A census is a census is a census ?

1
A census is a census is a census ?

• The changing role of population censuses

2
What is a census?

• A specific operation?
• A set of requirements as expressed in the
  essential features?
• Individual enumeration
• Simultaneity
• Universality within a defined territory
• Availability of small-area data
• Defined periodicity

3
Where should we be heading ?

• Focus on coverage
• Essential features individual enumeration,
  simultaneity, universality within a defined
  territory
• Good coverage of national and regional population
  is the key objective of censuses
• ? Address cross-border coverage
• ? Assess and maintain coverage of frames also
  during inter-censual periods

4
Where should we be heading ?

• 2) Make the geo-referencing of population data
  precise
• Essential feature availability of small-area
  data
• Providing information on small regional entities
  is a core aim of censuses
• But Causes of socio-economic and environmental
  phenomena do not follow delineations of
  administrative areas
• ? Precise geo-referencing of addresses

5
Where should we be heading ?

• Step up the integration of censuses into social
  statistics and enhance continuity of census work
• ? For social statistics based on sample surveys
  maintain good-quality population frames
• ? For social statistics based on administrative
  data sources enhance continuity of quality
  evaluation of administrative data sources and
  linkage of data sources
• ? For all social statistics harmonise
  specifications and breakdowns for census topics
  x
• ? Census as primus inter pares

6
Where should we be heading ?

• 4) Make comparative quality assessments of
  multi-source/multi mode processes and outputs
• The starting point is settled
• The established quality frameworks for official
  statistics
• The essential features of population censuses
• Challenges
• Make quality criteria operational
• Evaluate output and processes

7
Where should we be heading ?

• 5) Use and develop common tools
• Standardisation to foster synergies and
  efficiency gains
• Example EU Census Hub (SDMX based)
• Shared software developments (e.g. validation,
  dissemination)

8

• A census is a census is
• a lot of work
• Thank you !