How often is the census?
A census is one of the largest possible information collections about a population.
It is a crucial process that allows countries to understand a lot about their citizens and way of life.
They use this data to plan and make important policy decisions on a range of topics.
Read below to find out how frequently censuses are done all over the world.
Contents
- 1 What is a census?
- 2 Why is a census done?
- 3 How often does the census happen?
- 3.1 How often is the census in Australia?
- 3.2 How often is the census in Brazil?
- 3.3 How often is the census in Canada?
- 3.4 How often is the census in China?
- 3.5 How often is the census in France?
- 3.6 How often is the census in India?
- 3.7 How often is the census in New Zealand?
- 3.8 How often is the census in the United Kingdom?
- 3.9 How often is the census in the United States?
What is a census?
A census is a large and important process of collecting, recording and systemically analysing a wide range of information about a particular population.
The term is usually meant as in relation to a national survey of the population and housing.
For example, a census of Australia, South Africa or the United States.
It is one of the largest collections of information that is ever undertaken about residents in a country.
For example, it collects information about demographics, economic, cultural and social data that represent a population.
Think of things like age, occupation, background or ancestry, religion, education and health.
Individual countries and regions usually complete a census.
But why bother with this?
Why is a census done?
In simple terms, it basically helps to identify and analyse:
- how many people live somewhere,
- who they are and
- how they live
So, it gives a lot of very useful information.
This can be used for a number of things.
For example, important policy decisions for education, health and well-being and future planning.
As an idea, consider you are planning to build a regional hospital. Given how important this decision is, you want to have accurate information about how many people live in the region. You may also want to know their age or occupations. This is where the census comes in handy as it helps you do it in a well informed way.
A census is incredibly important and has so many uses.
How often does the census happen?
Most countries and regions try to do a census regularly at set intervals. But this is not always the case.
Why you ask?
Well, given the magnitude (and cost) of the task, countries do them at slightly different time periods.
Even if they are regularly done, there are some circumstances when the timing can be changed. Think war times or even a pandemic.
But they are usually quite regular.
We have made a list of many countries and how often they complete the censuses.
While we have tried to make it as accurate as possible, we may have made a mistake so please access the relevant official information to do your own research and ensure you are up to date.
Note that frequently, a census is mandatory with fines associated when they are not completed.
How often is the census in Australia?
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which completes the census in Australia, a census is done every 5 years. The last one was actually completed in 2021. The first one in Australia was done in 1911.
How often is the census in Brazil?
In Brazil, the census is done about every 10 years. The first ever one to be conducted in Brazil was far back in 1872!
How often is the census in Canada?
In Canada, the census is conducted by the Statistics Canada / Statistique Canada organisation. Like Australia and New Zealand for example, it is completed about every 5 years.
How often is the census in China?
In China, the timing of the censuses used to be quite irregular. More recently, since 1990, they occur once per decade (about every 10 years).
How often is the census in France?
In France, the first census was done in 1801. They are completed by INSEE. Unlike many other countries, France does an annual collection of data and reports it over 5 year interval averages.
How often is the census in India?
The first ever Indian one was conducted in 1873 and they have been relatively regular since 1881, occurring every 10 years.
How often is the census in New Zealand?
Done by Stats NZ, the New Zealand collection happens about every 5 years as well. The next one for NZ is planned for 2023.
Like in many cases all over the world, there has been a shift towards online rather than paper based collections.
How often is the census in the United Kingdom?
The UK population censuses are conducted every 10 years. It includes England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The timing in each region may vary a little.
The 2021 collection was the most recent one with Scotland planned to complete it in 2022 due to the pandemic.
How often is the census in the United States?
The USA completes one every 10 years. The first US census dates back to the 18th century – 1790 to be exact.
The most recent was in 2020 with some delays due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
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Important disclaimer: this text regarding the frequency of the censuses is made for general information only and not guaranteed to be factually accurate. We hope you find it useful but do not accept any responsibility for any mistakes or liability arising from the use of the information, even if deemed inaccurate, as outlined in the terms of use of How Often Should website.
