Microcensus 2026: Bavaria's households in the focus of the largest survey!

Microcensus 2026: Bavaria's households in the focus of the largest survey!

The microcensus will begin in Bavaria in January 2026, the largest annual household survey in Germany. This comprehensive survey process, which has been carried out since 1957, covers around 1% of the population annually and provides important insights into the living conditions of citizens.

Currently around 130,000 people from around 65,000 households in Bavaria have been selected to take part. The selection is carried out using a mathematical random procedure to ensure the representativeness of the data. This information is important not only for the Bavarian population, but also for political decision-makers and scientists, as the data collected provides a solid basis for numerous political decisions and programs.

Participation and data protection

The selected households will be asked to participate in writing by the Bavarian State Office for Statistics over the course of the year. Each household has the opportunity to take part in either a telephone interview or an online survey. Participation is legally required for most questions, based on the Microcensus Act (MZG). Data protection is guaranteed by statistical confidentiality: All information is treated confidentially and used exclusively for statistical purposes. Results are published in aggregated form so that conclusions about individuals cannot be drawn.

The microcensus provides important data on the structure and economic and social situation of the population. Thematic focuses include family, civil partnership, household, labor market, employment, career and training as well as migration. This information is of considerable interest to parliamentarians, administration, science, the media and the public.

Relevance and international comparability

The microcensus data has far-reaching relevance, including for poverty and wealth reporting, the annual report of the Council of Experts and for the EU programs for employment, training and poverty reduction. All EU member states are legally obliged to collect certain information uniformly, which enables the results to be compared internationally.

In addition, the microcensus includes expanded survey parts that address more specific questions about the labor market, income and internet use. This detailed information is essential to better understand and analyze the economic and social conditions of the population.

Overall, the microcensus is not only a central instrument for data collection in Germany, but also a significant contribution to social research and well-founded political decisions. The results enable regional analyzes and a high level of continuity and comparability over the years.

For more information about the microcensus and the current survey in Bavaria, further details can be found on the website Hahnbach, Destatis and Research Data Center can be viewed.