Census of Population, Housing and Dwellings in 2011
The enumeration via Internet was possible for the first time in the 2011 Census. During March, the Census enumerators distributed paper Census forms to all households, which contained unique codes in order to enumerate online. Using these codes, everyone could download a prepared PDF document from the Census website, fill it in and send it back electronically. A quarter of the population used this option.
Also, registered partnership and homeless persons were enumerated for the first time. The Census section about household equipment was reduced, only information about computers and Internet remained.
Detailed results of the 2011 Census are also available to the public in open data format.
More on the 2011 Census website.
Census of Population, Housing and Dwellings in 2001
The 2001 Census was quite unique in many ways. For the first time since 1930, it took place according to a special law. It was also the first time that optical scanning of Census forms was used to process results, and the results were presented in electronic form. A question about a second job or other jobs and accessibility of computers in household were added to the form. On the other hand, questions about the ownership of a freezer, washing machine or television were taken out.
Czechoslovak Census 1991
Another Czechoslovak Census took place on 3 March 1991. It reflected the changes brought about by the Velvet Revolution. After 40 years, the question on religious belief was included again. The number of ethnicities surveyed also increased significantly. For the first time, Moravian and Silesian ethnicities appeared in the results. The question on mother tongue and permanent residence at the time of birth was brought back.
Czechoslovak Census 1980
The decisive moment of this Census was 1 November 1980. The Federal Statistical Office managed to obtain one of the most powerful mainframe computers from the USA - CYBER 180. Thanks to this, not only was the time for data processing significantly reduced, but also the publication of the results was faster. The 1980 Census was also used to establish a central population register at the Ministry of the Interior.
Czechoslovak Census 1970
The 1970 Census took place on 1 December 1970. The birth number and citizenship were newly included in the Census, as well as frequency, distance, time and modes of transport to work and school, as part of the survey of commuting. There was a significant change in the technique and technology of processing data, which moved from punch plate technology to central data processing on a large-capacity mainframe computer CDC 3300 (back then the largest in Czechoslovakia).
Czechoslovak Census 1961
Another Czechoslovak Census took place on 1 March 1961. A new feature of the processing was the method of transferring data about persons’ place of temporary assignment to the place of permanent residence. At the same time, this made it possible to supplement the entries in the Census sheets for persons absent at the time of the Census, which added up more than 1 million at the time. Thanks to the new approach to collecting data on households, it was possible to significantly expand information on their structure, family size, number and composition of single-parent families with children, the extent of multi-generation cohabitation and the way and conditions of living.
Czechoslovak Census 1950
The first Census after the Second World War was conducted in the entire territory of the former Czechoslovakia on 1 March 1950. For the first time, the Census of housing and dwellings was included in the population Census of the entire territory of the state and in all municipalities. Until 1991, this Census was the last one to ask about belonging to the Church. One of the main goals of the 1950 Census was to cover the changes that took place after World War II to a greater extent, such as population losses, the expulsion of the German population, the social composition of the population, housing stock data and consequences of national economy.
Population Count in 1946 and 1947
Population Counts are not Censuses in the true sense of the word. They were forced mainly by large post-war changes, it was not possible to wait for the results of the Census in 1950. Both Counts took place on a different date – in the Czech lands on 22 May 1947 and in Slovakia on 4 October 1946. The content and management of the counts were independent. The results of both population Counts largely reduced the post-war lack of data. Significant and unique are the data on the settlement of the Czech border areas and the displacement of inland districts, as well as data on the place of residence (including foreign) as of 1. 5.1945.
Czechoslovak Census 1930
The second Czechoslovak Census took place on 1 December 1930. For the first time, as one of the three European countries, the Census included a female fertility survey, which was extremely important for examining the reproduction of the population in Czechoslovakia. The literacy of the population was also part of the Census, for example. Another Census was to take place in 1940. However, the Census in the territory of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was prevented from happening by Czech politicians and demographers on the grounds of unpreparedness and especially with the intention of not providing the occupying power with reliable information for the war economy.
The first Czechoslovak Census 1921
The newly formed Czechoslovak Republic needed to know the most detailed demographic data of the newly created state. In 1919, the State Statistical Office was established as a new body in charge of nationwide statistical surveys, and one of the most important surveys was the Census. The determination of the ethnicity of the population was considered to be the most politically significant, which was to confirm the right to establish an independent Czechoslovak Republic. The question and definition of "ethnicity" were discussed not only by representatives of Czechoslovak minorities, but also within the Czech and Slovak groups. Although the "Czechoslovak ethnicity" officially existed, it was possible to determine the population of Czech and Slovak ethnicity separately.
Census in Austria-Hungary
The first modern Census, which was based on the principles set by international congresses, took place in 1869 and marks the beginning of a new period of population Censuses in our territory. The Censuses, which took place in the territory of Austria-Hungary, were primarily created to find out the current number of the present population, but also to determine the ethnic composition of individual regions. The survey of the ethnic composition of the population, in connection with the political context, became a highly monitored and often controversial part of the Census. The Census was commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and managed by the district authorities. In the territory of individual municipalities, the municipal authorities were responsible for conducting the Census. They appointed Census enumerators, who were often teachers or municipal officials. During this period, there was a significant change in data processing. Data from 1869 and 1880 were sorted and summarized manually. However, the processing of the Census from 1890 was a major turning point, as it used electric sorting machines of the Hollerith system.
More on the CZSO website.
Predecessors of modern Censuses
The Census is one of the oldest statistical events ever. In our territory, Counts of the population took place as early as the Middle Ages, where they were carried out for military and tax purposes. The oldest count in the Czech lands is considered to be the inventory of the property of the Litoměřice church from 1058, which is part of the charter of Prince Spytihněv II. On the basis of the patent of Empress Maria Theresa, a Census was carried out in 1754 in the Habsburg monarchy, which was held for the first time simultaneously and uniformly throughout the territory. In 1777, a new conscription patent was issued, which, with slight changes and deviations, became the basis of counts until 1851. From the 1780s, so-called population books were established on estates and cities with information about each family with all members of the household. In 1857, a Census took place, which is referred to as the transition between population Counts and modern Censuses.