Population and Housing Census 2021
The Population and Housing Census is the only survey that gives a picture of life in Estonia at one moment in time: who live here, where and in what conditions. The census data provide information not only about the population in general but also about families, households, their distribution, migration as well as dwellings and living conditions. The knowledge gained from the census helps to make smarter decisions and consequently plan life in Estonia at the national as well as at municipality level. In Estonia, the census is conducted by Statistics Estonia.
More information: rahvaloendus.ee
All Estonian people are counted based on the information received from different registers. Additionally, the census collects data that cannot be found in the registers and that are based on people’s self-assessment or internal convictions (e.g. religious affiliation, knowledge of dialects, assessment of one’s health condition etc.). All persons can participate in the census by filling out a short questionnaire at rahvaloendus.ee. Filling out the form takes about five minutes and can be done until January 22.
Filling out the form is voluntary but all across Estonia a random sample of 61,000 people will be found, for whom it is obligatory. These people are sent an invitation to fill out the form by regular mail. If it is not possible to fill out the form through electronic channels, the person will be contacted by a census interviewer in order to get the answers by phone or at a home visit. People will be interviewed by phone or at home visits during February, 2022.
All residents of Estonia will also receive an invitation to fill out the census questionnaire on the e-mail addresses noted down in the population register.
All answers will count and are highly expected!
More information: www.rahvaloendus.ee
The census questionnaire is very short, as most of the information is already contained in the different national registers. Additionally, the census collects data that cannot be found in the registers and that are based on people’s self-assessment or internal convictions (e.g. religious affiliation, knowledge of dialects, assessment of one’s health condition etc.).
When a census interviewer contacts you, they will first introduce themselves and say where they are calling from and why. An interviewer will never ask you to log into a web page through your bank account, or with Smart-ID, ID card or Mobile-ID, nor ask for your bank account number or other details related to your bank account, or ask you to make any bank transfers. If a person claiming to be an interviewer asks you to do any of the abovementioned things, end the call and let both Statistics Estonia and the Police and Border Guard Board know of the incident.
The preferred way of filling out the census form is electronically, on the web page rahvaloendus.ee.
Only those who are in the random sample of people for whom it is obligatory to fill out the form and who cannot answer the questionnaire electronically for some reason will be contacted by phone or with a home visit.
Initially, the interviewer will make contact by phone and if it is not possible to reach a person by phone, the interviewer will make a visit and leave a note, asking to contact them. Answering the questionnaire at a home visit is the very last resort that is used only if the COVID-19 epidemiological situation allows.
All census interviewers are vaccinated, do regular rapid corona tests, and wear masks at home visits. An interviewer cancels all home visits if any symptoms occur.
If a home visit has been arranged with you but you are sick or a close contact, you can arrange a phone conversation with your interviewer or a home visit after your recovery or the end of your isolation period during the interviewing period February 1 to 28, 2022.
Last updated: 12.01.2022
