FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Census of population,
households, and dwellings and which are its units?
The Census of
population, households and dwellings (hereinafter referred to as Census)
is the largest survey aimed at collecting basic data on the number,
territorial arrangement and composition of population by demographic,
economic, educational, emigrational and other topics. In addition, data
collected by the Census include households, dwellings and their topics.
In the
When will the
Census 2011 take place?
The Census shall be
carried out in the period between 1 and 28 April
Why has the duration of enumeration process of the
Census 2011 been prolonged (from two to four weeks)?
Experience form prior censuses prove that if more attention is given to
the enumeration process itself, the enumerators will acquire routine
after few days, hence more efficiency. Furthermore, the enumeration
process being prolonged led to a smaller number of enumerators required
than in 2001.
Why are censuses
carried out?
Census is the most
extensive source of data on population, households, families and
dwellings. These data are necessary for conducting various economic and
social development policies and scientific research.
Who is organizing
Census 2011?
The Census shall be prepared, organized, and executed by the Central
Bureau of Statistics, and within the area of their competence, the
following bodies shall also be involved: State Geodetic Administration,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Ministry of
Interior, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Justice.
For the purpose of the preparation, organization and
execution of the 2011 Census, the following bodies shall be set up:
county census committees; census committees of branch offices in towns
and municipalities; census centers for towns or municipalities. Within
the area of their competence, the abovementioned bodies shall set up
branch offices/census centers and nominate and/or appoint participants
of Census 2011.
What are the main tasks of the Croatian Bureau of
Statistics in preparation of Census 2011?
The main tasks of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics include the
following:
1.
production of methodology for preparation and execution of the Census,
and establishing content and appearance of the census form,
2.
informing the public, in a timely manner and in detail, of the goal,
meaning and content of the Census,
3.
drawing up instructions for the persons involved in the Census
(committees, coordinators, instructors, controllers and enumerators) and
ensuring uniformity in its implementation,
4.
appointing coordinators, instructors, controllers for the counties and
the City of
5.
organization and supervision of technical and methodological training for
persons participating in the Census,
6.
offering technical and methodological help to persons participating in
the Census,
7.
organization of printing and distribution of general and secondary census
forms, guides and other aids, including sample general census forms in
languages and script of national minorities,
8.
taking possession of the filled out Census forms after the enumeration
process,
9.
exercising control over manual and automatic preparation of the Census
data for processing,
10.
selecting technology applicable for entering
and processing data on the computers,
11.
processing data collected in the Census and
releasing first and final Census results,
12.
managing and allocating funds for the
organization, execution, processing, publishing and dissemination of
data.
What is the legal
basis for the Census 2011?
Census 2011 shall
be carried out under the Act on the census of population, households and
dwellings in the Republic of Croatia in 2011 (Official Gazette, 92/10),
which lays down the content, preparation, organization and execution of
the Census of population, households and dwellings in the Republic of
Croatia in 2011, obligations of state and other bodies involved in the
execution of the Census, rights and obligations of citizens as Census
data providers, as well as all those involved in the execution of the
Census and data processing after the Census, publishing of Census
results and financing of the Census.
How many persons shall participate in the Census 2011?
According to the plan, around 15 000 enumerators, 2 000 controllers, 180
instructors and 45 coordinators are expected to participate in the
Census
Approximately 15 000 field enumerators will undertake training and pass
the mandatory test. Each enumerator shall carry on his/her person an
authorization for identification purposes. All enumerators shall also
carry a case with the Census logo making them recognizable to the
citizens.
How much does the Census 2011 cost?
Under the Act on
the census of population, households and dwellings in the
Are the citizens obliged to provide
data for the Census 2011?
Yes, citizens are
required to share required information referred to in Article 45 of the
Act on the census of population, households and dwellings in the
When was the first
population census conducted in the
The first partial
population censuses covering the territory of the present-day Republic
of Croatia date from 1746 and 1754, the reign of Maria Theresa, and were
known as „Theresian“. These censuses were incomplete since they excluded
gentry and clergy. Population was enumerated according to the
affiliation of holdings to particular noblemen or towns.
The 1875 census,
carried out during the reign of Joseph II and referred to as the
„Joseph's census“ was incomplete as well as it excluded the clergy.
Clergy, gentry and
military were not included in the subsequent 1805 census. The 1850/1851
census also failed to meet the conditions since the enumeration process,
due to the circumstances of the time, lasted for two years.
The first
comprehensive census was carried out in
Censuses of 1869,
1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 followed regularly.
In 1921 and 1931,
during the period between 2 World wars, two censuses were carried out in
the
In 1941, the census
was not carried out due to the war although preparations were completed.
Since the end of
World War II, seven population censuses have been carried out in the
The first one was
conducted in 1948, the so-called short census, whose main goal was to
determine post-war population and their territorial distribution.
Five years later,
in 1953, due to an increase in demand for more complex data on
population, a complete census was carried out.
Censuses have been
carried out in the
Does personal information, collected
for the Census, fall into the category of official secret?
One of the main
principles of the official statistics implies protection and
confidentiality of individual data.
Individual data
collected within the Census are considered an official secret.
Individual data shall not be published and no person shall have access
to them.
Census data shall
only be expressed in an aggregate form at the state, county,
town/municipality and settlement level.
Protection of
individual data is regulated by the Act on the census of population,
households and dwellings in the Republic of Croatia 2011 (Official
Gazette 92/10), the Official Statistics Act (Official Gazette 103/03)
and Act on the Protection of Personal Data (Official Gazette 103/03).
Which definition is used to
establish the total population of the
In accordance with international standards, in Census 2011 the concept of
the place of usual residence shall be applied to define total
population.
According to that concept, total population of a country consists of
usual residents.
The place of usual residence generally referrers to the place where the
enumerated person usually spends daily period, while not taking into
consideration short-term absences from that place (e.g. due to vacation,
travel, medical treatment, visits and other).
According to the definition of the place of usual residence, the total
population shall include:
-
Persons who have been
resident in the
-
Persons who have in the period of 12 months prior to moment of Census
visited the place of their usual residence with the intention of
residing there for at least
one year.
A period of one year and longer and the intention of residing or absence
for at least one year are the main criteria for inclusion or exclusion
of persons from the total population of a country.
How will the refugees be enumerated for Census 2011?
According to EU regulations, refugees are not considered exceptions,
therefore the 12 months of absence criterion applies to them as well,
and they will be counted into the total population of a country in which
they are residing. Apart from the EU countries, the criterion shall
apply to the countries in the region as well. That will ensure inclusion
of such persons in the total population of a single country only.
Accuracy in defining total population is especially important on an
international level for comparison of the data. It is to avoid the
possibility of one person being included in the total population of more
than one country, so person residing in a country for one year or longer
is included in the total population of that country.
What is the difference between population census and
electoral register?
Results of the population census and contents of electoral register may
not be equated with each other. Individual data collected by the CBS are
regarded as an official secret and may be used for statistical purposes
only thus they cannot be used to create electoral register.
There is a difference in the coverage, because
total population (according to the statistical definition) of the
Further, on, the second paragraph of Article 37, Act on the census of
population, households and dwellings in the Republic of Croatia 2011
states the following:
Considering the methodology applied to carry out the Census pursuant to
this Act, the official results of the Census shall not serve as a basis
for comparison with other state records of the citizens' personal
statuses.
Which international
documents were used in preparations of the Census?
The population
Census is completely harmonized with international standards, which lay
down common rules on collecting data on population and dwellings, and
prescribe definitions that the countries are obliged to apply in their
censuses to ensure international comparability of the data.
They are as
follows:
- Conference of
European Statisticians Recommendations for the 2010 Censuses of
Population and Housing prepared in cooperation with the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe and the Statistical Office of the
European Communities (EUROSTAT), New York and Geneva, 2006
- Regulation (EC)
No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008
on Population and Housing Censuses
- Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1201/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation
(EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council on
population and housing censuses as regards the technical specifications
of the topics and their breakdowns
- Principles and
Recommendations for Population and Housing Census, Revision 2, United
Nations,
When will the first, i.e. preliminary results of Census
2011 be released and which exact data shall be released?
The first, i.e. preliminary results shall be released by 30 June 2011,
and shall contain data on the total number of enumerated persons and
total population, households and dwellings at state, county
town/municipality and settlement levels.
What if the person
is absent during the Census?
Information on
absent persons included in the Census shall be provided by the member of
the household able to provide the most accurate information on the
absent member of the household.
In case the entire
household is absent in the time of the Census the enumerator shall leave
a written notice to the concerned persons notifying them about a second
visit and a contact telephone number for household members to arrange
another time of enumeration. If this is not possible, the enumerator
shall leave a notice referring them to the nearest Census centre and the
address.
Will there be any new questions in the census forms as
compared to the prior censuses?
The novelties include the following:
-
Personal Identification Number (OIB) or number of identity card
-
intention of presence/absence in/from the settlement (expressed in
months/years)
-
means of commuting /school commuting
-
computer literacy (basic computer skills)
What happens to the forms after all data is entered?
According to Article 49, Act on the census of population, households and
dwellings in the Republic of Croatia 2011, the destruction of Census
data shall be carried out after all information is entered on the
computers, after the completion of controls and after the basic stage of
Census data processing and the extraction of a part of the Census data
for the Croatian state archives in accordance with the Instruction of
the Director General of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
Where do I apply for work on
the Census 2011?
Applications for positions of enumerators and controllers of Census 2011
shall be invited just before the enumeration process begins, through
February and March 2011. Upon receipt of applications of potential
candidates, a selection shall be made based on the analysis of the
Questionnaire for applying enumerators and controllers. A selected
number of applicants shall undergo training for the introduction of
methodology and organization of Census 2011. After the training, all
participants are obliged to take the final exam. The most successful
participants shall be chosen for the enumerators or controllers.
What are prerequisites for jobs with the Census 2011?
An enumerator must have secondary education degree or higher, have clear
handwriting (which will be checked upon applying) and pass the final
exam for enumerators after training. Field operations shall take place 1
- 28 April and will last throughout each day. Therefore, enumerators
spend the entire day in the field, most of which they will enumerate,
and a lesser share of time they will spend with their superior
(controller) who will validate their materials. Enumerators are expected
to be available full-time during the Census, and may not be
simultaneously engaged on work elsewhere or actively attend
school/university.
As in prior censuses, the unemployed shall take priority in acquiring
positions, because working on Census requires full-time engagement/work
(including Saturdays and Sundays).
When will the training for participants in Census 2011
begin?
The training for coordinators shall last for several moths. Training for
other participants in the Census shall begin three weeks prior to the
Census. Participants shall receive hierarchical training, i.e.
coordinators shall provide instructors and members of the committee with
training, instructors shall provide controllers, and finally controllers
shall provide enumerators with training. Training at all levels shall
last for four days.
What is the rate of pay for participants in the Census
2011?
The rate of pay shall depend on the number of units (persons, households
and dwellings) that the enumerator collects in the assigned census
district. Coordinators and a share of instructors shall be selected
among employees of Croatian Bureau of Statistics. The rate of pay for
controllers and a share of instructors (not employees of the CBS) shall
be fixed for each of the categories and be determined according to the
duration of their work.
All information regarding Census 2011
shall be released timely on the Croatian Bureau of Statistics website (www.dzs.hr).