Population Censuses in Finland

Population Census in 1950 was the first ever census to have been taken of the whole population in Finland. It was carried out using a census administration involving over 10,000 enumerators.

Population Census in 1960. The local population registration organisation was utilised as additional help in the data collection of this census. The questionnaires were mainly processed by municipal population census offices.

Population Census in 1970. In this census, the questionnaires were pre-filled with name and address data. Personal identification codes were in use for the first time. Some data (on e.g. income) were obtained from registers for the first time in this census. Statistics Finland's Register of Completed Education and Degrees was set up using data from this census. The collection of questionnaires was done in connection with population registration.

Survey of Dwellings and Economic Activity in 1975 was the first so-called interim population census in which demographic data and data on employment, families and household-dwelling units were collected. The questionnaires were sent by post to the recipients who then returned them via the local organisation for population registration. The questionnaires were centrally processed at Statistics Finland.

Population Census in 1980. An extensive local organisation was set up to undertake most of the data collection and processing. The questionnaires were pre-filled and an increasing amount of data was extracted from register sources. The Population Register Centre's Register of Buildings and Dwellings was set up using data from this census.

Population Census in 1985 was taken by post without the local enumerating organisation. Most of the data were obtained from registers and only information concerning workplace and occupation was asked on the questionnaire.

Population Census in 1990 was the first ever totally register-based population census in Finland.

Population Census in 1995 was taken in almost exactly the same way, i.e. without questionnaires.

Population Census in 2000 will be the third register-based population census in Finland. Data from approximately thirty registers will be used to produce the final census data.

The data contents of population censuses have varied slightly between censuses and gradually more and more data have been obtained from registers. The index of population census data lists the main census data categories together with information about when a register-based collection replaced questionnaire-based collection in respect of each category.