Transformation of 2000-2020 Population Census Programmes in the CIS States as a Response to Changing Needs of the Society

In 2018 CIS-Stat surveyed national statistical offices of all member states of the Commonwealth regarding the list of topics they plan to include in the 2020 census programmes. This material is a result of thorough analysis of the information presented along with questionnaires from 2000 and 2010 census round. The article covers core census topics that the CIS member-states plan to include in their census programmes of the 2020 round. Population census topics are designed to maintain continuity with the previous censuses, to meet national information needs and are consistent with international recommendations. Much of the national population census programmes preserve the traditional structure. However, every round brings own features given the information needs of every state of the Commonwealth.

Pilot population censuses are conducted in order to test methodological and technical solutions. Pilot censuses have currently been completed inBelarus(in 2017),Azerbaijan,Kazakhstan,RussiaandTajikistan(in 2018). This material presents general characteristics of testing of materials and documents included in the core headings of the census programme. All of them have commonalities as well as own features that serve the information needs of a country. The authors explore the following sections of census programme: “Population to be enumerated, household and family characteristics”, “Demographic and ethno-cultural characteristics”, “Marital status and fertility”, “Geographical and migration characteristics”, “Characteristics of persons, temporarily present in the country”, “Educational and economic characteristics”, “Other population and household characteristics”.

Population censuses in the CIS countries continue to be one of the pillars of data collection on the number and socio-demographic, economic and ethno-cultural characteristics of the population of a country; at the same time, some topics - educational attainment, marital status, language and ethnicity - can only be investigated in a census of population.

The 2020 census round in the CIS countries stands out as having agreed upon methodology for socio-demographic characteristics, particularly information on migration and work force. Harmonized methodology will allow national statistical offices to more precisely determine the flows and volume of international migration, along with the total size of the Commonwealth labour market amidst the fast approaching census date.

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