13 January 2021

The 2021 Census, which is to take place from 27 March to 11 May, is designed primarily as an online census, i.e. without a necessity to be in contact with other persons. It can be used by up to 88% of the population of Czechia who have internet at home. However, the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) carefully observes and assesses the epidemic situation on an ongoing basis and is ready to flexibly react.

What is completely health risk free is the online phase of the Census, which is planned to take place from 27 March to 9 April 2021; there will be no necessity to be in any contact with census enumerators or other persons. Citizens will fill in an electronic census form on a computer, a tablet, or a mobile phone. “The online way to be counted is obviously more comfortable, faster, and, most of all, safer. Moreover, it also enables to count both other persons in a household and out of the household comfortably, i.e., for example, parents or grandparents who may belong to an endangered group from the point of view of epidemiology with regards to their age. Also in their interest I recommend to get counted online to everybody,” Marek Rojíček, President of the Czech Statistical Office, is appealing.   

In a poll, about two thirds of the population showed their primary interest in the online form of the Census; however, due to the current situation, the Czech Statistical Office assumes that the interest will be higher. The CZSO will also accent the online form of the Census during the whole census project communication campaign. In 2020, 81% of the population of the Czech Republic aged over 16 years were actively using the Internet. Internet is also used by 40% of persons aged 65 years or more.

From 12 April to 11 May, the Czech Statistical Office plans to carry out an additional field survey, during which only those who could not be counted online (or did not want to for some reason) should be counted. Also in that phase, however, it will be possible to minimise contact with census enumerators and send the filled in census forms (questionnaires) by mail for free. “We carefully observe the current development, monitor the situation on an ongoing basis, and are in touch with specialists from the Ministry of Health in order to be able to respond correspondingly. The development of the epidemic situation during spring will be crucial. The law enables us to postpone the terms for the Census by up to 30 days. I believe that it will not have to happen and many people getting involved in the Online Census will contribute to that,” President of the CZSO says.      

The Population and Housing Census takes place once in ten years and it is aimed at acquiring precise and current data that serve to make planning of many aspects of the public life including education, health and social care, or the integrated rescue system more effective. The 2021 Census is being prepared primarily as an online Census – for the first time in our history. This year, it has been a hundred years since the first Czechoslovak census took place.

Contact:
Jan Cieslar
Spokesman of the CZSO
Phone number: +420 604 149 190
e-mail: jan.cieslar@czso.cz