Microcensus 2024: Your voice counts – 50,000 citizens wanted!

Microcensus 2024: Your voice counts – 50,000 citizens wanted!

In Bavaria, the 2024 microcensus is just around the corner and the clock is ticking! By the end of the year, around 50,000 citizens still have to confirm their participation in this important survey. The microcensus, often referred to as a “small census,” is a significant annual survey that provides insights into the economic and social situation of the population.

So far, around 70,000 people in Bavaria have already taken part in the survey. The majority of respondents chose a telephone interview, while many also used the online option. This data is critical because it helps policymakers make informed decisions that affect people's lives. A total of 120,000 people in Bavaria are required to take part, which corresponds to around one percent of the population.

What is the microcensus?

The microcensus is the largest annual household survey in Germany. Every year around 120,000 people provide information about their living and working conditions. This information is essential to understand and improve the economic and social situation of households. Political decisions, such as combating poverty or promoting child care, are based on this reliable data.

The survey is carried out using a mathematical-statistical random procedure that ensures that the selected households are representative. Volunteer survey officers knock on the doors of the selected households and ask for participation. These representatives are equipped with an ID card that legitimizes them as representatives of the Bavarian State Office for Statistics.

Respondents will receive a letter informing them of the survey and asking them to provide their answers either by telephone or online. This year, 70,000 people have already fulfilled their obligation to provide information, with the majority of those surveyed preferring the telephone survey.

A common misunderstanding concerns the difference between microcensus and census. The census, which is carried out every ten years, records the official number of inhabitants and is a comprehensive survey. In contrast, the microcensus focuses on the economic and social situation of the population and takes place annually. While around 13 percent of the population is surveyed in the census, only one percent is surveyed in the micro census.

For more information about the microcensus, those interested can visit the official website of the Bavarian State Office for Statistics or watch an informative explanatory video that explains the most important aspects of the survey.