statistics
The 2022 census begins in mid-May – helpers are still being sought
Around ten million citizens are to be interviewed for the new census in May. Photo: picture alliance / dpa
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After eleven years there is another census in Germany. Some information is being collected for the first time, including the amount of the rent.
From mid-May, millions of Germans will be asked about themselves and their living conditions in a census.
The Federal Statistical Office announced on Wednesday that eleven years after the last census, nationwide data on the population and on the living and working situation is to be collected. Deadline is May 15th. Predominantly existing data is used, but there are also written and oral surveys.
According to the information, around ten million citizens will be randomly selected for a survey on their age, marital status, nationality and living and working situation, which will take place from May 16, in some cases in around half-hour personal interviews. The rest of the information should be submitted online.
No conclusions about persons
The data is evaluated anonymously, it is not possible to draw conclusions about individuals, the Federal Office said. The results should be available in November 2023, the costs are given as 1.5 billion euros.
All around 23 million owners or administrations must also provide information about apartments in writing or online. You will receive questions about the year of construction, size and rent in the mail. Around 300,000 residents of dormitories will also be surveyed.
There is an obligation to provide information, said Stefan Dittrich from the Federal Statistical Office. Otherwise penalties may be imposed. The experience from the 2011 census shows that most citizens are willing to provide information, added Michael Fürnrohr from the Bavarian State Office for Statistics. The municipalities and state statistical offices were still looking for helpers for the interviews, so-called survey officers.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the aim is to create a reliable planning basis for decisions at federal, state and local level. Some information is requested for the first time, such as the net cold rent, duration and reasons for the vacancy of apartments and the type of heating. This should enable cities and communities to plan housing based on people’s specific needs, said Dittrich.
A census is actually planned every ten years. The scheduled date of 2021 had been postponed due to the corona pandemic.