MINSK, 20 February (BelTA) – During the 2019 population census, 95% of Belarus' population were polled and 2% of people refused to answer the questions, Chairwoman of the National Statistics Committee of Belarus Inna Medvedeva told journalists on 20 February, BelTA has learned.
“A total of 95% of the country' population completed the census. Some 22% of them took advantage of the online census option, 28% were polled at stationary of mobile census stations, and 48% at home. I should note that 2% of the population refused to participate in the census. The international standards allow up to 10% of refusals,” Inna Medvedeva said.
Information about those who could not be contacted by census workers was obtained from administrative sources and population registers. For example, Non-Banking Credit and Finance Organization ERIP provided data about energy and water consumption in some apartments. “People who have lived abroad for many years were not subject to the census,” Inna Medvedeva assured.
The latest population census took place was held in Belarus on 4-30 October under the motto "A look at the present – a step into the future!". Belarusians were given an opportunity to fill in census forms online, at stationary census stations, or even at workplaces (if the employer requested a mobile census station). Census takers started polling Belarusians in their homes on 21 October. About 650 stationary census stations were deployed during the census.
A population census is held every ten years. In 2019 Belarusians had to answer 49 questions, primarily focusing on their demographic, national, and ethnic characteristics, migration activity, education, sources of livelihood, employment, the number of kids, housing conditions, and economic activity.
The collected data represents is a factual demographic picture of the country. It can be used to adjust road maps of large-scale government programs, social and infrastructure projects in the country and individual regions, individual settlements.
