Nationwide census: surveys also in the district

Next year, another census will take place in Germany, also in Waldeck-Frankenberg. For this purpose, employees of the district census office will visit and interview various households in Waldeck-Frankenberg in the coming months.

How many people live in Waldeck-Frankenberg? Is there enough living space for all citizens? Do we need more kindergartens, schools or care facilities? This statistical survey determines how many people live in Germany, how they live and work and answers corresponding questions. After all, many decisions at the federal, state and local levels are based on population and housing figures. In order to have reliable data for planning, a regular stocktaking of the population is necessary. For this reason, the statistical offices of the Federation and the Länder conduct the census every ten years. Originally, the census was supposed to take place last year, but was postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic.

Consultation of citizens

Although the census is known as the "big census", not every resident has to be interviewed individually for it - on the contrary: the majority of the population does not have to provide any information themselves, as a so-called register-based census is conducted in Germany and the population data thus comes primarily from administrative registers.

Nationwide, only about ten per cent of the population participate in a short interview by survey officers. This sample survey is necessary to detect any inaccuracies in the population registers and to collect data that is not available in the registers, such as information on education and training or on employment. All persons selected for the survey are obliged to provide information.

The results of the census are the basis for how much money cities and municipalities will be allocated in the future through state and municipal financial equalisation and through EU funding. The division of electoral districts and the distribution of votes in the Bundesrat are also based on the official - i.e. the census-determined - number of inhabitants.

In addition to the number of inhabitants, the census also determines the number of dwellings and buildings in Germany. As there are no nationwide registers for this, the owners of dwellings or buildings are contacted by post by the Hessian State Statistical Office and asked to provide information on the size, type of heating, equipment and cold rent of their dwelling or residential building using an online questionnaire. If desired, this questionnaire can also be requested in paper form.

Survey agencies and survey officers

A survey office has also been set up in Waldeck-Frankenberg to carry out the census. It takes care of the recruitment, supervision, training and coordination of the survey officers. The quality of the surveys and data protection are continuously ensured by the survey office. Survey officers conduct the surveys on site. They interview the citizens selected in the sample, collect the necessary data and hand over the access data for the online survey. Before their deployment, they must legally commit themselves in writing to maintaining statistical secrecy and to keeping secret the knowledge gained during and after their work. An ID card in conjunction with an identity card confirms the legitimacy of their work.

All data are evaluated anonymously. The census is not about finding out something about the individual living conditions of the inhabitants. Rather, statistics means that data is generalised, sums are formed and averages are calculated. The sole aim and purpose of the census is to obtain a reliable database for further planning. The results of the census are expected to be available from the end of 2023. The Census enquiry office in Waldeck-Frankenberg can be reached by e-mail at zensus2022@lkwafkb.de or by telephone at 05631 - 954 272. Further information is also available online at www.zensus2022.de.