2019 Census of Population until February 23

What is the purpose of the census?

The census makes it possible to know how many people live in France and to establish the official population of each commune. It provides information on the characteristics of the population: age, occupation, means of transport used, housing conditions...

It is thanks to this data that the projects that concern you can be designed and carried out.

From these figures, the State contributes to the budget of the municipalities. The number of inhabitants depends on the number of members elected to the municipal council, the determination of the voting system, the number of pharmacies, etc. Knowledge of these statistics is one of the factors which make it possible to define national public policies and, at the local level, it serves to provide the necessary public facilities (schools, hospitals, transport infrastructure, etc.). It also helps to target housing needs, it allows companies to better know their clients, and it allows associations to better meet the needs of the population.

What's the schedule this year?

In 2019, the census is taking place:

• in the 7 000 municipalities with fewer than 10 000 inhabitants concerned, from Thursday 17 January to Saturday 16 February in mainland France, the Antilles and French Guiana and from Thursday 31 January to Saturday 2 March in La Réunion.
• in all municipalities with 10,000 or more inhabitants, only part of the population is affected by the census, which takes place from Thursday 17 January to Saturday 23 February in Metropolitan France, the Antilles and Guyana. In La Réunion, these municipalities are listed from Thursday 31 January to Saturday 9 March.

Will you be counted in 2019?

• If you live in a municipality of less than 10,000 inhabitants, you can consult the section of the website of the Insee concerning the census

  What about me? Am I registered this year?

• If you live in a municipality with a population of 10,000 or more, you must ask your local council. Find the contact details of your municipality with the administration directory of Service-public.fr.

How do I recognize a census taker?

You are notified of the enumerator's passage by a letter from the mayor deposited in your mailbox a few days before or by the enumerator himself. This one has a tricolor card signed by the mayor, with his picture and his name. Any person registered is entitled to demand the presentation of this card and can also verify his identity by contacting the City Hall.

Is it mandatory to respond?

Responding to census questionnaires is mandatory. In return for this obligation, the answers to the questions are confidential, all the statistics produced being anonymous. All persons having access to the questionnaires (including enumerators) are bound by professional secrecy.

How is the home census going?

Responding via the internet is the easiest way to get registered. The enumerators present themselves to the persons to be enumerated to give them a notice on which their login credentials for the Le-census-et-moi.fr website are set out. This allows them to complete the online questionnaire. If you choose this option, you must connect to the site le-census-et-moi.fr and enter the identifiers on the notice given by the enumerator and then fill in the questionnaire, allowing you to guide and validate. If you provide your e-mail address, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

If you are unable to respond via the Internet, the enumerator will provide you with:

• one housing sheet which includes questions on the characteristics and comfort of the accommodation;
• as many as individual bulletins there are people in the household with questions about age, place of birth, nationality, level of education, place of residence, occupation;
• of explanatory notes available in French and selected foreign languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, Portuguese, Romanian, German, Turkish, Spanish).

He will arrange with you an appointment to pick them up. If you wish, he can help you complete them. You can also send them directly to the City Hall or to the Regional Directorate of Insee.

What if you have a second home?

The residence where you need to be registered is your principal residence. If an enumerator nevertheless contacts you in your secondary residence, you do not have to fill out a questionnaire, the enumerator will only pick up some information.

What is the census method used?

In municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants, the entire population is counted one year out of five. On the other hand, municipalities with 10 000 inhabitants or more carry out an annual sample survey of 8% addresses. By combining five surveys, all residents of municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants and 40% approximately of the population of municipalities with 10,000 or more inhabitants are taken into account.

The census is secure: your personal information is protected

The census is conducted according to procedures approved by the National Commission for Informatics and Liberties (Cnil). INSEE is the only organization authorized to use the questionnaires, and to do so anonymously. They may not therefore give rise to any administrative or fiscal control.

However, your name and address are necessary to ensure that you are not counted more than once. This information is not stored in the databases.

All persons having access to the questionnaires (including enumerators) are bound by professional secrecy.