Khalid Bomba

Youngest African statistician to lead a national census, transforming demographic data into policy driving development in Ethiopia.

Khalid Bomba (b. 1988) made history in 2017 as the youngest director of Ethiopia's Central Statistical Agency, overseeing Africa's most ambitious census in decades. His leadership produced the first accurate population count in 20 years, revealing critical data that reshaped national policies. This included identifying Ethiopia's actual population size (now 120 million) and mapping previously unrecorded regions, which directly influenced infrastructure investments and healthcare distribution.

As founder of the Population Council Ethiopia Office, Bomba pioneered innovative data collection methods using mobile technology in rural areas. His work with the UN Data Initiative established Ethiopia as a continental leader in demographic research. The 2022 census he led incorporated climate vulnerability metrics, helping design drought response strategies for 8 million people.

Bomba's vision extends beyond numbers - he created the Ethiopian Demographic Data Hub, an open-access platform used by governments and NGOs across East Africa. His TEDx talk "Data as Democracy" has been translated into 12 African languages. Harvard's Kennedy School now uses his census model as a case study in their public policy curriculum.