Overview of the essentials
The European Union is planning an EU-wide census for 2011. A census is a survey determining how many people live in a country, in a town, and how they live and work. An EU regulation of 9 July 2008 obliges the Member States of the European Union to collect data by means of a fixed catalogue of characteristics in the year 2011. So the results will be comparable all over Europe. On 16 July 2009, the Census Act 2011 entered into force in Germany. Before that, the Act was finally adopted by the German Bundestag on 24 April 2009 and by the German Bundesrat on 15 May 2009. The Act ordering the Census 2011 and amendments to statistical acts (which is the full name of the Act) regulates the way in which the Census 2011 will be taken by Official Statistics in Germany and lists the variables to be covered. In contrast to a traditional population census, not every household will be contacted for the register-based census but administrative registers will predominantly be used to obtain the data. In addition to the Federal Government, numerous politicians and other decision-makers have advocated a new census in view of the imminent political and societal challenges of the coming years and decades.
New population figures are necessary
Germany needs a new census because present population and dwelling figures are based on updates of results from the latest population censuses. These were held in Germany in 1987 for the former territory of the Federal Republic and in 1981 for the former GDR. Over the years, inaccuracies increase with regard to updating and to the sample surveys based on population census figures. Great historical changes such as German reunification and the large number of people moving in particular from the East to the West also make a new census necessary. It must be assumed that the population figures presently determined by the bodies of official statistics by means of updating are much too high. By how much exactly will be known only after the new census. Accurate population figures are of central importance for many areas. For instance, the equalization of revenue between the Länder and the delimitation of constituency boundaries for Bundestag elections are based on population figures. To plan new schools, hospitals and institutions for the elderly it is also necessary to know exactly how many people live where and how old they are. If there are no reliable population figures, the wrong decisions may be taken. We all benefit from the results of a census.
A new method: the register-based census
With the 2011 census a new method will be introduced in Germany which differs considerably from the traditional population census. A register-based census predominantly uses existing administrative registers – above all population registers and registers of the Federal Employment Agency. Information on buildings and dwellings not covered by the administrative authorities are obtained by mail from the owners of the buildings and dwellings. Other questions, for example on education and training and on employment, are posed only to a small fraction of the inhabitants by way of representative sample surveys. The statistical offices of the Federation and the Länder have successfully tested the new register-based census method in 2001 to 2003. The 2011 census will produce reliable results while reducing citizens’ obligations to provide information; and costs will be much lower as only part of the population will be surveyed.