Halftime in the 2024 microcensus: 50,000 citizens called upon to participate

Halftime in the 2024 microcensus: 50,000 citizens called upon to participate

The 2024 microcensus is in full swing and there is still a lot to do. By the end of the year, around 50,000 citizens in Bavaria must take part in this important survey. The microcensus, which acts as a kind of small census, provides valuable information about the economic and social situation of the population.

In Bavaria, around 70,000 people have already provided their data. The majority of respondents did this via telephone interviews, while many also used the online option. This survey is crucial as it helps ensure that policy decisions are based on sound data. The Bavarian State Office for Statistics will contact a further 50,000 people in the coming months to ensure their participation. A total of 120,000 citizens in Bavaria are obliged to provide information.

Importance of the microcensus

The microcensus is the largest annual household survey in Germany. Every year around 120,000 people in Bavaria provide information about their living and working conditions. This information is essential to understand and improve the economic and social situation of households. Only with reliable data can political measures to combat poverty or support families and pensioners be implemented in a targeted manner.

The survey makes it possible to observe long-term trends, such as the development of mothers' labor force participation over the last ten years. The changes in the employment situation, such as the increase in home offices, are also visible through the collected data. This information is important not only for politics, but also for society as a whole.

Participation in the microcensus is required by law and respondents' data is subject to strict data protection regulations. This means that no conclusions can be drawn about personal information. Households are selected using a mathematical-statistical process that ensures that the respondents are representative of the population.

The survey itself is usually carried out in writing, followed by telephone interviews or online surveys. In Bavaria, around 130 trained survey officers are deployed to carry out the surveys. The microcensus is different from the census, which takes place every ten years and is a more comprehensive survey of the population. While the census determines the official number of inhabitants, the microcensus focuses on the economic and social aspects of life.

For further information about the microcensus and the ongoing survey, those interested can visit the official website of the Bavarian State Office for Statistics. There you can also find explanatory videos that clearly explain the process and meaning of the microcensus.