Population and Housing Census 2021 was an integrated and fully electronic census.

We publish the results of the Census gradually from the end of 2021 on the website www.scitanie.sk.

Objectives of the Census 2021

The aim of the Census 2021 is to obtain interconnected, reliable, comparable, unique data and information about the population - demographic, socio-economic and cultural structures, living conditions of inhabitants and their housing. This aim can be achieved only if the Census 2021 will be able to:

• respect international and national commitments,
• accept the relevant needs of data users considering of administrative burden on population of the Slovak Republic,
• maintain maximal comparability with data from previous censuses; but level of spatial detail and breakdowns of particular topics will be the result of the method used for data collection,
• try to mutually harmonize the demographic statistics data, registers and municipalities records aimed at improving the quality of outputs.

History of Census within our territory

Traditionally, census has been conducted in Europe and elsewhere in the world at intervals of 10 years. In our country, censuses have been realised since the Middle Ages. With the development of the society, the objectives, range and methods of statistical surveys have changed, censuses (this term refers to the Census of Population, Houses and Dwellings) still provide an irreplaceable data source on population and its progress in the reference period.

The first modern organised statistical survey, based on the principles of international statistical congresses, was held in the territory of a present-day Slovakia in 1869.

The first Czechoslovak Population Census was carried out in 1921.

Population census in 1950 was linked with the census on houses and dwellings. At the same time, listing of agricultural, industrial and trade establishments took place as well.

The first integrated census was carried out in 1961 and it surveyed data on population, households, houses and dwellings.

The last Czechoslovak Population Census took place in 1991.

The first Population, Housing and Dwelling census in independent Slovakia was conducted in 2001. For the first time, the full Census, the organisation, data collection, data processing, publishing and data presentation was ensured by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

2011 Population and Housing Census marks history because of two reasons. Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 (pdf (99 kB) of the European Parliament and of the Council population censuses were held in all EU Member States at a time. In the 2011 census, residents of the Slovak Republic were allowed for the first time in history, to choose whether to fill out the Census Sheets in paper or electronic form.

The decisive moment for the census midnight between Friday, the 20th of May 2011, and Saturday, the 21st of May 2011. Residents of the SR recorded in the Census Sheets information actual to this date. Besides the official language, paper and electronic Census Sheets were also available in Hungarian, Romany, Ruthenian and Ukrainian languages. Census Sheets in English language were available only in electronic form.

The 2021 Housing and Population Census was coordinated by the European Union and the United Nations as part of the global program of population and housing censuses. The SR carried out the 2021 Census in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council on population and housing censuses and the implementing regulations, national requirements were also taken into consideration. The 2021 Census was based on a new concept, it was the first integrated and fully electronic census in Slovakia. The 2021 Census was conducted in two stages - the housing census and the population census. The housing census was carried out by the municipalities from 1 June 2020 to 12 February 2021, without the population participation via an electronic system. The population census consisted of the self-enumeration of the population (15 February - 31 March 2021) and the assisted census of the population (3 May - 13 June 2021). Due to the unfavourable epidemic situation, the assisted census of the population was not carried out at the same time as the self-enumeration.