1733 Oportian Census
The 1733 Oportian Census was the national census conducted by the government of Oportia. The previous census was held in 1716 AN recorded a population of 7,803,733. Since then, no official census had been undertaken until 1733 AN, during which time Oportia doubled in territory. The 1733 AN census registered a total of 17,755,425 residents in Oportia.
Background
Following the annexation of new territories during Operation Verdant Reach (1729 AN-1731 AN), Oportia faced a changed demographic and administrative landscape. New urban centers emerged, and the population in these areas began integrating into the broader Oportian society. To address these changes, the Montijo administration saw the need to update and reform the existing data on population distribution and density comprehensively. The City-State Devolution Reform Act, 1731, passed under the guidance of Federal Representative Galilea Montijo and her administration, laid the groundwork for a revised administrative structure within Oportia. This legislation not only redefined the territorial jurisdictions, creating several new federal cities but also initiated the full incorporation of the Southeastern Eura Provisional Administration into Oportia's federal structure. To facilitate these changes, the 7th Federal Congress of Oportia expanded the Chamber of Deputies to 381 seats and the Senate to 66 seats, ensuring that the new population and territories were adequately represented. This expansion required an updated and accurate count of the population, which was the main objective of the 1733 Census.
The City-State Devolution Reform Act, 1731 also established the Bureau of National Statistics of Oportia (OBNS), positioned under the Department of Finance and Economic Affairs. The OBNS was tasked with conducting the comprehensive national census, which was scheduled to run from early 1732 AN to mid 1733 AN, to align with the requirements for the upcoming 1734 general elections.
The OBNS employed advanced methodologies and technologies for data collection, including digital forms and satellite imaging, to ensure accurate and efficient census operations. Extensive training sessions were held for census workers, focusing on data integrity and privacy laws to protect residents' information. To ensure a robust and secure census operation across diverse mediums, the government of Oportia enlisted consulting services from the New Alexandrian Department of Interior, Best Practices, Inc., and the Phillips-Riehl Company. These collaborations aimed to enhance data collection methodologies and the deployment of technology, focusing on digital forms and satellite imaging to ensure accurate and efficient census operations.
The census officially commenced on the reference day of 15.I.1733 AN, targeting to capture data from all federal cities and the Southeastern Eura Provisional Administration, excluding the Central Euran District and Oportian citizens residing abroad or stationed in military bases overseas. The final tally recorded a total of 17,755,425 residents, providing a vital database for future administrative, social, and economic planning in Oportia.
Purpose
Reapportionment
The results of the 1733 census determine the number of seats for each of the federal cities of Oportia in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate for the upcoming elections in 1734 AN. The census results were also used by federal cities and local officials to redraw boundaries for local districts. As part of the reforms implemented in the City-State Devolution Reform Act, 1731, the Chamber of Deputies was expanded from 337 seats to 381 seats and the Senate from 35 seats to 66 seat to incorporate new federal cities into Oportian democracy.
| Federal City | Seats |
|---|---|
| Àgalose | 16 |
| Âzarkhâque | 10 |
| Fondvallé | 5 |
| Kalexisse | 24 |
| Koufukafe | 4 |
| Mâlâville | 9 |
| Miâneville | 13 |
| Pahlavye | 28 |
| Pax | 6 |
| Pesolé | 5 |
| Port de Huile | 45 |
| Port de Vormoune | 9 |
| Soudure | 4 |
| Vanie | 35 |
| Yamassach | 26 |
| Naya | 7 |
| Aminé | 11 |
| Port Felix | 25 |
| Santoria | 6 |
| Vanlaque | 4 |
| Arda | 5 |
| Dobroge | 8 |
| Brazav | 11 |
| Baroque | 9 |
| Port-d’Est | 4 |
| Bandar Bharu | 4 |
| Al-Zuhur | 6 |
| Gaulain | 11 |
| Goussainville | 10 |
| Elaion | 7 |
| Nasimshahr | 4 |
| Biyabanak | 4 |
| Alia | 4 |
| TOTAL | 381 |
Federal Funding Distribution
Dozens of federal block-grant programs use the data obtained from the census to help direct funding to city-states and local areas.
Conduct
The 1733 census is the 3rd official census of the State of Oportia. The census began in late 1732 AN and continued through early 1733 AN and was conducted by the Bureau of National Statistics (OBNS). It aimed to provide comprehensive data on the population distribution, age, gender, employment, and other vital statistics to help in policymaking and economic planning. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was 15.I.1733 AN. This was the first census held by Oportia that offered people options to respond through the internet or by phone, in addition to the mail or paper response form used in previous censuses. The government of Oportia received consulting services from the New Alexandrian Department of Interior, Best Practices, Inc., and Phillips-Riehl Company in order to deploy the census across many different mediums securely.
Results
The 1733 census reported a significant increase in the population since 1716 AN, increasing 127.52% during the 17 year period. The total population of Oportia was counted in 1733 AN at 17,755,425 residents. This growth from the last census was attributed to natural population growth, increased immigration rates, a substantial influx of settlers and refugees, and development in the newly incorporated territories in southeastern Eura. Other supporting reasons include dramatic improvements in the healthcare system and standard of living in Oportia over the same time period attracted more residents from Nouvelle Alexandrie, Natopia, Zeed, Constancia, and the Suren Confederacy.
Federal Cities
| Federal City | 1733 Census | Percentage of Total Population |
|---|---|---|
| Àgalose | 741,399 | 4.18% |
| Âzarkhâque | 478,601 | 2.7% |
| Fondvallé | 252,751 | 1.42% |
| Kalexisse | 1,118,548 | 6.3% |
| Koufukafe | 205,634 | 1.16% |
| Mâlâville | 401,191 | 2.26% |
| Miâneville | 598,600 | 3.37% |
| Pahlavye | 1,283,352 | 7.23% |
| Pax | 288,769 | 1.63% |
| Pesolé | 242,086 | 1.36% |
| Port de Huile | 2,103,753 | 11.85% |
| Port de Vormoune | 397,525 | 2.24% |
| Soudure | 202,023 | 1.14% |
| Vanie | 1,630,242 | 9.18% |
| Yamassach | 1,216,345 | 6.85% |
| Naya | 324,548 | 1.83% |
| Aminé | 512,334 | 2.89% |
| Port Félix | 1,147,794 | 6.46% |
| Santoria | 298,711 | 1.68% |
| Vanlaque | 205,965 | 1.16% |
| Arda | 211,589 | 1.19% |
| Dobroge | 388,541 | 2.19% |
| Brazav | 532,144 | 3% |
| Baroque | 401,213 | 2.26% |
| Port-d’Est | 203,544 | 1.15% |
| Bandar Bharu | 201,147 | 1.13% |
| Al-Zuhur | 301,447 | 1.7% |
| Gaulain | 498,301 | 2.81% |
| Goussainville | 455,261 | 2.56% |
| Elaion | 321,569 | 1.81% |
| Nasimshahr | 201,447 | 1.13% |
| Biyabanak | 188,452 | 1.06% |
| Alia | 200,599 | 1.13% |
| TOTAL | 17,755,425 | 100% |
Central Euran District
- Not included in the grant total population numbers.
| District Name | Population |
|---|---|
| Central Euran District | 110,000 (estimated) |
Criticism and Issues
The 1733 Oportian Census encountered significant challenges, particularly in accessing remote areas within Oportia’s expanded territories. These regions often lacked adequate infrastructure, complicating efforts to count all residents, especially in the newly incorporated Southeastern Eura Provisional Administration where some communities were isolated. Another major challenge was counting nomadic communities who move frequently across traditional routes. The transient nature of these groups raised concerns about potential miscounts or duplications. Additionally, the census faced difficulties in urban areas where the door-to-door counting method proved less effective. High-density living conditions in urban centers sometimes resulted in undercounts of populations living in high-rise buildings or informal settlements, often affecting lower-income groups and immigrants.
To mitigate these issues, the Bureau of National Statistics of Oportia (OBNS) employed satellite imagery through a partnership with OpSat and using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to estimate populations in hard-to-reach areas. Despite these technological interventions, there were concerns about excluding marginalized groups not easily detectable by digital means. In response, civil society organizations and community leaders have urged ongoing methodological improvements, advocating for the deployment of mobile census units and leveraging local knowledge to enhance the accuracy and inclusiveness of future censuses.
See Also
- Federal Congress of Oportia
- Bureau of National Statistics of Oportia
- Senate of Oportia
- Chamber of Deputies of Oportia
- Government and politics of Oportia
