EU legislation on the 2011 Population and Housing Censuses

Abstract

Population censuses produce the most reliable and geographically detailed count of the population. They report the benchmark figure for the ‘total population’ and cross-classify it in great detail for selected characteristics. This makes censuses one of the richest sources of data on the regional distribution of people living in a country and their most salient characteristics. Censuses are cost-intensive. In principle, the data sources that form the basis for a census should contain information on each individual statistical unit, e.g. on each person. Censuses entail comprehensive administrative preparation by many public agencies like local, regional and national authorities, public agencies that own relevant data sources and, of course, the statistical institutes. Moreover, census methods and technology are constantly evolving in an interesting but sometimes arduous quest for the best data quality in an environment that pushes for economies and a no-heavier-than-necessary burden on respondents. In this context, the quality of census data is becoming ever more important and needs to be monitored.