About 22,000 dwellings from 11 settlements visited within test census in Moldova

Chisinau, 27 October /MOLDPRES/ - About 22,000 dwellings from 11 settlements of Moldova were visited, with the collection of data for interview, within the test population and housing census, conducted on 28 August -10 October 2023. The figures were unveiled at a today’s roundtable organized by the National Statistics Bureau (BNS), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund Moldova (UNFPA Moldova).       

The participants in the event analyzed the challenges as to the organization and conducting of the test population and housing census. They analyzed possible solutions to overcome them, at the basic census, scheduled to be taken in 2024.  

Among the challenges faced by the census takers during the test census, there were: reticence of some respondents to participate in the census, especially in the urban areas; the length of the questionnaire, which, according to residents, contains too many questions and even sensitive questions, such as data on the state identification number, place of work, difficulties in the daily activity. Other challenges detected regard the collection of information about multi-storied blocks of flats where the satellite picture sometime created confusions; collection of data on the unoccupied dwellings or occupied by people with temporary presence (on rent), for whom it was difficult to correctly establish the status of the census taking even after the repeated visiting of the dwellings. It is worth mentioning also the difficulty to identify people with proper education, according to the exigencies for the census-taking staff, especially census takers.         

The test population and housing census was conducted in 11 settlements of Moldova on 28 August – 10 October 2023. This census represents an important stage for preparing the population and housing census planned for the 2024 year, as part of the world round of censuses, carried out in line with the international recommendations once in ten years. This exercise was carried out with sources of the state budget, co-financed by the European Union and the United Nations Population Fund.       

Photo: BNS