Population census – duty or necessity?
The Population and Housing Census in the Republic of Moldova will be conducted from 8 April to 7 July 2024. It involves collecting data on the number and demographic characteristics of the population, as well as on residential buildings and living conditions. Thus, the population and housing census is nothing more than a large-scale statistical survey, which is organised every 10 years and aims to provide information of public interest on the resident population and housing.
For the first time, the Census will be carried out on tablets, using new data collection methods, as a modern alternative to traditional paper-based statistical data collection. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with the support of local public authorities and other partners, will also employ more than four thousand census takers from all over the country, who will be trained in the population census process.
The census taker will complete the questionnaire and send the collected data to a secure server where the census data will be stored. Once transmitted to the server, the data will be automatically deleted from the census taker’s tablet and he/she will not be able to keep it or show it to anyone. The files will be transmitted from the tablet to the server in encrypted form, which will prevent them from being intercepted.
This rules out the myth that individual responses from each person will be passed on by the NBS to other public authorities. All the information collected will be used exclusively for statistical purposes to produce generalised statistical indicators according to different characteristics of the population (gender, age, marital status, level of education, ethnicity, mother tongue, occupation, etc.).
The census will not collect data on the value of the house or apartment and respondents will not be asked whether they have a rental contract or not. The data that will be collected on buildings will relate to the materials of which the walls and roof are made and the year of construction of the building. These data will be used for public policy purposes and the data collected on dwellings will refer to their equipment with main amenities such as bath or shower, toilet, heating, kitchen, etc., as well as the surface area of the dwelling. These data will also be useful for us to be aware of the standard of living and what areas to focus on in order to improve the living conditions of Moldovan citizens.
It is important to note that there is no database that would provide complex information on people’s ethnicity, language spoken or religion. The population census is the only source of data at the neighbourhood level (1km square grids), which is necessary for the implementation of social development and infrastructure projects (e.g. urban transport planning).
The census is not about domestic or foreign policy. Without accurate data, we will not have a clear picture of where action is needed on the allocation of different resources to solve social and economic problems. Participation in the census according to the Law no. 231/2022 on Population and Housing Census, art.7, is mandatory. But last but not least it is our moral duty as citizens, showing that we care about the future and development of our country.
The list of questions to be asked in the census can be found on the website of the National Bureau of Statistics.
Responsible RPL r. Hincesti
Petrușan Marcel