Population census will take place in 2021. Rosstat is ready

The Russian population census has been postponed until April 2021. Preliminary results are expected in October 2021, and final results will be released in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is stated in the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 943 of June 27, 2020.

The decision on delay was made in connection with the difficult epidemiological situation in the country. Until August 31, 2020, there will be determined a list of territories, where transportation difficulties are expected at the time of the census. Census in these areas will start in October this year.

According to Mr. Pavel Malkov, the Head of Rosstat, the government has determined a comfortable time frame for the census. “We will be able to prepare well and carry out the necessary information campaign to explain to our society how exactly the census will take place,” he added.

It was previously planned that the population census will be held in October of this year. “April in terms of climatic conditions and population mobility is the most optimal period,” said Mr. Malkov.

The future census will be the first digital and the last paper one. Rosstat is set to utilize Russian-made tablets with special software, online questionnaires on its website and other modern tools for the purpose of data collecting. Digitalization of processes will significantly improve data quality, make them more accurate and more visual. Experts will receive a radically new level of product with detailed data breakdown up to the city, district and even the street. It should be specially emphasized, that Rosstat works exclusively with anonymized data.