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This subsection provides information on population and housing censuses, which are the backbone of population and social statistics.

What is a census?

A census typically happens every 10 years. The census counts the entire population and housing stock of a given country and collects information on its main characteristics. These are mainly geographic, demographic, social and economic, as well as household and family characteristics.

The census is a rich source of statistical information, ranging from the lowest geographical divisions, covering small areas, to the national and international levels. Population and housing censuses in the EU are based on European statistical legislation that sets out key statistical definitions and the data and metadata to be produced by EU countries.

Census rounds 2021 and 2011

The 2021 EU population and housing census is ongoing.

The 2021 EU census round comes at a time of fundamental transition: Administrative data sources have become the backbone of the next census in most EU countries. This leads to more powerful census systems and addresses rapid changes in user expectations, with regional detail becoming increasingly important.

A major innovation will be the presentation of key census topics on an EU-wide 1 km square grid. This will allow for much more flexible analysis, even at cross-border level, tailored to research or policy needs.

For more information, please also consult our information on data page.

2011 EU population and housing census

The 2011 EU census round was a milestone. For the first time, European legislation defined in detail a set of harmonised high-quality data to be collected by census in the EU countries.

Given the large volume and richness of data, new means of data transmission were needed. To meet this challenge, a modern and innovative technical tool for transmitting and disseminating data from the national statistical institutes was developed and used. This is the Census Hub.