Kirkuk's Governor, Rebwar Taha, on Thursday urged residents to remain in their homes as Iraq entered the second day of its nationwide population census. Taha emphasized that the census is a process solely intended for development purposes and has no connection to altering the demographic makeup of the region.

In a press conference in Kirkuk, Taha stated, "Once again, I urge all the people of Kirkuk to stay in their homes. Staying at your homes guarantees the success of the process."

Iraq began its two-day nationwide census on Wednesday, marking the first such survey since 1987. The census aims to collect detailed demographic data across the country's provinces, including information on families, ages, and genders.

Taha reassured residents that the census would be used for development purposes, particularly to improve Kirkuk's economic future, its budget share, employment opportunities, and access to national electricity. "I repeat once more, this census will benefit the economic future of Kirkuk," he added.

Concerns and rumors have circulated on social media, suggesting that the census could be used to change Kirkuk's demographic composition, particularly after a large return of displaced residents from disputed areas. These rumors gained traction as native residents of Kirkuk, particularly Kurds, returned to the province to register as residents of their hometowns.

Some Arab and Turkmen political groups have called for a halt to the census in Kirkuk, claiming that the Kurdish return threatens the balance of the province's population.

Taha firmly rejected these rumors, calling on residents to avoid spreading sectarian and nationalist rhetoric. "We as the [Kirkuk] administration … we work for a single goal, and that is achieving co-existence among the components and the people of Kirkuk," Taha emphasized.

Historically, Kirkuk's population has been diverse, with a significant Kurdish presence. However, the Kurdish population significantly decreased after the Arabization policies under Saddam Hussein's regime and the displacement of Kurdish inhabitants. Following the Kurdish independence referendum in 2017, the Iraqi forces re-entered Kirkuk, further impacting the demographic balance.

According to the 1957 census, Kurds made up 48% of Kirkuk's population, Arabs 28%, and Turkmen 21%. The ongoing census aims to provide updated demographic data in line with Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, which outlines the process for resolving disputes over disputed territories, including Kirkuk.