 Rohingyas living in Arakan state; the Rohingya are stateless under the country’s law. The government considers them illegal aliens from Bangladesh. The country’s last two official censuses in 1973 and 1983 didn’t even include them.

Nyi Nyi, deputy director for the Department of Population; the government agency responsible for the census, told the IRIN media group that the census on March 29, 2014  will count everyone within its borders, excluding foreign nationals.

“This is major step for our country and will allow us to better determine development programmes for our country,” Nyi Nyi told IRIN.

Results obtained from the previous official census in 1983, placed the population of Myanmar at 35,442,972. Current estimates put today’s figure at over 60 million and count 135 recognized ethnic groups.

One of the main challenges that the census faces includes a lack of expertise. Most of the civil servants that worked on the 1973 and 1983 censuses have since retired.

A questionnaire with 41 questions will be available for public review during the pilot census. Enumerators will be trained on how to explain the questionnaire to the country’s various ethnic groups, including providing translations for those who are illiterate. Local enumerators who speak the local language will also be assigned to the corresponding areas.

Other challenges include a general ignorance among the ethnic population about the census and its intended purpose.

In Karen state, where the Karen National Union (KNU) and the government were fighting for over 60 years, until a cease fire was reached last year, hundreds of thousands of civilians are still internally displaced. Community workers say residents have almost no knowledge of the census. Those that do, worry about possible abuses by state authorities that may have access to their personal information.

Still others fear that the census can be used to benefit ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) that may use their names to count as votes in their favor during the 2015 parliamentary election.

Preliminary findings from the nationwide count are expected to be released in July 2014.