The 2023 Population and Housing Census officially commenced this September 18 through the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT).
The census will offer a comprehensive view of Albania’s current population, encompassing various aspects such as social, economic, demographic shifts, and more. It will provide clear insights into the living conditions of Albania’s citizens in 2023.
Conducting a nationwide enumeration of both the population and housing is a significant statistical undertaking for the country. This data will serve as a foundation for institutions to make precise plans for interventions and necessary services for the residents.
This marks the 12th census in Albania’s history, occurring a century after the inaugural census conducted in 1923. Thanks to technological advancements, this census will adhere to European standards for census development.
Approximately 7,000 individuals have been employed to facilitate this process, with an estimated total cost of 16.9 million euros.
Data collection will involve visiting each household. Refusal to participate in the population census may result in penalties, ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 Albanian lek.
Every individual residing in a household will be included in the count, and individuals aged 18 and above can personally respond to the questions.
Enumerators will seek information on personal details, education, health status, employment, and various other aspects of daily life. The census will also feature inquiries about ethnicity, religious affiliation, and language.
However, citizens have the option to decline answering specific questions. The census will not include queries about financial circumstances (income, savings, etc.) or political inclinations.
Enumerators will enter the gathered data into electronic tablets, ensuring data privacy and security through legal protections and encoding methods to prevent individual identification.
The questionnaire comprises eight modules with approximately 100 questions, of which only three are optional and relate to ethnicity, religion, and language.
The initial census data are anticipated to be released in June 2024.
