Despite the fact that one of the key sources of information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the Russian population is the civil registry system maintained by the registry offices, it is the census that provides the most accurate information.

Tasks of the population census and its legal framework

The importance of conducting a population census in a country is due to the nature of the information it provides about citizens, as well as its universal coverage. So, in addition to taking into account the population size, the census collects information about citizens, which makes it possible to assess the distribution of the population across the country, its national and linguistic composition, educational level and other important characteristics. These tasks, as well as the procedure for organizing and conducting a population census, are fixed in the main document regulating the conduct of a census in Russian Federation- Federal Law No. 8-FZ of January 25, 2002 "On the All-Russian Population Census".

At the same time, during each event, a a large number of basic and additional regulatory legal acts that establish requirements for its implementation. Thus, the main provisions regarding the last 2010 census were recorded in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1074 “On the organization of the All-Russian population census of 2010”.

Census frequency

The same legal act also establishes the frequency of the population census in the Russian Federation. Thus, article 3 of the law "On the All-Russian Population Census" determines that this event should be held at least once every 10 years. At the same time, however, the date of formation of the Russian Federation is officially considered December 25, 1991, when the Law of the RSFSR of December 25 No. 2094-I “On changing the name of the state of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic” was adopted, according to which our state received a new name. The first population census in the country was conducted in October 2002.

In the future, however, the timing of its implementation was brought into line with current legislation. Thus, the next census took place already in October 2010, that is, ahead of schedule - 8 years after the previous event. It is assumed that the next census will be held in the Russian Federation in strict accordance with the law - in 2020. At the same time, it is planned to conduct a micro-census in 2015, with less than 1% of households participating in it.

Data on the number, density, birth rate, mortality, physical activity and others.

2018

Preliminary results of the 2018 Pilot Census

According to a report dated November 13, 2018, the 2018 trial population census was the largest and most unusual trial census in Russia. At its first stage, which took place from October 1 to October 10, 2018 throughout the country, a fundamentally different way of collecting information about the population was worked out - self-filling of electronic census forms by respondents on the Unified Portal of Public Services (Gosuslugi.ru) . More than 1.2 million Russian citizens with a verified account on the Gosuslugi.ru portal took part in the digital population census.

The population liked the experimental Internet census, they are talking about it positive reviews respondents on the portal Gosuslugi.ru. In turn, we are convinced that the use of digital technologies can significantly save public funds. In addition, the reaction of the country's residents to the use of Internet technologies made it possible to take a different look at the procedure for conducting population censuses. “The Internet census led us to think about how to simplify the questions of the census forms, to formulate them more clearly. More than half a million residents of the country took part in the second stage of PPN-2018, which took place from October 16 to October 31 in 10 pilot districts. According to the head of Rosstat, the experience of using tablet computers by enumerators turned out to be positive. In addition to compiling the route of the census taker, simplifying the procedure for interviewing respondents, the use of portable computers made it possible to significantly speed up the process of transferring the received primary data. "]] Software]] of our tablet computers is efficient enough to use, easy to train enumerators and there are no doubts about its use.

The idea of ​​using the Multifunctional centers for the provision of state and municipal services (MFC), proposed by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and municipal authorities, turned out to be successful. At the MFC, residents of the country can access the Gosuslugi.ru portal.

In addition, it is necessary to stimulate the participation of domestic respondents in population censuses, expanding the contingent using the Internet for these purposes, the head of Rosstat drew attention.

As Surinov noted, hard-to-reach regions were included in the number of pilot regions of the PPN-2018, in which Rosstat conducted a census at the usual time - in October. “But this required significant additional transport costs, so we will discuss the feasibility of this practice. The report on the 2018 Trial Population Census and proposals for optimizing the organizational and technological scheme of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census 2020 will be formed in November 2018, and the results of the PPN-2018 will be published in the first quarter of 2019.

2018 census trial enters home stretch

On October 27, 2018, census takers will complete a 100 percent residential survey in Pilot Census areas. From October 28 to October 31, a selective control bypass of residential premises will be carried out in these areas to check the quality of work of census takers and the correctness of population accounting, reported TAdviser on October 26, 2018 in Russian Post.

For four days of the control round in the areas of the Pilot Census - the Elbrus municipal district of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Khangalassky Ulus municipal district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Aleutsky municipal district of the Kamchatka Territory, the city of Minusinsk of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Nizhneudinsk and Katangsky municipal districts of the Irkutsk Region , the city of Veliky Novgorod, the urban-type settlement of Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Sakhalin Region, the Sviblovo district of the North-East Administrative District of Moscow and municipal district Knyazhevo, St. Petersburg - census takers, together with an instructor or field level controller, will bypass 10% of residential premises.

During the control round, the correctness of the population count will be checked: are there any missed or erroneously recorded people. To do this, it will be specified how many people in the premises were enumerated, and the presence of records about them in the corresponding forms of census documents will be verified by name. If necessary, corrections can be made to the census forms. At the first stage of the Trial Population Census - from October 1 to October 10 - any resident of Russia with a verified account on the Unified Portal of Public Services (Gosuslugi.ru) could enroll on their own by filling out electronic census forms for themselves and their family members on the Internet.

The second phase of the Pilot Census takes place from 16 to 27 October. Residents of Pilot Census areas who enrolled online can provide the census taker with the received online census confirmation code for verification. Those who did not enumerate in the first round and do not want to let the census taker into the house in the second round can take the pilot census in the census tracts located within the 2018 pilot census areas.

In the Moscow district of Sviblovo, the Khangalassky ulus of Yakutia, the Nizhneudinsky district of the Irkutsk region and part of the urban district of Veliky Novgorod, the population is enumerated by employees of the Russian Post. To deliver census forms, census takers' equipment, as well as consumables to these areas, the Post's logistics infrastructure is used.

Rosstat raised the forecast for a trial electronic population census

About some optimistic or pessimistic estimate [of the number of expected participants in the electronic census]. We conducted surveys, did focus groups, analyzed the experience of other countries. Our original minimum estimate was 10%. Judging by how IT breaks into our lives, we roughly figured that we could raise this bar to 20%. Moreover, we are not talking about today, but about 2020. Therefore, for a trial census, we call on the entire population [to participate] in order to assess whether we have very optimistic moods or, conversely, we are too big pessimists, - Alexander Surinov emphasized.

The 2018 trial population census is being carried out to develop an optimal organizational and technological scheme for conducting the 2020 All-Russian Population Census, which involves combining various ways collecting information about the population. Based on the results of the pilot census, recommendations will be developed for optimizing budget spending for the 2020 All-Russian Population Census, taking into account the introduction of new methods of collecting information about the population.

The data collection and processing system being created for the 2020 All-Russian Population Census will become one of the components National system data management (NCMS). In the future, this system should ensure the complete digitalization of the process of collecting and processing data based on unified methodological and technological approaches.

The 2018 trial population census will take place from October 1 to October 31 in two stages: the first will be all-Russian, the second - local and will affect 10 districts in nine constituent entities of the Russian Federation. At the first, federal, stage of the preliminary census, any resident of Russia who has a verified account on this portal will be able to fill out census sheets on the public services portal from October 1 to October 10. In 10 pilot districts, respondents who filled out the census questionnaires on the Internet will receive unique census confirmation codes - they will be needed at the second, local, stage of the census.

From October 16 to October 31, in 10 pilot districts in nine constituent entities of the Russian Federation, census takers will carry out door-to-door visits: from October 16 to October 27 - 100%, and from October 28 to October 31 - selective control visits to 10% of residential premises. In addition, residents will be given the opportunity to correspond at stationary sites. Respondents from 10 pilot districts who have already enrolled on the public services portal will only need to provide the census taker with the previously received confirmation code for verification.

Trial census of Russians will be held on the Internet

As part of the Trial Population Census, which will take place in October 2018, Russians will be able to fill out a questionnaire via the Internet for the first time, CNews reported on May 31, 2018. This can be done directly on the public services portal during the first stage of the event from 1 to 10 October. The government has already made adjustments to regulatory framework necessary for this service to work. The event is preparatory to the All-Russian population census planned by Rosstat for 2020.

After filling out the questionnaire on the public services portal, the citizen will receive a confirmation code for participation in the census by e-mail or SMS. At the same time, a citizen will be able to fill out the document for all family members - confirmation codes for participation in the census will be sent to everyone.

Meanwhile, the question of whether citizens will need to provide the consent of other persons for their relative to fill out questionnaires for them has not yet been worked out. The possibility of participating in the census through regional portals of public services has not yet been implemented - the issue is being worked out by Rosstat together with the Ministry of Digital Development.

Population census traditional way will be held in separate territories of a number Russian regions. Including in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Irkutsk and Sakhalin regions, the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Yakutia, Krasnoyarsk and Kamchatka territories.

At the second stage, from October 11 to October 15, 2018, a list of residents of the territories who have already completed the survey via the Internet will be compiled. At the third stage - from October 16 to October 31, 2018 - a survey of citizens will again take place, but in the traditional way. At the same time, the census taker may ask to see a code confirming the fact of participation in the census online.

In addition, during the trial census, they plan to allow census takers to use tablets, but only in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod. Devices will not be purchased. Instead, tablets will be used that were previously used during the Microcensus in 2015 and the All-Russian Agricultural Census in 2016. In total, Rosstat will be able to accumulate 25 thousand - 30 thousand tablets.

Some census takers will also be armed with paper questionnaires. They are needed as a fallback and for citizens who want to see a record of the answers to their questions.

Tablets will be equipped with special software for conducting surveys, which has not yet been developed: Rosstat, together with the Ministry of Digital Development, is completing the formation of the corresponding competitive task. The future software must be of domestic production and have information security certificates from the FSTEC.

Half a billion for the census

The state allocated 484.6 million rubles. for the development of a system for preparing, conducting, processing materials and obtaining the results of the All-Russian population census in 2018.

This amount appears as the starting price of the contract in the tender Federal Service State Statistics Service (Rosstat), launched on March 16, 2018. Applications from applicants will be accepted until April 6, 2018.

Purpose of the system

Reviewed here automated system Rosstat is officially intended to prepare, conduct, process information about the population and obtain the results of all-Russian population censuses, including pilot censuses and even so-called micro-censuses.

As stated in the tender documents, the system is a single software and hardware complex that combines the means to perform work on the stages of preparing, conducting, processing information about the population census, including scanning and recognizing machine-readable forms, data entry via the Internet, tablet computers and smartphones. carrying out coding and formal-logical control, forming a census database, obtaining final tables, as well as "other operations necessary to monitor all stages of the census," the authors of the procurement note.

Front of works

It follows from the tender documents that the future contractor will have to develop the software already existing in the system to update the list of addresses registered in it, prepare the software for collecting the necessary data, to organize the collection of information about the population, for "implementing methods for supplementing and analyzing statistical data on the population of Russia in the basis of geoanalytical data in the preparation and conduct of the 2020 census, etc.

2017

Russia to conduct a trial population census using electronic questionnaires

main stage

It is planned that the main stage of the 2020 census will be held for the first time using a new methodology: citizens will be able to fill out the form on their own via the Internet. This “will ensure a more complete participation of the population in the census and obtain high-quality results” and “create a new, operational format of communication with the population,” representatives of the regulator and experts are sure.

"Electronic census"

The "electronic" census will be carried out on a special state portal, which can be accessed from the official website of the department or through the public services portal. Identification in the system is planned to be carried out by insurance number individual personal account (SNILS), you can also specify your email and phone number.

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A new, tenth in a row, population census is coming in Russia, the first census in the new century. The last large-scale event of this kind took place thirteen years ago in a different country, with different borders and a different name. It is clear that the data of that census is hopelessly outdated. What does the collective portrait of Russians and foreigners in our country look like, what is the population size, National composition, social structure and living conditions, will show the new general survey, which will be held from 9 to 16 October current year. We've tried to answer a dozen of the census-related questions people are most interested in. We hope that this publication will help you, our dear readers, to better prepare not only for the population census, but also for the publication of its results. After all, everything that is connected with the location and quality of the human population is a keen interest of any geographer.

1. What is a population census and why is it needed?

A population census is a specially organized periodic or one-time process of collecting statistical information. The census is usually carried out simultaneously throughout the country on the basis of a single program and methods. The population census is an event of national importance, planned and prepared for several years. The decision to conduct a census is made by the government of the country. The quality of the census is the higher, the greater the proportion of the population enumerated, the shorter the census period, and the less the mobility of the population. Simply put, a census is a snapshot of the entire population of a country at a particular point in time. The scribes are least interested in the concepts of "yesterday", "tomorrow". They are more concerned with what is happening "here and now".

The population census cannot be replaced by data from places of population registration, for example from passport offices or departments of internal affairs. Firstly, the census does not take into account the population registered in a given area, but the actual, actually living population. Secondly, the database of local authorities may not contain information on some parameters taken into account by the census. Thirdly, the census is anonymous; data are not considered for a specific person, but for an entire sample formed at once, formed according to territorial, national, age and other characteristics. Information about citizens held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs may be used only for general view to check the results of the census for a particular area and to supplement information about persons who, for one reason or another, did not pass the census.

The census makes it possible to obtain relatively complete and objective data on the population, which make it possible to plan the socio-economic development of the country for a more or less long period. The census can provide answers to many questions related to the quality of life of the population in a particular region: the level of education of people, their social status, the number of families, living conditions. The census makes it possible to determine the shortage or surplus of labor resources in a particular region of the country, indicates internal and cross-border migration flows, shows the spatial mobility of the population (for modern Russia, a spatial gap between the places of residence and work of its citizens is no longer uncommon). Accurate data on the population by regions and cities of Russia will make it possible to adjust the boundaries of electoral districts in which deputies of various levels are elected. There are dozens of areas where census results can be in demand. Therefore, a billboard advertisement that recently appeared on the streets of Moscow calling on citizens to participate in the census is quite fair so that the Moscow government, carried away by expensive and ambitious projects such as the monorail or the City business center, knows “how many and what kind of apartments Muscovites need.”

2. How many censuses have there been in Russia?

The registration of the population in Russia was carried out long before the first census was carried out. As soon as writing appeared, scribe books began to be compiled, where all the peasants living in a certain territory (only males) were entered. In accordance with these lists, the feudal lords imposed duties on the population subordinate to them. In the 17th century with the strengthening of the centralization of the Russian state, the practice of conducting household censuses appeared, since it was the peasant household that was the unit of taxation. At the beginning of the XVIII century. The “tax regime” was revised, they switched to poll taxation, the unit of which was the male peasant soul. Poll censuses were called revisions, and poll lists were called revision tales. Revisions took place over several years, the step between them was 10 years. The entire inter-revision period, the population was determined by the last revision tale sent, which was used by cunning scammers, like the nobleman Chichikov, who bought “dead souls” from the landowners and resold the state. It was quite difficult to fight such, as they would now say, economic crimes in the then state of the statistical service.

The first and only general census of the population of the Russian Empire took place in the winter of 1897. It became a great achievement of Russian science, including geographical science (the census was developed under the supervision of P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky). The census list included 14 questions affecting the main parameters of people's lives at that time: age, gender, marital status, estate, place of birth, place of residence, religion, native language, literacy, professional occupations. The first census did not go very smoothly, but was recognized as valid. It was attended by the vast majority of subjects of the empire, including the population of Poland and Finland. The autocrat Nicholas II also participated in the census, in the column "Occupation" he indicated in the census sheet "the owner of the Russian land."

The second census took place in Russia in 1920 under the conditions of the post-revolutionary and post-war economic ruin and the mixing of the population. According to the estimates of the census organizers, no more than 75% of the population was enumerated, the population of regions temporarily not controlled by the Soviet government (Belarus, Crimea, Transcaucasia, the Far East, part of Turkestan, etc.) was not taken into account.

The 1923 census was carried out only in urban settlements. It was planned to obtain data on the rural population from the materials of the financial authorities, but these were not enough, and a new census arose. It took place in 1926 and became the first all-Union census that covered all the republics of the country. The census data allow us to speak of it as the most objective for the pre-war period.

Further censuses were supposed to be carried out with a ten-year step. The 1937 census, according to the Soviet leadership, was supposed to confirm the serious successes achieved by the country in the demographic, social and economic spheres. However, the results of the census showed a significant decrease in population growth, which occurred as a result of the population decline in 1929-1933, as well as a rather low level of literacy and a relatively high proportion of believers. The publication of such results during the years of the totalitarian regime was impossible. The census was recognized as defective, its organizers were subjected to repression. The accuracy of the population count in 1937 was proved only in the early 1990s.

After the recognition of the invalidity of the 1937 census, a need arose for new census activities. The 1939 census took place under strict control by the authorities, but even it did not give the desired population of the USSR. Therefore, her data was artificially increased by almost 3 million people. This census can be called the most falsified by the authorities in the history of such events in our country.

The first post-war census took place in 1959. The delay was apparently due to the unwillingness of the authorities to recognize the true magnitude of the losses that befell the Soviet people during the years of the Great Patriotic War. Subsequent censuses have become more regular, taking place every ten years. In the processing of the 1970 census materials, electronic computers were used for the first time. The census sheets in 1979 were specially designed to simplify their machine processing. Now information with the help of special codes and labels was read and recognized by the machine directly from the completed sheet.

The 1989 census was destined to be the last census of the USSR. For the first time, questions about the living conditions of citizens were included in it. Reading information from the census forms was carried out by special scanners. The development of census materials was completed at the end of 1990. The results of the census for the Russian Federation were published in 11 volumes in 1991-1993.

Preparations for the next census began at the end of the 20th century. In 2000, a trial census was conducted in a number of Russian regions.

3. When will the Russian population census take place?

Population censuses in our country, as a rule, were held in the second decade of January. There were good reasons for this. In the midst of winter, the mobility of the population decreases, most people are in their places of permanent residence. At the same time, the winter period is not entirely convenient for the census: communications with hard-to-reach areas are deteriorating, many mountain passes are closed, and in the polar regions, too short daylight hours or even its complete absence interfere. After Russia became compared to Soviet Union further north, these unfavorable factors only intensified. This is largely why the 2002 census will take place in a less uncomfortable October. The critical moment of the census is 0000 hours on October 9th. The entire census population will be taken into account precisely at this moment, although the census will last until October 16th. In hard-to-reach areas, census activities have been carried out since the summer. Later, the information received will be updated at a critical moment in the census.

4. How will the census take place?

The State Statistics Committee offers citizens several ways to complete the census. The traditional way is to visit the census taker at home. A census taker with a special sign and certificate will come to your house or apartment at a convenient time for you. The district census commission can confirm the census taker's right to bypass the population within the boundaries of this area, where you can call for this purpose. The census taker will ask you and your family members the questions on the sheets, and the parents will give answers for young children. It is planned that, on average, the procedure for interviewing each person will take only about three minutes. The enumerator is obliged to mark on the forms of the census forms only those answers that were given by the participants in the census. Distorted recording of answers and self-filling of sheets by the population is not allowed. If necessary, the census taker may clarify the question. If citizens for some reason do not want to receive the enumerator at home, then it is possible to answer the census questions directly at the premises of the census commission, as well as send their answers there by phone or the Internet.

If at the time of the census a person living in given address was not at home, then his family or people living together can give information about him. In this case, a temporary absence will be marked on the sheet. If there is no one to give information about a person at home (for example, a person lives alone or went to a rest home with the whole family), then he will be able to take a census at the administration of a rest home, hotel, sanatorium, etc., where a control census will be compiled for him sheet, which will be sent to the place of his permanent residence.

Foreigners permanently residing in Russia will correspond in the same manner and according to the same program as the entire permanent population of the country. Those foreign citizens who are temporarily in Russia will be enrolled under a reduced program in the place in Russia where they were at the time of the census.

Participation in the census is voluntary. There is no liability for census evasion or for giving false information about oneself, although in many foreign countries census evaders are required to pay a significant fine (in England in 1981 it was, for example, 50 pounds sterling). According to opinion polls, no more than 10% of the population intend to categorically refuse to participate in the census. In this case, people who have not passed the census will be taken into account in the databases of local departments of internal affairs, and “refuseniks” will not be able to correct information about themselves as necessary.

5. Why were these questions chosen for the census?

The number of questions and their wording varied. They were determined by the census program, the needs of the economic and social development country and other factors. The number of census questions should not be excessive. Otherwise, the time of questioning each participant in the census increases, the processing becomes more complicated and delayed. The number of features in Russian censuses varied from 18 in 1920 to 11 in 1970 (however, at the same time every fourth respondent was asked 7 additional questions). There are 13 items in the 2002 census, some of which (eg education, language proficiency) are defined by several questions.

For the 2002 census, census forms of three samples were approved. The base sheet is the “K” form sheet (p. 10), which contains 11 features that provide basic information about an individual. These signs are: kinship, gender, age, marital status, place of birth, citizenship, nationality, education, language skills, source of income, employment. Ideally, Form K questions should be answered by all census participants. More complete information about a citizen can be obtained after filling out the form "D" (p. 12). Here are questions that determine the professional affiliation and economic specialization of the respondent. Here, the census participant needs to determine his migration mobility and indicate (for women over the age of 15) the number of children born. Form "D" questions are scheduled to be asked in every fourth room or household, so the sample on these grounds should be 25% of the actual population of Russia. Form "P" sheet (p. 22) will be completed in each household. It includes issues related to the living conditions of the population (type of dwelling, period of construction of the house, total number of living rooms, etc.). All census forms are published in our newspaper, so readers have the opportunity to practice filling them out in advance.

There is no unequivocal opinion regarding the parameters chosen for the census and their wording. A wide discussion, both in scientific circles and in broad sections of society, was caused by the decision of the organizers of the census not to include the question of the religion of the population. In many ways, it was dictated by the negative position of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the possibility of an objective account of adherents of the confessions common in Russia. For some unknown reason, the 2002 census questionnaire did not include a question on mother tongue. Many ethnologists and demographers perceive its absence as a serious census error, because the indication of nationality does not always objectively indicate that the respondent belongs to one or another ethnic group. For example, several hundred thousand participants in the 1989 census, who self-identified as Bashkirs, indicated Tatar as their native language. Thus, this group had a mixed national identity. Based on the 2002 census, it will not be possible to identify such mixed and transitional groups.

Some of the census questions are open-ended, that is, ready-made answers are not offered. Among them are questions related to the place of birth, knowledge of languages ​​and nationality of the respondents. Nationality is indicated by the census taker at the self-determination of the respondent. It will not be adjusted later either according to passport or any other data. The census taker is obliged to record exactly the self-determination that the census taker named. To decipher and summarize the answers given to open questions, special dictionaries have been compiled. For example, if the respondent in the column "Ethnicity" indicated Pomor, in the results of the census he will be listed as Russian. Due to the fact that there are many discussion points related to the definition of boundaries between ethnic and sub-ethnic groups, the issue of nationality has a political connotation. For example, the leadership of Tatarstan, the national intelligentsia and the Tatar national parties strongly opposed the government's decision to include various ethnic groups close to the Tatars in special lines. The fact that Mishars, Nagaybaks, Kryashens and Siberian Tatars will appear in the list of Russian nationalities is regarded by many Tatar politicians as an attempt to split the single Tatar ethnos and a desire to underestimate the number of the second largest people in Russia. Also, a special position in the census will be allocated to the Cossacks, who previously were always unconditionally taken into account in the composition of the Russian population.

6. Who will enumerate the population?

Census takers can be people of different ages, professions, nationalities. Indispensable conditions are the passage of special instructions and the obligation not to disclose primary personalized information about census participants. 650,000 people will be involved in the census, of which 450,000 are actual census takers. Almost all of them live in their own census tracts. These are teachers, students, employees of statistical services, bodies social security and communications, as well as many others: military personnel (in military units), clergymen (in monasteries), members of the court team, etc. For their work, census takers will receive money from the state (1,400 rubles for 10 days of work), such an article expenses are provided for by a special government decree on the conduct of the census.

7. Will the confidentiality of information received as a result of the census be violated?

It's practically out of the question. The fact is that the census forms are essentially anonymous. The surname or passport data of the respondent is not indicated there, the census information is of interest only after its processing and generalization. The individual information contained in the census forms is strictly confidential and is not subject to disclosure or transfer to anyone. Persons who have authorized access to them and have allowed the loss or disclosure of this information may be liable in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. It should also be noted that the questions in the census are designed in such a way that it is impossible to accurately judge the size of the income of a particular person based on the answers to them.

8. How much does a census cost?

The Government of Russia allocated an amount equivalent to 150 million dollars for the census. Thus, the survey of one person and the processing of his data costs about a dollar. For comparison, in the USA about $20 per person is allocated for such events. Funding for the census is carried out in stages. In 2001, during the preparation for the census, most of the funds were directed to the creation of the material base for the population census. In 2002, the main part of the expenses falls on the wages of census takers who will be involved in the census. In 2003, the processing of census materials will be paid.

Funding for the census is provided by the Government of the Russian Federation, and it controls their spending. The funds are transferred item by item and the spending of the amounts reflected in the corresponding item of the budget is controlled by the State Statistics Committee of Russia and the Ministry of Finance of Russia.

9. How are censuses conducted in other countries?

Censuses are held in almost all countries of the world. This is connected both with the countries' own interests and with the pressure of international organizations (primarily the UN), which need to have an objective picture of the processes taking place with the world population. The mechanisms and regularity of censuses, as well as their reliability, vary widely. The most professional and accurate censuses are conducted in Europe and America. Census activities are held here regularly with a constant step (in Denmark, Finland, Turkey, Japan, Australia - 5 years, in Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, USA - 10 years). The situation is worse with censuses in developing countries. Censuses here are rare, long in time and often do not cover the entire population. There are no funds for their implementation, in addition, there are not enough trained enumerators and census developers. The accounting of the population in such poor and unstable countries as, for example, Afghanistan, the Congo (Kinshasa) or Somalia, is practically not carried out seriously. In a number developed countries world (in France, the Netherlands, etc.) have already abandoned the questionnaire form of the census. It has been replaced by the State Population Register, which tracks Current state the population of the country. In a number of cases, nationwide or local population surveys are conducted to correct and clarify the register data.

10. What surprises can the census bring?

Forecasting is a thankless task. It is difficult to take into account all the factors that in one way or another can affect the expected event. Nevertheless, we venture to assume that the results of the census will be able to bring at least two surprises to talk about today. Of course, these surprises are relative, besides, they have probably already been calculated by some analytical centers, but for the perception of an ordinary person they are not without interest.

First, the proportion of the Russian population in Russia will apparently be less than the value assumed by analysts and significantly less than the 1989 census figure (81.5%). This is due not only to the catastrophic natural decline of Russians, which is greater than that of most other peoples of Russia, but also to a change in the self-identification of persons who registered as Russians during the previous census. In 1989, it was fashionable and prestigious to be Russian, but now, after the wave of national revival of the 1990s, many have remembered their other national roots.

Secondly, perhaps the population of Russia will not be as small as it is now commonly thought. According to calculations, the demographic catastrophe has led to the fact that the population of Russia has decreased to 142.9 million people. It is possible that according to the census this figure will be somewhat higher. This is due to the underestimation of the migration service of migrants arriving in Russia and to unjustified pessimism regarding the demographic potential of our country. The registrations of the mythical population in the regions will also do their job, especially in the national republics, where people of the indigenous nationality will be artificially added. In a country where interest rates are being “pulled up” at elections at almost all levels, from local to federal, few will escape the temptation to adjust the population count in their favor. After all, with an increased population, one can claim to revise the grid of electoral districts, one can raise the image of the region, one can develop the thesis of improving the well-being in a single republic or region, which will be taken into account in the upcoming elections.

11. When will we know about the results of the census?

The timing of the release of individual census results will depend on the speed of their processing. There will be 65 centers for processing census sheets equipped with special scanning devices throughout Russia. In addition to them, the Main Interregional Center for Processing and Dissemination of Statistical Information (GMC) of the State Statistics Committee of Russia will be involved. In 16 centers, including the HMC, the formal and logical control of the information entered into the scanning devices will take place, as well as the preparation of files on technical media for transmission to the federal level for subsequent processing of information.

Preliminary results of the census by elementary indicators (population as of October 9, 2002 by regions and largest cities, urban and rural population, distribution by sex) is expected to be published at the end of 2002. The full final results are planned to be published after the completion of automated processing in 2003. The summary (generalized) data of the population census will be available to everyone, they are planned to be published in printed publications, distributed on magnetic and digital media as well as via the Internet. Goskomstat claims that the results of the census will be open and available for review, study on all issues of the 2002 All-Russian Population Census program. It remains to be hoped that the census materials will be distributed by the statistical committee at a reasonable price. After all, the census will be held for budget money, that is, at the expense of taxpayers. Therefore, Goskomstat has no moral or legal right to cash in on the people's interest in information about itself.

12. How much can you trust the results of the census?

Any census does not and cannot provide a complete and absolutely objective picture of the country's population. Any census contains a certain proportion of errors and inaccuracies. The fewer of them, the more complete and better the census was conducted. To estimate the magnitude of these errors, a special sample survey, called a post-census survey, is conducted after the census. It is organized and conducted independently of the census and ensures the identification of omissions and erroneous entries in the census.

According to Goskomstat estimates, it will be possible to enumerate more than 90% of the actual population of Russia. Nevertheless, information about some categories of citizens will be difficult to obtain. Firstly, these are persons without a fixed place of residence, who simply will not fall under the census due to the fact that it will be carried out through households. Secondly, the percentage of participants in the census among foreign workers and illegal migrants working in Russia, who are not eager to be exposed to state bodies, will be extremely low. Third, full participation in the census of some ethnic groups, such as the Roma, is unlikely. Fourthly, a negative attitude towards the census of a number of religious groups is known. Fifthly, today there are no conditions for a normal census in Chechnya and Ingushetia. All these factors will undoubtedly worsen the census figures. Nevertheless, the State Statistics Committee sets itself the task of enumerating absolutely all citizens who will be on Russian territory from October 9 to October 16 this year as completely and competently as possible.

How common for us is the population census today ... This will not surprise anyone, you will not outrage. In a sense, this process is already an integral part of our lives. After all, it is so natural to ask a question in a search engine about the population in the city where you plan to go on vacation. When asked whether it is you who live in a big city, almost everyone, without hesitation, will name an approximate, but close figure. A student can easily list the million-plus cities of his country and will certainly be able to answer how many people live with him in the same territory. But it was not always so. Previously, the census was an exceptional event. A new, difficult, having its own characteristics occupation.

A bit of world history

In ancient times, during active wars and the division of territory between different states, the population census was used everywhere. Each feudal lord knew his people, the number of families living under his command. After all, the amount of taxes paid depended on this, it was necessary to know the number of able-bodied population for conscription in the army in the event of the outbreak of another war.

This need arose in ancient times. Indians, Egyptian pharaohs, government ancient China and ancient Japan - all had their own mechanisms for accounting for the number of population.

Interestingly, even the Bible describes the census conducted by King David.

Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome Only the number of adult males was taken into account. But the governments of some medieval states (such as Germany, France, Italy) preferred to consider the population as whole families.

The debut full-fledged population census in the modern sense was carried out in the United States of America shortly before the end of the 18th century.

Russian state

The first census in Rus' was carried out in the middle of the XIII century. It became one of the administrative innovations introduced by the Mongols. The main reason for accounting was the calculation and planning of taxation (tribute).

After the liberation from the Mongol-Tatar yoke in some territories of the Russian state, this procedure was preserved. However, the census was carried out only in a few principalities. It is known for certain about accounting only in the Novgorod and Kiev principalities. Initially, the object of the census were land(plough, tithe, yard).

Records were kept in the so-called cadastral books. However, only the unstructured part of the information was taken into account. Later they were replaced by "seasoning books". The scribes were mainly representatives of the clergy. This was also explained by the fact that literate scribes were much more common among them.

During the Russian Empire

The first general population census was a unique event for those times. More than twenty years have been spent on its preparation. It was and remains the only project of its kind when the population census in Russia was carried out everywhere and on the same day.

According to the idea of ​​​​Nicholas II, they planned to carry out the work of entering data using electric calculating machines.

In fact, most of the information was entered by counting officials, since the literacy of the population did not allow to realize the achievements technical progress that time.

However, the next step was still made on calculating electric machines. All the information received was put on a punched card, individual for each resident.

According to experts, the cost of the entire procedure exceeded 6 million Russian rubles.

The Soviet authorities paid considerable attention to determining not only the quantitative composition of the population, but also the territorial distribution, religion and nationality.

The first census after the revolution was carried out in 1920, but covered only the territories where there was no Civil War.

After 3 years, all urban residents were enumerated, and after another 3, a general census took place.

In modern Russia

The population census in Russia was carried out only ten years after the formation of the new state. It took place from 14 to 25 October 2010. According to preliminary results, announced in March 2011, the population of Russia amounted to 142,905,200 people. Since 2002, Russia has moved from 7th to 8th place in the world in terms of population.

The population census in Crimea was carried out by the Russian Federation in autumn 2014. Its objectivity has been repeatedly criticized, especially with regard to information about the religious and national affiliation of citizens.

Data validity

The reliability of census statistical information is always subject to error, and therefore is often the subject of discussion.

Difficulties of an objective and subjective nature, which negatively affect the accuracy of its results, should not be ruled out.

An error can occur both at the preparation stage and during data collection and processing. Another thing to consider is that every day someone dies and someone is born.

During the time of the Russian state, scribes were deliberately deceived. Residents used fairly simple but effective methods. Since the tax was charged on the yard, and not on the number of people living in it, peasants could be moved from several houses to one, or one temporary fence was erected around two or more yards.

For example, the 1897 census was accompanied by a huge amount of rumors. Not all residents were favorable to this idea. There was a lot of gossip among the townsfolk. The people were intentionally and unintentionally intimidated by the fact that the purpose of the census was to introduce new taxes. And this is the most harmless. Residents were afraid that they would want to be relocated to the undeveloped Siberian lands. Among some Old Believer communities, it was said that counting people is a sign indicating the coming of the Antichrist.

Some of the data were deliberately distorted by the respondents themselves. For example, not everyone conveyed objective information about their attitude to military service, about additional types of income, religion.

Primary census forms show bias in the preparation of survey documents and imperfection in data processing. For example, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz in a number of regions belong to the same people. And in other sources it is clear that the Turkmens are considered together with the Tajiks. And there are many such errors.

A population census is a scientifically organized operation of collecting data on the size and composition of the population, summarizing, evaluating, analyzing and publishing demographic, economic and social data on the entire population living at a certain point in time in a country or its clearly limited part.

The history of the census in Russia has several periods, during which the census takers were interested in completely different issues.
The beginning of the registration of the population on the territory of Russia was laid by the Kiev and Novgorod principalities in the 9th century. Accounting was carried out for fiscal purposes, that is, for taxation.

From the second half of the 13th century, during the period of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, population censuses were carried out in individual Russian principalities to determine the amount of tribute. The same goals were pursued by censuses on the territory of Transcaucasia in the 70s of the XIII century.

Accounting at that time was economic: houses or "smoke" were taken into account for taxation, then land plots productively used in the economy - a plow (later - a quarter, a tithe) became the object of taxation in the 14th century. The so-called soshny letter was compiled, the results of the descriptions were entered in scribe books. In the 17th century, the yard became the unit of taxation, and household censuses became the main form of accounting.

In 1718, Peter the Great issued a decree instructing "to take fairy tales from everyone (give them a year), so that the truthful ones bring, how many male souls in which village." Lists compiled in this way ("fairy tales") were collected only after three years, and then over the next three years they were subjected to verification - "revisions". Since then, population records in Russia have been called "revisions of the taxable population" or simply "revisions". Such revisions were carried out for almost a century and a half, until the abolition of serfdom. In total, ten revisions took place in Russia, the last - in 1857-1860. These revisions lasted for several years and were very inaccurate, since they did not take into account the actual number of inhabitants, but only "assigned" from taxable estates, i.e. people on the lists for the payment of tax (tax). The landowners were in no hurry to file another revision "tale", so many of the dead were considered alive.

After the abolition of serfdom, population censuses began to be carried out in individual cities and even entire provinces, however, many of them were state-owned police "population numbers", in which householders simply collected information about the number of residents who did not even live, but were registered in their homes.

There were at least two hundred such local censuses, but the materials of many of them were not published, and nothing is known about some other than the year of the census.

Population data obtained in this way did not meet the requirements of statistics regarding certain characteristics of the population needed for government justifications and scientific research.

The first and only general census of the population of the Russian Empire was carried out in February 1897. It was initiated by the outstanding Russian scientist Pyotr Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. This census is the only source of reliable data on the size and composition of the population of Russia in late XIX century.

According to the Central Statistical Committee, Russian Empire 124 million 640 thousand people lived. Moreover, the vast majority of them, namely 85% percent, were rural residents, 15% - urban population.

The first Soviet population census was conducted in 1920 in the conditions of civil war and devastation. The census covered only 72% of the country's population, since military operations were still going on in a number of regions of the country. In 1923, a population census was conducted in cities and urban-type settlements simultaneously with a census of industrial and commercial enterprises.

The entire population of the country was first covered by the first All-Union population census in December 1926. During its preparation, the outstanding statisticians Vasily Mikhailovsky and Olympius Kvitkin developed the scientific principles that formed the basis of both this and the next censuses.

The 1926 census was distinguished not only by a well-thought-out methodology for obtaining information, but also by the wealth of data collected, especially about social composition population and families. Its total population is 147 million people, the rural population was 82%, urban - 18%.

The next census was held in January 1937. The preparation and conduct of this census took place at the time of rampant Stalinist repressions. The organizers of the census and many heads of state statistics throughout the country were declared enemies of the people and repressed. The results of the census diverged from previously published highly exaggerated estimates of the country's population. Therefore, the organization of the census was considered unsatisfactory, its materials were defective, and the census data were not made public (in foreign sources, the figure was 170.6 million people).

In January 1939, a new All-Union census was carried out, which was recognized as "successful". For the first time throughout the country, the permanent and actual population was taken into account, in addition, control forms were introduced. The population of the country amounted to 190.7 million people, including urban - 32%), rural - 68%. The outbreak of war prevented the complete processing of materials.

The first post-war census was taken in January 1959. In terms of the organization and content of the collected data, it practically did not differ from the previous one. The census data served as the basis for subsequent calculations of the size and composition of the population. Total population The population of the USSR amounted to 208.8 million people. The share of urban population - 48%, rural - 52%.

The next census took place in 1970. In organizational and methodological terms, it corresponded to the two previous ones (1939 and 1959), but much more data was obtained. For the first time in the practice of Soviet censuses, in order to save time and money, part of the information was obtained by questioning not all, but only 25% of the inhabitants. A number of technical innovations were introduced in the processing of census data. Its data have been widely used for socio-economic planning and the development of long-term economic forecasts. The total population according to the census is 241.7 million, urban - 56%, rural - 44%.

The organization and processing of the materials of the 1979 population census differed significantly from the previous ones. For the first time in the practice of Soviet statistics, the records made during the survey were entered into a computer using special readers and recorded on magnetic tape. New questions have been added, and the wording of some others has been clarified. The census provided extensive data on changes in the composition of the population, which were subsequently widely used. The result of the census is 262.4 million people, the share of the urban population is 62%, the rural population is 38%.

The last census in the USSR was conducted in January 1989 through a survey at the place of actual residence of citizens. Its distinctive feature was that for the first time, along with information about the population, information was collected about the housing conditions of various socio-demographic groups of the population in all regions of the country, about the development of housing cooperation, about the degree of provision of people with housing and its improvement. This made it possible to obtain information about the housing conditions of various socio-demographic groups of the population in all regions of the country, about the development of housing cooperation, about the degree to which people are provided with housing and its improvement.

The census program contained 25 questions, some of which were taken into account selectively. Compared to the previous population census, new questions on place of birth, graduation from vocational educational institution, about housing conditions, the wording of some other questions has been changed.

Development of census materials for full program was completed by the end of 1990.

The country's population in 1989 amounted to 286.7 million people, including the urban population - 66%, rural - 34%.

The 2002 All-Russian Census was the first population census in new Russia. It was held under the motto "Inscribe yourself in the history of Russia." The census was conducted as of October 9, the filling of the census forms took place from October 9 to 16. The first census was carried out on the basis of legislative act - federal law"On the All-Russian Population Census" dated January 25, 2002 No. 8-FZ.

Past censuses have been funded exclusively from federal budget while the costs of the 2002 census were divided among the budgets of all levels. The question of the formation of census personnel had to be solved in a new way. IN Soviet period census workers were allocated by enterprises according to the order of party bodies. In 2002, about 670 thousand freelance workers from the non-working population were trained. IN major cities emphasis was placed on students, the unemployed, employees of social protection, workers public utilities. In small settlements - on the rural intelligentsia.

All citizens of the Russian Federation, as well as citizens of foreign states who were on the territory of Russia, participated in the census.

When studying the marital status, for the first time during the census, information was collected on the number of unregistered marriage unions (the so-called civil marriage).

In the 2002 census, the population could indicate all sources of livelihood available to it, in contrast to the previous census, when no more than two sources were identified for the population.

At the 2002 census, the resident population of the Russian Federation was 145.2 million people, of which 106.4 million people (or 73%) are urban residents, and 38.8 million people (or 27%) live in countryside. Compared with the 1989 census, the population decreased by 1.8 million people, including those living in urban areas - by 1.6 million people, in rural areas - by 0.2 million people.

The next All-Russian census will take place from 14 to 25 October 2010.