Census
Description of statistical domain: Censuses in every country represent the most popular statistical actions from one side, but on the other side, they are the largest and the most complex statistical surveys, both by contents and methodological solutions, and also by specific organization. The specificity of this statistical survey is especially reflected in length of tradition and historic importance of census results.
Census of Population
In the territory of Montenegro, the first Population Census with the characteristics of a modern census was conducted in mid-1879, by order of Prince Nikola. In the period between the two World Wars, only two Yugoslav Population Censuses were carried out, in 1921 and 1931. After the Second World War, Population Censuses were conducted in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2003, 2011 and 2023. As a rule, the census is conducted every ten years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and specific social circumstances, the census was conducted in 2023 instead of 2021.
Legal and methodological framework
The legal basis for conducting the census is defined by specific laws:
• Law on the Population, Households and Dwellings Census in 2003 ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro", No. 59/00, 12/01, 38/02, 21/03);
• Law on the Population, Households and Dwellings Census in 2011 ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 41/10 of 23 July 2010, No. 44/10 of 30 July 2010, No. 75/10 of 21 December 2010);
• Law on the Population, Households and Dwellings Census in 2023 ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 140/22 of 16 December 2022, No. 105/23 of 28 November 2023).Census units are persons, households, and dwellings. The data collection is done by the interview method, and units were enumerated by the ‘door-to-door’ method.
International legal framework:
• EU Regulation 763/2008;
• UNECE/Eurostat Recommendations for the 2010 Population and Housing Censuses;
• Recommendations of the Conference of European Statisticians for the 2020 Population and Housing Censuses, prepared by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
The census units are persons, households and dwellings. The censuses were conducted using the traditional method, through face-to-face interviews, using paper questionnaires, based on the “door-to-door” principle.
The Census of Agriculture
Previous censuses of agriculture at the ex-Yugoslavia territory only referred to the census of livestock, and they were carried out together with the population censuses.
Although the tradition of censuses originates from the 18th century in those areas under the Austro-Hungarian Empire (canton of Kotor and Herceg Novi), there were not carried out statistical census of livestock in Kingdom of Montenegro.
In period from 1918 to 1941 there were carried out the census of livestock in 1921, and general census of agriculture in 1931, but because of social circumstances the data processing was slowly performed.
In period from 1945 to 2007 censuses of livestock were carried out in the following years: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and the general census of agriculture in 1960 containing 111 questions related to the agriculture.
The data on agriculture were also collected by the census of population, and the last one was carried out in 2003 having only 15 questions on agriculture.
Statistical Office of Montenegro – MONSTAT carried out the census of agriculture for the first time after 50 years. The census of agriculture was carried out at the whole territory of Montenegro in period from 7 to 21 June 2010.
