It is a kind of inventory of the country: From May 15, the statistical offices of the federal and state governments will be conducting a census for the first time since 2011.
Nationwide, more than 30 million citizens are surveyed to find out how many people live in Germany, how they live and work.
Around 10.3 million randomly selected people are asked about their name, gender, marital status and nationality, among other things. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around three quarters of the people are also asked questions from an extended questionnaire. This is about school leaving qualifications or a job.
The approximately 300,000 people who live in dormitories and communal accommodation are also recorded. Residents of shared accommodation are not interviewed directly. The manager of the institution provides information there.
In addition, all of the approximately 23 million owners or administrations of housing should provide information about their apartments and residential buildings. In Germany there is no uniform administrative register that records the stock of residential buildings and apartments across the board. That is why the census of buildings and apartments is an important part of the 2022 census, explained the Federal Statistical Office.
For the first time, the net cold rent, duration and reason for a vacancy as well as the energy source of the heating are also queried. This addresses current data requirements and provides an important data basis for future planning.
The aim is to create a reliable planning basis for political and economic decisions at federal, state and local level. The purpose of the census is to determine the exact population figure and to correct inaccuracies in the population registers.
In 2011, it turned out that fewer people live in many towns and communities than assumed – with painful financial consequences, since the amount of payments from the financial equalization system is based on the population.
Nationwide, 100,000 so-called survey officers will be deployed. The respective interviewer comes at a previously announced date. All selected persons are asked questions about their age, marital status or household size. This takes five to ten minutes.
About three quarters of the people are also asked questions from an extended questionnaire. This is about school leaving qualifications or a job. This survey will take another 10 to 15 minutes. You can either answer these questions directly in a personal conversation, fill out a paper questionnaire or answer later online.
There are no personal interviews in the census of buildings and apartments. The owners and administrations of living space will receive a letter with online access data on the key date.
According to the 2022 census law, the selected persons are required to provide information, and it is not possible to refuse to participate. If you do not comply with this obligation, according to the Federal Office, a fine may also be due.
The Federal Office emphasizes that data protection requirements from the Federal Statistics Act and the General Data Protection Regulation are observed. The data would not be passed on to authorities outside of official statistics and would only be evaluated anonymously.
In addition, personal data would be required for processing and deleted at the earliest possible time. Only summarized results are published, which do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about individual people, households or buildings, it said. The interviewers would have to commit themselves in writing to maintaining statistical confidentiality.
The European Union obliges its member states to carry out a census every ten years. This would have been the case in Germany in 2021 – but the date was postponed due to the corona pandemic.
The deadline is May 15, 2022. The surveys should be completed by mid-August. The results of the 2022 census are expected to be available by the end of 2023.
