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Basic information about the 2021 Census

Concerning the preparation and realization, the census is one of the most demanding and largest statistical surveys, it provides irreplaceable information about the state of society, its demographic, social and economic and cultural structures, dwelling and households.

Preparation of the Population and Housing Census

The main basis for the 2021 Population and Housing Census (2021 Census) was established:

  • first fully electronic census (completely without paper forms)
  • first integrated census (combination of data collected from administrative sources and data collected from the population)
  • preparation for the integrated census was based on the identification of appropriate administrative data sources, negotiations with administrators of administrative data sources took place, cooperation and data provision agreements were concluded, cooperation and communication with source administrators followed, the National Action Plan of the 2021 Census was developed as a platform for inter-ministry cooperation
  • data from administrative sources were analysed, usefulness of data for the 2021 Census and data quality were evaluated, data were processed; a territorial preparation for the 2021 Census was proposed and implemented
  • the methods of data collection for the population and housing census were specified, testing of them was realized, the census stages and their deadlines were set, the decisive moment of the census was set, professional studies were developed
  • the surveyed variables and their sources were defined (administrative data sources, municipality, resident)
  • the Act on the 2021 Population and Housing Census, related measures, methodological guidelines, methodological manuals were issued
  • census forms for the housing census (a database and questionnaire form) and census forms for the population census (type A form, type B form) were developed and tested with the relevant methodological explanations
  • the website www.scitanie.sk was set up
  • a nationwide communication and promotional campaign of the 2021 Census were conducted

Preparation

Creation and testing

  • electronic system for the housing census (environment for the collection of data on dwellings from municipalities)
  • electronic system for the population census (census web application, census mobile application, stationary assistant application, mobile assistant application, e-environment for contact persons)
  • internal monitoring of the housing census for municipalities and the SR
  • internal monitoring of the population census for municipalities and the SR
  • training portals (e-learning) for persons in the municipality, who were authorised to conduct the housing census (authorized persons and managers of authorized persons), for persons in the municipality, who acted as staff for the population census (contact persons, stationary and mobile assistants) and for call centre staff

Vytvorenie a testovanie

Territorial preparation

  • generally, territorial preparation is a tool for territorial administration to prepare and conduct each statistical survey, it defines the space of survey realization and identifies the objects to be covered
  • territorial preparation is an essential element even for the largest statistical survey, which is the population and housing census.

Territorial preparation for the 2021 Census means the spatial and database identification of all objects (dwellings), in which the population of Slovakia could live at the time of the census and thus in which they could be counted.

Vision of the territorial preparation: each resident will be counted, will be counted only once and will be counted in a geolocation place.

Data sources used in the processing of the Territorial Preparation for the 2021 Census:

  • the Address Register (AR) - Ministry of the Interior of the SR
  • the Information System of Cadastre of Real Estate (ISCRE) - Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Authority of the SR
  • Basic database for geographic information system (BD GIS) - Institute of Geodesy and Cartography
  • 2011 Population and Housing Census
  • the Register of Natural Persons (RNP) - Ministry of the Interior of the SR
  • the Basic Settlement Units (BSU) - Ministry of the Environment of the SR

The Territorial Preparation Information System (TP IS) = an integrated solution for the collection, updating, administration and provision of geolocation data is a result of the Territorial Preparation for the 2021 Census. The data part of the Territorial Preparation thus consists of the maximum set of all possible occupied or unoccupied geolocation objects, including huts, garden huts, shacks, houseboats, etc. collected from administrative data sources and in the field.

Data of the TP IS are a basis for:

  • Electronic Housing Census
  • Electronic Population Census
  • Census monitoring during e-collection of data on population and housing

Innovations of the Territorial preparation in comparison with the 2011 Population and Housing Census

  • new concept of the 2021 Census - INTEGRATED CENSUS - was reflected in the main basis for the solution of the TP IS, several administrative data sources (not only KN) were used and the TP IS was integrated directly with the Register of Addresses
  • in terms of territorial detail, data are collected at the level of the geolocation address point, while in the past, census districts, which included a larger number of habitable objects, were set up for the purposes of the census territorial preparation
  • the system is suggested as a sustainable system for future censuses and post-censuses

Housing census

Housing census
Sčítanie 100% electronic for the first time, houses and dwellings were counted exclusively electronically, via electronic system for the housing census
municipalitiescensus of houses and dwellings were entrusted municipalities of the Slovak Republic, in the capital city of the Slovak Republic Bratislava and Košice city districts.
Deadlinescensus period of housing census preceded population census

municipalities counted houses and dwellings on their territory for more than 8 months, which represented 257 days
Municipalitiesresidents did not participate in the census of houses and dwellings

Electronic census form

  • municipalities had at their disposal a database of data on houses and dwellings pre-filled with data from administrative sources
  • municipalities counted flats in family houses, apartment houses as well as other dwellings
  • the housing census was carried out using one form (per flat in the house)
  • municipalities had a choice of 2 forms of the form for the census of houses and dwellings (questionnaire and database form)
100% electronic

Electronic system for the housing census

  • the electronic system for the housing census (ESHC) was available at www.scitanie.sk during the period of the housing census under the button "Entry for municipalities"
  • the census form was available in the state - Slovak language and model forms in 7 language versions: Hungarian, Romani, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, English, German and French language
  • the authorized persons entered the data valid at the decisive moment of the census, i.e. at midnight from 31 December 2020 to 1 January 2021, in the form
  • logical checks were built-in in the census form, thanks to which the authorized persons avoided errors during work
  • changes from the Address Register were reflected in the ESDB within 48 hours thanks to a direct integration into the Address Register via the Territorial Preparation, a weekly update of the List of Constructions (GCCA) was carried out
  • two types of forms were available: a questionnaire form, a database form

Questionnaire form

  • a separate sheet in the form of a questionnaire was opened for each dwelling
  • the questionnaire form was divided into 3 parts for easier orientation: geolocation data (fixed), individual data on the dwelling in the house, common data on the dwellings in the house
  • the census form contained 21 questions
  • selection of answers from the offered options of values, which a variable can obtained according to the code list

Database form

  • mass editing of several dwellings (unlike the questionnaire form, in which this functionality was not possible)
  • import of data from persons performed administration of housing in xlsx and xml format
  • the census form contained 21 questions
  • selection of answers from the offered options of values, which a variable can obtain according to the code list

Census Sample Form

Census Sample Form

Population Census

Population Census
Population Census 100% electronic 100% electronic counting for the first time
Sčítanie obyvateľov onlinecounting via www.scitanie.sk or the mobile app SODB 2021

Selfcounting of the population 15.2. - 31.3.2021

residents counted themselves or with the help of a close person

Assisted resident counting 3.5. - 13.6.2021

if a resident was not able to count himself/herself or with help of a close person, all it took was a visit to a place of contact within the municipality or ask for a mobile assistant.

Deadlines

Electronic census form

  • 8 language versions
  • 2 types of census forms

    Type A: registration by birth number or electronic identity card or residence permit

    Type B: registration by date of birth and sex
  • fewer questions for the population compared to the previous censuses
  • intuitive operation
  • selection of answers from the offered options of values
  • logical checks
Maximálna ochrana údajov

Electronic system of the population census

  • the electronic system for the population census was available for the purposes of the population census during the implementation of the census at www.scitanie.sk, under the button "Count" or via the 2021 Census mobile application, which was available for Android and iOS operating systems
  • the census form was available in the national language- Slovak and in 7 language versions: Hungarian, Romani, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, English, German and French
  • the residents entered into the form the data valid at the decisive moment of the census, i.e. at midnight between 31 December 2020 and 1 January 2021
  • the census form had built-in logical checks, thanks to which only relevant questions were displayed to the population (e.g. a minor under 15 years of age was not asked a question about employment)
  • two types of forms were available: type A and B form

Type A form

  • the resident has logged into the form by means of his / her birth number or electronic identity card or residence permit, in the mobile application by birth number or a photo of the back of the identity card
  • the census form collected only data that could not be obtained in the required quality from the existing administrative sources, so there were fewer questions compared to previous censuses, thus reducing the administrative burden on the population
  • The standard census form contained 14 questions

Type B form

  • this type of census form was primarily intended for the residents who do not have an assigned personal identification number in the SR, it was possible to register via date of birth and sex
  • the type B census form contained more questions than the type A form, as it is not possible to use administrative data sources for residents without a birth number
  • The census form contained 20 questionsk

Documents

European legislation

In 2013, in case of the 2021 Population and Housing Census, Eurostat decided to maintain in force the Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (pdf 100 kB), which was a binding document for the realization of the 2011 Population and Housing Census. The 2021 Population and Housing Census is specified by four new implementing regulations.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/543 of 22 March 2017, laying down rules for the application of the Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on population and housing censuses as regards the technical specifications of the topics and of their breakdowns
/ Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/543 of 22 March 2017 (pdf 614 kB)

Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/712 of 20 April 2017 establishing the reference year and the programme of the statistical data and metadata for population and housing censuses provided for by Regulation (EC) No 763/2008of the European Parliament and of the Council
/ Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/712 of 20 April 2017 (pdf 359 kB)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/881 of 23 May 2017 implementing Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on population and housing censuses, as regards the modalities and structure of the quality reports and the technical format for data transmission, and amending Regulation (EU) No 1151/2010
/ Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/881 of 23 May 2017 (pdf 350 kB)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1799 of 21 November 2018 on the establishment of a temporary direct statistical action for the dissemination of selected topics of the 2021 population and housing census geocoded to a 1 km2 grid
/ / Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1799 of 21 November 2018 (pdf 411 kB)

National legislation

The National Council of the Slovak Republic approved the government bill of the Act No 223/2019 Coll. on the 2021 Population and Housing Census and on amendments to certain acts of 18 June 2019. The Act has come into effect on 1 September 2019. The full wording of the Act was declared in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic on 22 July 2019. The Act lays down the range and the method of realization of the 2021 Population and Housing Census, which is a specific type of statistical survey.
/ Act No 223/2019 Coll. on 2021 Population and Housing Census in 2021 - full version Act to 5.2.2021 (pdf 360 kB)

Act No 44/2021 Coll. amending the act No 223/2019 Coll on 2021 Population and Housing Census in 2021
/ Act No 44/2021 Coll. amending the act No 223/2019 Coll on 2021 Population and Housing Census in 2021 (pdf 165 kB)

Act No 223/2019 Coll. on the 2021 Population and Housing Census and on amendments to certain acts
/ Act No 223/2019 Coll. Act on the 2021 Population and Housing Census - full version Act since 6.2.2021 (pdf 372 kB)

The Population and Housing Census is the only statistical survey in Slovakia, the content, range and method of realization of which are laid down by law..

Decision president of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No 10900-2172/2021 from 21 April 2021 on the post-enumeration to provide an assisted census
/ Decision president of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic on the post-enumeration to provide an assisted census (pdf 260 kB)

Measure 403/2019 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic on a census assistant card
/ Measure 403/2019 Coll. (pdf 614 kB)

Measure 60/2021 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic amending Measure 403/2019 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republicon a census assistant card
/ Measure 60/2021 Coll. (pdf 401 kB)

Measure 435/2019 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic laying down details on the system of identification of the electronic identity of population and the system of verification of the electronic identity of population through its authentication
/ Measure 435/2019 Coll. (pdf 160 kB)

Measure 59/2021 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic amending Measure 435/2019 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republiclaying down details on the system of identification of the electronic identity of population and the system of verification of the electronic identity of population through its authentication
/ Measure 59/2021 Coll. (pdf 143 kB)

Measure 440/2019 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic laying down details on the technical provision of data from administrative sources
/ Measure 440/2019 Coll. (pdf 176 KB)

Measure 441/2019 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic laying down details on the conditions of operation of the contact point
/ Measure 441/2019 Coll. (pdf 153 kB)

Measure 44/2020 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic laying down details on the characteristics and structure of collected data on themes by the list, details on the method of data collection and samples of census forms for population census and census forms for census of houses and flats
/ Measure 44/2020 Coll. (pdf 1,3 MB)

Guidance Note of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10900-0018/2020, on the use of the subsidy granted to the municipality for covering the costs of the transferred performance of state administration in the preparation, conduct and implementation of the 2021 Population and housing census, that will arise during the implementation of housing census.
/ Guidance Note of the SOSR No. 10900-0018 / 2020 (pdf 96 kB)

Guidance Note of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10912-933/2021 on the provision of a supplement to the subsidy granted to the municipality for covering the costs of the transferred performance of state administration in the preparation, conduct and implementation of the 2021 Population and housing census, that will arise during the implementation of housing census.
/ Guidance Note of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10912-933/2021 (pdf 171 kB)

Itemization of subsidy supplements (housing census)
/ Itemization of subsidy supplements housing census (pdf 757 kB)

Application for the provision of a supplement to the subsidy, Annex no. 1 to Methodological instruction no. 10912-933/2021 (housing census)
/ Application for the provision of a supplement to the subsidy (pdf 112 kB)

Instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10912-1815/2021
/ Instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10912-1815/2021 (pdf 402 kB)

Annex no. 1 Instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10912-1815/2021
/ Annex no. 1 Instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No.10912-1815/2021 (pdf 642 kB)

Measure of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 100/2020 Coll. on the provision of subsidy from the state budget for covering the costs of the transferred performance of state administration in the preparation, conduct and implementation of the 2021 Population and housing census, that will arise during the implementation of housing census
/ Measure 100/2020 Coll. (pdf 79 kB)

Measure 307/2020 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, on the provision of subsidy from the state budget for covering the costs of the transferred performance of state administration in the preparation, conduct and implementation of the 2021 Population and housing census, that will arise during the implementation of the population census and on remuneration of some census assistants
/ Measure 307/2020 Coll. (pdf 173 kB)

Measure 61/2021 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, amending Measure 307/2020 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republicon the provision of subsidy from the state budget for covering the costs of the transferred performance of state administration in the preparation, conduct and implementation of the 2021 Population and housing census, that will arise during the implementation of the population census and on remuneration of some census assistants
/ Measure 61/2021 Coll. (pdf 144 kB)

Guidance Note of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10900-1434/2021 amending the Guidance Note of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 15355/2020 on the use of the subsidy granted to the municipality for covering the costs of the transferred performance of state administration in the preparation, conduct and implementation of the 2021 Population and housing census, that will arise during the implementation of population census.
/ Guidance Note of the SOSR No. 10900-1434/2021 (pdf 285 kB)

Guidance Note of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 15355/2020, on the use of the subsidy granted to the municipality for covering the costs of the transferred performance of state administration in the preparation, conduct and implementation of the 2021 Population and housing census, that will arise during the implementation of population census, as amended Guidance Note of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 10900-1434/2021_ consolidated version
/ Guidance Note of the SOSR No. 15355/2020 consolidated version (pdf 281 kB)

Basic documents

2021 Population and Housing Census Project – Feasibility Study

The feasibility study of the 2021 Population and Housing Census Project was conducted by Ernst & Young, Ltd. for the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic in the light of methodological guideline No MF/008782/2018-297on the procedure to prepare investments and investment projects subject to economic evaluation by the Ministry of Finance of the SR. The study is dealt with comparison of traditional 2011 Census and 2021 Census, so-called integrated census. The study contains the investment reason, technical and technological backgrounds, description of the territorial preparation. Furthermore, the study describes the individual census options as well as the selection of the most acceptable option with budgetary implications. Part of the study is an analysis describing the details of costs and expenses.
/ Feasibility study of the 2021 Population and Housing Census Project (pdf 741 kB)

Population census methodology in terms of their nationality or ethnicity with respect to the mother tongue

Meeting the strategic objectives of the National Action Plan of the 2021 Population and Housing Census for the years 2017 - 2020 is one of the priorities of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic in the census preparation. The Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for National Minorities and the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic as the responsible authorities of the activity 4. "To prepare a methodology of the population census in terms of their nationality or ethnicity with regard to the mother tongue" prepared the draft document in cooperation with the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities, the Office of the Government of the SR, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the SR, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice of the SR and representatives of national minorities - Population census methodology in terms of their nationality or ethnicity with respect to the mother tongue, respecting the diversity of opinions and arguments.
/ Population census methodology in terms of their nationality or ethnicity with regard to the mother tongue (pdf 2,64nbsp;MB)

Legislative intention of the Act on the 2021 Population and Housing Census

On 13 December 2017, the Government of the Slovak Republic approved the legislative intention of the Act on 2021 Population and Housing Census. The approved legislative intention preliminarily lays down the use of registers and administrative data sources, method of data collection, which reflects the needs of the integrated 2021 Census and make reference to specification of rights and obligations of the Statistical Office of the SR, state bodies, local self-government bodies, natural persons and legal entities.
/ Legislative intention of the Act on the 2021 Population and Housing Census (pdf 580 kB)

National Action Plan of the 2021 Population and Housing Census for the years 2017 - 2020

On 1 March 2017, the Government of the Slovak Republic approved the National Action Plan for the 2021 Population and Housing Census for years 2017-2020 at its 48th session. The document not only specifies the intention of the future census, its philosophy and importance, but also contains activities and measures, which have to be ensured in the conditions of the Slovak Republic for reasons of a successful transition from traditional census to integrated census of population, housing and flats.
/ National Action Plan of the 2021 Population and Housing Census for the years 2017 – 2020 (pdf 482 kB)

Information on 2021 Census in the Slovak Republic

On 17 August 2016, the Government of the Slovak Republic took note of the Information on the 2021 Population and Housing Census in the Slovak Republic.
/ Information on the 2021 Population and Housing Census in the Slovak Republic (pdf 1 MB)

Programme Declaration of the Government of the Slovak Republic on 2021 Census

The Government of the Slovak Republic expressed its support to the 2021 Population and Housing Census in the Programme Declaration of the Government for 2016-2020. The document inter alia stated that:

"Reliable national statistics have an irreplaceable place in the creation, realization and updating of programs ensuring the development of public and private sector. It is a key source of information at national and international level. The government is interested in further strengthening the objectivity, impartiality and professional independence of national statistics.

The government will support the 2021 Population and Housing Census as a unique opportunity to obtain reliable, comparable and interconnected statistical data and information on the situation of society, its structures and housing. It will pay attention to reduce the administrative burden of population.."

Working group on the preparation of 2021 PHC

In December 2014, the President of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic Ľudmila Benkovičová has set up a working group to prepare the 2021 Population and Housing Census. Its members are experts from the internal and external environment. The aim of this working group is to propose an optimal method of realization of the 2021 Population and Housing Census and ensure its conceptual preparation in compliance with the regulations of the European Parliament and the Council (EC), documents of other international organizations, taking into account current legislation in the SR and state administration requirements, self-government and research and pedagogical sphere.
/ Working group statutes (pdf 222 kB)

Authorization of the Statistical Office of the SR to prepare 2021 Census

On 21 May 2014, the Government of the Slovak Republic took note of the information on meeting all obligations arising from the project of the 2011 Population and Housing Census provided by the Statistical Office of the SR and authorize the Statistical Office of the SR to prepare the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
/ Communiqué from the meeting of the Government of the SR (pdf 109 kB)

Author: Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic