Belarus’ experience in conducting 2019 population census presented in New York
Deputy Chairperson of the National Statistical Committee of Belarus Zhanna Vasilevskaya spoke at the expert group meeting on population censuses, held in New York under the auspices of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the UN Population Fund
The meeting has brought together representatives of national statistical services and international organisations. During the work, experts shared their experience in conducting population censuses, and also discussed approaches to revising the UN principles and recommendations on the population and housing census on assessing the completeness and quality of data from civil registry offices and population registers (based on population census data), on the use of data from civil registry offices and other administrative sources for conducting censuses and producing summary data, on the use of population censuses to measure human mobility, including international migration, internal displacement and refugee flows.
During her speech, Zhanna Vasilevskaya shared her experience of conducting a population census in the Republic of Belarus in 2019 and using administrative data sources during its preparation and conduct, as well as when processing the information received.
“In her speech, Zhanna Vasilevskaya noted that the 2019 population census in Belarus was carried out using a combined method: the population survey was carried out in combination with data from administrative sources, primarily the population register and the address register. 22 percent of respondents submitted data independently via the Internet while 76 percent completed the oral survey, which was conducted using tablets. Information regarding 2 percent of citizens who did not take part in the census for certain reasons was obtained from administrative sources,” the press service of the National Statistical Committee (BelStat) added.
Zhanna Vasilevskaya underlined that the past census showed the feasibility of using modern technologies in combination with administrative data sources. This approach when conducting population censuses will enable in the future to optimise the process of collecting and processing information and to improve its quality and reliability.
