Most of the census data come from registers

Preparations for the population census, which takes place at the end of 2021, have lasted more than ten years. “A lot of effort has been devoted to developing state registers and improving data quality. Due to long-term exertion and investments, Estonian databases are now of high quality. Much work has been done, for example, on developing the population register, register of buildings and dozens of other databases,” said Mart Mägi, Director General of Statistics Estonia.

In Europe, population and housing censuses are coordinated by the European Union statistical office Eurostat. To ensure comparability of the member states’ data, Eurostat provides a framework of what to ask and how to present the answers. “For all the questions that we are required to ask, we can now get quality answers from registers,” said Mägi. He added that for the same reason, it is important that people check and update their data in the registers. For example, in the population register, each person should have an up-to-date residential address, e-mail address, phone number, ethnic nationality, mother tongue as well as level of education recorded. 

In order to evaluate the register-based part of the census, Statistics Estonia organised two trial censuses, the first one in 2016 and the second one in 2019. “The trial censuses proved that the registers met international quality requirements already then, but they will get even better, as work on quality will continue until the end of 2021,” explained Mägi.

The 2021 census cannot yet be organised based on registers only, as in addition to the questions mandatory for all countries, Estonian researchers wish to get information that is not available in the registers. To meet the researchers’ wishes, Statistics Estonia has added questions on the knowledge of foreign languages and dialects, religions and limitations due to health problems.

According to the Official Statistics Act, participation in the population and housing census is an obligation. However, each person can decide whether to provide answers about their beliefs. “This means that a person is not required to answer the question on health limitations, and the question on religion includes the option “not willing to answer”. For data comparability, all questions have been worded as similarly as possible to the questions asked in the 2011 census,” noted Mägi. The data collected in the population and housing census are protected by adhering to the principles of statistical confidentiality and personal data protection requirements. 

Countries that have so far carried out a register-based census include Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Austria, the Netherlands and Slovenia. Latvia and Lithuania intend to organise the 2021 census on the basis of registers only. In Europe, a goal has been set that starting in 2024 all EU countries would organise a population census each year, which requires transitioning to a fully register-based census.

For further information:

Kadri Kütt
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181