Rise of the e-census improves results

TALLINN - Two thirds of the population of Estonia have been ready to answer the Census questionnaire via the Internet, Statistics Estonia says, referring to a questionnaire carried out by the research agency Faktum & Ariko in August, reports LETA. “The results of the survey are encouraging and we hope that Estonia is about to make a record for the e-censuses over the world,” said Priit Potisepp, the director general of Statistics Estonia.
The largest share of censuses up to now via the Internet has been in South Korea, where 40 percent of the population answered the questions on the Internet.

Sixty-six percent of the population answered the question “During the 2011 Population Census you can answer the enumerator or fill in the questionnaire on the Internet. Which option do you use?” “I will fill in the questionnaire myself on the Internet,” 27 percent of the respondents stated that “I will answer to the enumerator at home,” and seven percent could not answer.
More than the average, persons aged 15–34 and 35–54 (80 percent and 75 percent, respectively), and persons with secondary and higher education (66 percent and 78 percent, respectively) prefer to fill in the questionnaire on the Internet.
More than the average, persons aged 55–74 (58 percent), persons with lower income (41 percent) and persons with primary and basic education (42 percent) prefer the interview with the enumerator.

Seventy-seven percent of everyday Internet users prefer to participate in e-Census; 16 percent of everyday Internet users are waiting for the enumerator to interview them at home.
On the order of Statistics Estonia, the research agency Factum & Ariko questioned 500 persons aged 15-74 all over Estonia in August.

In Estonia, the Population and Housing Census will be carried out from Dec. 31 this year until March 31 next year. The electronic Population and Housing Census, or e-census, where the permanent residents of Estonia can fill out questionnaires on the Internet, will take place during the first month (Dec. 31, 2011 – Jan. 31, 2012). Those who do not participate in the e-census will be visited by enumerators in the period Feb. 16, 2012 - March 31, 2012.

In 2011, the Population Census will be conducted for the eleventh time in the territory of Estonia. Previous censuses were carried out in 1881, 1897, 1922, 1934, 1941, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989 and 2000. In 2010 and 2011 Population and Housing Censuses will be held in the majority of countries all over the world.