31 August 2020

Selected households in almost a hundred municipalities across the whole Czech Republic can participate on a voluntary basis in a test run of the Population Census during September and October. By their participation, they will thus help statisticians with the preparation and smooth progress of the 2021 Census, which will take place in spring next year.

The Census test run shall, first of all, test all phases of the Census, the process of data collection and processing and reveal possible reserves. “The test run of the Census is a unique possibility to check how all systems work as for online data collection and the way of distribution and collection of paper forms (questionnaires). The same as during the real Census we strongly emphasize security of personal data,” Robert Šanda, Director of the Population Statistics Department of the CZSO and the 2021 Census project responsible person, said. Moreover, results of the test run of the Census will not be published anywhere, unlike the nationwide Census. The Census under preparation is going to be more user-friendly compared to all the previous censuses and faster thanks to a guiding online form and it should be a lower burden for the citizens.

The Census test run will start on 1 September by census enumerators of the Česká pošta (Czech Post) company visiting selected households to inform them that they have been included in the project. “The Census test run is an important test for us. We plan to check proposed procedures, on which the next year´s real Census will be based,” Ondřej Škorpil, Director of the Development and Strategy unit of the Česká pošta, said.

The Czech Statistical Office will release the online form of the test run of the Census on the www.scitani.cz website on 14 September; it will be available there until 20 September. Participants of the Census test run will get also more information on the website regarding the whole project. Those who will prefer to fill in data in a paper form will have the possibility to do so from 25 September to 7 October. Afterwards, filled-in forms will be collected from 22 October.

25 thousand households that were addressed live in over 12 thousand buildings in 98 places all over the Czech Republic; they were selected by the Czech Statistical Office to represent typical localities. The test run of the Census will thus take place in small municipalities as well as in big urban agglomerations. It will include also various types of multi-dwelling buildings including, for example, collective accommodation establishments.

Results of the Population Census are unique and can be applied widely. Municipalities can use them to plan kindergartens or social services, data about commuting help optimize regional transport. The Integrated Rescue System works with the population numbers and with the numbers of buildings. “Every Census is preceded by several years of preparations and a test run of the Census is then a “dress rehearsal” with participation of the public. The more of the addressed households will get involved the better. Not only for the future success of the next spring Census, but also mainly for the citizens of our country,” Robert Šanda concluded.

Contact:
Jan Cieslar
Spokesperson of the CZSO
Phone number: +420 274 052 017
Mobile phone: +420 604 149 190
E-mail: jan.cieslar@czso.cz