The Statistical Council reviewed last year and was briefed on census methodology
Today, on 25 February, the Statistical Council held a meeting where they reviewed last year’s results and commended the production of official statistics, but the Council also acknowledged that the statistical system continues to be underfunded. The Council was briefed on the methodology approved by Statistics Estonia for the Population and Housing Census: namely, a register-based census, which is in accordance with EU regulations, combined with a sample survey to collect data on characteristics not covered by registers.
At today’s meeting, the Statistical Council appointed by the Estonian Government discussed the performance in 2020 and adopted the action plan for this year. The Council praised Statistics Estonia for the short-term statistics produced last year to reflect the impact of the pandemic. A key issue discussed at the Council’s meeting was the severe underfunding of statistical activities. The Council pointed out that the serious lack of funding may hinder the timely and relevant provision of information essential for the state.
The Statistical Council was also given an overview of the organisation of the Population and Housing Census and the census methodology adopted by Statistics Estonia based on the Council’s prior recommendation. It has been decided that the Population and Housing Census, which begins at the end of this year, will be a register-based census combined with a sample survey for questions that cannot be answered with data available in registers.
According to Mart Mägi, Director General of Statistics Estonia, the main goal of the census is to ensure that high-quality data are obtained about Estonia. “We are not giving up anything in terms of quality compared to previous censuses. On the contrary, the state has invested millions of euros in data quality so that we could carry out a register-based census in a way that is appropriate for a digitally leading country. The census methodology has been designed in cooperation between statisticians and scientists, it has been internationally recognised and set as an example,” added Mägi.
In the population census, people will only have to answer a few questions that are required nationally. These concern the knowledge of languages and dialects, religious adherence, existence of health problems and their impact on daily activities. In addition, there are questions about current place of residence and partner (spouse, cohabitee). All Estonian residents will be able to answer the short online questionnaire. In the second stage of the census, interviewers will collect answers from addresses chosen by random sampling, if the respondents at these addresses have not answered the online questionnaire.
To ensure the quality of census results, Statistics Estonia follows the requirements set by the European Union. The methodology to be used in the population census has been tested in several pilot censuses, which have confirmed that the technological developments have achieved their purpose, the digital society is functional and all the information that is needed to draw accurate conclusions is available.
Countries that have so far carried out an entirely register-based census include Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Austria, the Netherlands and Slovenia. Latvia and Lithuania plan to organise the 2021 census based only on registers. In Europe, a goal has been set that starting in 2024 all EU countries would conduct a population census annually, which requires transitioning to a fully register-based census.
The census moment of the Population and Housing Census in Estonia is at 00:00 on 31 December 2021. All data for the population census must be submitted as at the census moment, irrespective of the time and mode of response.
For further information:
Kadri Kütt
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 918