Doorstep interviews and online questionnaires – This is how the data is collected in the census

Created: 05/16/2022, 15:28

By: Linus Prien

The survey period for the 2022 census in Germany has begun.

Participants are required to conduct interviews and fill out online questionnaires.

The data is relevant for many regulations.

Wiesbaden – The surveys for the 2022 census in Germany have started: They will take place from mid-May to around mid-August.

Among other things, the census questionnaires are intended to provide current population and housing figures.

Sunday, May 15, 2022 was the cut-off date for the census in Germany.

This means that all information requested relates to this date.

The survey is carried out both with interviews and with online questionnaires.

2022 census: census of buildings and dwellings via online questionnaires

The surveys for the census of buildings and apartments with around 23 million respondents started a few days ago and are primarily taking place with the help of online questionnaires.

Real estate owners or managers receive mail with the online access data from their state statistical office.

In addition, more than ten percent of the population, around 10.3 million people, take part in a short personal household survey.

"For these surveys, up to 100,000 volunteer interviewers will be deployed over the next twelve weeks," says Katja Wilken, overall project manager for the 2022 census at the Federal Statistical Office.

The information that is collected during the personal interviews only amounts to details such as name, age, address and the number of people in your own household.

At the agreed time, the interviewers show an official survey officer ID together with an official photo ID.

The personal interview lasts about five to ten minutes and can be carried out at the front door with little contact.

Online questionnaire: Three quarters of the respondents take part in further surveys

About three-quarters of those surveyed answered other questions as part of an extended household survey, such as educational level, employment, living situation and marital status.

You will receive the access data for the online questionnaire after the personal interview.

For people who cannot use the online questionnaire, information can also be obtained via paper questionnaires.

Official parts of the household survey questionnaire have already been published.

Participants will be asked questions such as: “Did you work at least one hour for pay during the week of May 9 to May 15, 2022?

Please also consider self-employed and small jobs.” Another question is: “What is the highest general school leaving certificate you have?”.

The following information is collected on the housing situation: “How many people lived in this apartment on May 15?”.

In addition, all residents in dormitories, around 300,000 people, are surveyed.

In the case of communal accommodation, around 60,000 facilities, for example retirement homes or refugee accommodation, the facility managers provide information on their behalf.

Census 2022: Respondents must fill out the questionnaire

The determination of the population by the census should be an important basis for numerous regulations.

On this basis, constituencies are divided up, the distribution of votes in the Bundesrat is organized or the state financial equalization and municipal financial equalization are calculated.

At the same time, the census is intended to provide information on the living space, education and working life of the population.

The census results are used by political decision-makers at federal, state and local level, but also in the European Union, as an important database and basis for planning.

Not least for this reason, all citizens must provide information in the census questionnaire.

Anyone selected for the census is required to participate.

This is required by law by the 2022 census law and, according to official information, is necessary for the required high level of accuracy and quality of the results.

If you refuse to participate, you will first be asked to fill out the questionnaire again.

If this is ignored again, fines must be expected.

The federal states then decide on the amount of this.