The conduct of censuses by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) is provided for in article 10, of Law 3832/2010 “Hellenic Statistical System. Establishment of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) as an Independent Authority.”
The population censuses are intended to determine the basic characteristics which constitute a complete picture of a population. A population census requires extended and complex statistical work, based on meticulous organization throughout its different stages. These stages are carefully designed to ensure the global quality of the project.
The 2011 Population and Housing Census is conducted by ELSTAT, on the basis of the Presidential Decree 168/2008 (ΦΕΚ 223/Α’/04.11.2008), the EU Regulation 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council for the Population and Housing Censuses, and the Joint Ministerial Decision 1524/Γ5-473/14.02.2011 (ΦΕΚ 425/Β’/17.03.2011) and its amendment (to be issued).
The purpose of the 2011 Population and Housing Census it to collect recent statistical data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population, as well as on the composition of households, their housing conditions and the characteristics of their dwellings.
More specifically, the Population and Housing Census:
The Population Census aims at:
The Housing Census aims at:
The 2011 Population and Housing Census is different from previous ones in the following main areas:
After the Census, a sample survey is going to be conducted with regard to its coverage, aiming at: a) identifying the degree to which dwellings have not been enumerated during the Census or that have been enumerated twice, b) carrying out a quality control with regard to the recording of basic demographic characteristics of the enumerated persons. This survey will last four days (30/5/2011-2/6/2011).
According to EU Regulation 763/2008, ELSTAT is obliged to publish tabulated data 27 months after the last day of the reference year of the Census. Therefore data will be published on the 31st March 2014. The first preliminary results, i.e. basic figures for the permanent population (aggregated and by sex), will be available in June 2011. These data will be available at various administrative levels, down to the level of municipality. A year and a half after the end of the Census, statistical results for the remaining information collected will be disseminated.
All procedures outlining the conduct of the Population-Housing Census (preparatory activities and tasks to be performed after the Census) are laid down in relevant Circulars issued by the President of ELSTAT.
The data collected during the Census are confidential and statistical confidentiality is strictly observed in accordance with article 7 of the Law 3832/2010. ELSTAT takes all necessary measures in order to safeguard the confidentiality of the Census data. All persons who work for the Census (Census Task Force, Head Supervisors, Supervisors, Assistant Supervisors, Heads of Sectors, Enumerators) as well as ELSTAT staff who have access to the personal data of the census questionnaires are legally bound by statistical confidentiality and are obliged to use these data exclusively for statistical purposes. Violation of data confidentiality by any employee of ELSTAT constitutes a disciplinary offence of breach of duty and may be punished with the penalty of final dismissal. In addition, ELSTAT, by its decision, may impose a penalty amounting from ten thousand (10,000) up to two hundred thousand (200,000) Euros (depending on the gravity of the offence) to anyone who violates the confidentiality of data. Census Supervisors are responsible for keeping in a safe place all the filled in Census questionnaires until the completion of their quality control. Right afterwards, the questionnaires are to be packed into parcels and sent by registered mail through the Hellenic Post to ELSTAT premises. There, ELSTAT will take all the necessary safety and security measures concerning the questionnaires and other Census forms, as well as the electronic database that will be created with the Census data.