The Population and Housing Census (PHC or RPL) aims to provide publicly relevant information about the resident population (hereafter referred to as “population”) and their housing within the country. This information is used for the development, monitoring, and evaluation of state policies, for supporting decisions related to human development, and for scientific research.

The census aims to produce, under internationally comparable conditions, official national statistics regarding:

• The number and territorial distribution of the population at the smallest territorial level;
• The demographic structure and socio-economic characteristics;
• The composition of households, living conditions, housing, and the buildings where dwellings are located.

Accordingly, in the framework of RPL 2024, the following units will be enumerated:

• Individuals;
• Households;
• Dwellings;
• Buildings, all of which are defined as census units in Law no. 231/2022 on the Population and Housing Census.

The census also serves as a basis for annual population estimates and as a sample frame for selective statistical research in households.

Census Variables

To achieve the objectives of the 2024 census, census variables have been established. These variables represent the characteristics of the census units (individuals, households, dwellings, and buildings) and form the content of the census questionnaires.

The variables to be collected during RPL 2024 are in accordance with:

• Recommendations of the Conference of European Statisticians for the 2020 Census Round;
• EU Implementing Regulation 2017/543 of 22 March 2017, establishing the technical specifications for the topics and breakdowns of population and housing censuses under Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council.

In addition to international recommendations, several criteria were considered when determining the variables:

• Relevance and currency of the variables;
• Burden on the respondent and enumerator;
• Clarity for respondents;
• Efficiency and relevance for society and data users;
• Continuity with data from previous censuses;
• Absence of other sources for collecting the same data.

In this context, several rounds of consultations regarding the census topics and variables were carried out:

• Roundtable discussions held on 22–23 December 2022 with key groups of data users (central public authorities and other public institutions; academic community and civil society; development partners; local public administration authorities and other institutions/organizations). These discussions aimed to review the list of census variables and consider proposals for their adjustment and/or supplementation.
• Collection of proposals in February 2023 from central public authorities and other public institutions regarding census topics and variables.
• Examination of the topics and variables and discussion of their support during the meeting of the National Commission for the Population and Housing Census (CNRPL) on 28 February 2023.

Based on these consultations and the decision of the CNRPL, the National Bureau of Statistics (BNS) developed the draft census questionnaires, which include:

“Building and Dwelling Questionnaire” (1CL)

This questionnaire is used to collect data about:

• The building in which the dwelling is located;
• The dwelling itself;
• The household;
• Agricultural activities of the household (where relevant);
• Members of the household, including persons temporarily absent or present, as well as non-resident members.

“Collective Living Space Questionnaire” (2 SCL)

This questionnaire is completed for each residential block of a collective living space (if the collective space has multiple residential blocks) and collects data on:

• The building in which the collective living space is located;
• The facilities of the collective living space;
• The persons living in the collective living space.

In collective living spaces where rooms are occupied by households/families (for example: families of teachers, administrative staff, or married students), these rooms are considered dwellings and are recorded in the 1CL questionnaire.

“Person Questionnaire” (3P)

This questionnaire is completed for each person in the household listed in the 1CL questionnaire (those who usually live in the given dwelling), in the same order as in the list, through interviewing each person.

• The first 3P questionnaire refers to the first person, usually the head of the household.
• If some household members are absent, information is obtained from an adult member of the household.
• For minors, the data is provided by adult members.

The 3P questionnaire is also completed for each person listed in the 2 SCL collective living space, following the same procedure.

In this context, the National Bureau of Statistics (BNS) is launching public consultations on the draft census questionnaires, inviting comments and suggestions, including regarding the response options in the census questionnaires, until March 31, 2023, at the email address moldstat@statistica.gov.md.

To facilitate the consultations, BNS will organize a meeting on March 23, from 10:00 to 12:00, in an online format via Zoom at the following link: Zoom Meeting.

Participants are expected to include representatives of central and local public authorities, civil society, domain experts, development partners, and other interested parties. The event will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page of the National Bureau of Statistics.

The draft census questionnaires can be accessed on the official BNS website, under the section “Decision-Making Transparency”, sub-section “Public Consultations”.

Following the public consultations on the draft questionnaires, the National Bureau of Statistics will finalize them, and they will then be tested during the pilot census, planned for the second semester of the current year. The questionnaires will be finalized after the pilot census testing.

The development and testing of the census questionnaires are carried out alongside other important preparatory works necessary for the successful execution of the census, with the participation of central and local public authorities and other entities, in accordance with Government Decision No. 951 of December 28, 2022, regarding the organization and execution of the Population and Housing Census in the Republic of Moldova in 2024.

For more information about the 2014 Population and Housing Census, access [here].

Biroul Național de Statistică (BNS) anunță consultări publice cu privire la proiectele chestionarelor pentru Recensământul Populației și Locuințelor din anul 2024/ The National Bureau of Statistics (BNS) announces public consultations regarding the draft questionnaires for the 2024 Population and Housing Census

The Population and Housing Census (Census or PHC) aims to provide public-interest information about the resident population (hereinafter referred to as “population”) in the country and their housing, for the development, monitoring, and evaluation of state policies, for supporting decisions related to human development, and for scientific research.

The Census seeks to produce, under conditions of international comparability, official national statistics regarding: the number and territorial distribution of the population at the smallest territorial level; the demographic structure and socio-economic characteristics; the composition of households, living conditions, housing, and the buildings in which the housing is located. Thus, in the context of the PHC 2024, individuals, households, dwellings, and the buildings housing them will be enumerated—all representing census units defined under Law no. 231/2022 regarding the population and housing census.

The Census serves as a basis for annual estimates of the country’s population and as a sampling frame for selective statistical household surveys.

To achieve the objectives of the 2024 Census, census variables were established, representing the characteristics of the census units (individuals, households, dwellings, and buildings) and forming the content of the census questionnaires. The census variables to be collected during the PHC 2024 comply with the recommendations of the Conference of European Statisticians on Population and Housing Censuses, 2020 round, and with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/543 of 22 March 2017, establishing rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and Council regarding population and housing censuses, in terms of technical specifications and breakdowns. In determining the variables, in addition to international recommendations, a series of criteria were considered, such as: relevance of the variables, burden on respondents and enumerators, clarity for respondents, efficiency and relevance for society and data users, continuity with data from previous censuses, and the absence of alternative data sources for collecting census variables.

In this context, several rounds of consultations on census subjects and variables were carried out:

• Roundtable discussions, held on 22–23 December 2022, with key data user groups (central public authorities and other public institutions; academia and civil society; development partners; local public authorities and other institutions/organizations), aimed at discussing the list of census variables and proposals for their adjustment or completion.
• Collection of proposals in February 2023 from central public authorities and other public institutions regarding census subjects and variables.
• Examination of subjects and variables and their support during the National Commission for the Population and Housing Census (CNRPHC) meeting on 28 February 2023.

Based on the consultations and the above-mentioned decision of the CNRPHC, the BNS developed draft census questionnaires, which include:

1. “Building and Dwelling Questionnaire” (1CL), used to collect data on:
   • the building in which the dwelling is located;
   • the dwelling;
   • the household;
   • the household’s agricultural activity (where relevant);
   • household members, including temporarily absent or present persons and non-residents.
2. “Collective Living Space Questionnaire” (2CLS), completed for each housing block of the collective living space (if the collective space has multiple housing blocks), including data on:
   • the building in which the collective living space is located;
   • the facilities of the collective living space;
   • the persons living in the collective living space.

In collective living spaces where rooms are occupied by households/families (e.g., families of teachers, administrative staff, or married students), these rooms are considered dwellings and will be recorded in the 1CL questionnaire.

3. “Individual Questionnaire” (3P), completed for each person in the household listed in the 1CL questionnaire, in the same order, through interviews with each person.
   • The first 3P questionnaire refers to the first person (household head). In the absence of some household members, data is collected from an adult household member. For minors, data is provided by adults. The 3P questionnaire is also completed for each person listed in the 2CLS collective living space in a similar manner.

In this context, the BNS launches public consultations on the draft census questionnaires, requesting comments and suggestions, including regarding response options, until 31 March 2023, at moldstat@statistica.gov.md.

To facilitate the consultations, BNS will organize an online meeting on 23 March, from 10:00–12:00, via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89367954869?pwd=Q2lCZlZsQWs3aUpEd0ZvNGU4NzRtUT09. Participants include representatives of central and local public authorities, civil society, domain experts, development partners, and other interested parties. The event will be broadcast live on the BNS Facebook page.

Draft census questionnaires are available on the official BNS website under “Decision-making Transparency” → “Public Consultations”.

Following public consultations, the BNS will finalize the census questionnaires, which will then be tested during the pilot census, planned for the second semester of the current year. Census questionnaires will be finalized after pilot testing.

The development and testing of census questionnaires are conducted alongside other important preparations for the successful execution of the census, with the participation of central and local public authorities and other entities, in accordance with Government Decision No. 951 of 28.12.2022 on the organization and conduct of the Population and Housing Census in the Republic of Moldova in 2024.

For more information on the 2014 Population and Housing Census, access here.