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Dear users,

Traditional population censuses represent the largest statistical actions which collect the data on population, households, and dwellings.

The population census collects the data on the most important resource of a country: population. Demographic, educational, economic, ethno-cultural, and other characteristics of population are very significant for producing strategies, creating policies and plans that are made with purpose of improving society as a whole.

Additionally, the population census provides the data on households and families registering in this manner changes in their size and structure. This provides users with the possibility to analyse if a phenomenon in society affects family life.

Number, size, and equipment of dwellings are also areas by which the data are collected in the census. A lack of complete records on dwellings requires that area of housing is still collected in the traditional manner – by census. 

Pyramid of significance of data in national statistical system recognizes the data on population as an irreplaceable basis for the production of official statistics.

The importance of census is also recognized by what the census represents, as it follows:

• The only source of data for the smallest geographical areas;
• Sampling frame for all future sample-based surveys.

Traditionally, the definition of census is based on the main principles: individual enumeration; simultaneity; universality, and determined periodicity. In the last twenty years, different approaches appeared in practice by which the population census has become broader concept. Accordingly, the traditional method based on the field enumeration of all individuals became a method of using the data from administrative registers and/or from sample-based surveys.

Statistical Office of Montenegro – MONSTAT has started the preparation for the census in 2015, when possibilities for the implementation of register-based census where explored through international projects. As the main obstacles for the register-based census, there were identified:

• A lack of address register; and
• Inability to access individual data with identifier from the administrative source.

The above mentioned has caused that MONSTAT continues with preparations for the traditional manner of data collection. More detailed information on the activities carried out by MONSTAT up to 1 January 2022 can be found at the following link.

MONSTAT continues with the activities on the preparation of population census, and will regularly inform users and general public on it.