Census 2021 round (cens_21)

1.1. Contact organisation

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO)

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Population Section

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

Swiss Federal Statistical Office
Population Section
Espace de l'Europe 10
2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

19 February 2025

2.2. Metadata last posted

19 February 2025

2.3. Metadata last update

19 February 2025

3.1. Data description

The data present the results of the 2021 EU census on population and housing, following Regulation (EC) 763/2008; Regulation (EU) 2017/543; Regulation (EU) 2017/712 and Regulation (EU) 2017/881.

Since 2010, the census is conducted and evaluated on an annual basis by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO). This new census is based on a "Register Survey" that evaluates existing administrative data. To this end, the FSO uses cantonal and communal population registers, federal registers of persons and the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings. For census purposes, the information that is not contained in a register is collected with an additional sample survey, the annual "Structural Survey" of at least 200,000 people; cantons and cities can enlarge the sample for their area.

The Register Survey provides information: a) about people and households on age, sex, marital status, nationality, household size, etc.; b) about buildings and dwellings according to age, building category, number of dwellings, number of rooms, area etc. The Register Survey provides basic information about the entire population; the data can be evaluated at a very detailed geographical level.

The Structural Survey provides information on the themes of population, households, families, housing, employment, mobility, education, migration, language and religion. The sample population is composed of persons aged 15 or more of the permanent resident population living in private households; this population is surveyed in writing (participation by internet or by completing a paper questionnaire). The survey complements the information from the registers and provides additional statistics on the structure of the population. The results are available at geographic aggregation levels: Switzerland, major regions, cantons and communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants.

Given the different survey types in the Swiss census system the use of full survey data is prefential to sample survey data. Where possible, hypercubes are therefore produced with data from our Register Survey. But as soon as a dimension or variable occurs in a hypercube that can be found only in the Structural Survey data the data source of a hypercube becomes the Structural Survey enriched by Register Survey data. Further, Structural Survey data are split in two different datasets, in a "survey person" dataset and a "household" dataset which normally should have the same number of records as only one person per household receives a questionnaire of the Structural Survey. Due to inconsistencies in the total number of persons in a household between information provided by the surveyed person and information we obtain from the Register Survey we exclude records in the "household" dataset. The person weights of the household dataset vary therefore from the weights of the "survey person" dataset. This difference in the weight distribution shows particularly in dimensions or variables that refer to the surveyed person, such as e.g. SIE, EDU or IND. Here again, due to the larger number of records the use of the "survey person" dataset is preferential to the use of the "household" dataset. But if a household dimension or variable occurs in a hypercube, the only available data source in the Swiss census system is the "household" dataset, using person weights in order to produce that hypercube. Small differencies in the data extrapolation of specific dimensions or variables that refer to the survey person may occur depending on whether the data source used to produce a hypercubes is the "survey person" dataset or the "household" dataset.

3.1.1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on census methodology

The COVID-19 pandemic had no impact on the census methodology. In the census as it is conducted in Switzerland since 2010 data are collected from administrative registers and by means of online as well as paper questionnaires.

3.2. Classification system

The following classification systems are used:

1. Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS 2021)

2. International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED-2011)

3. International standard classification of occupations (ISCO-08)

4. Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev 2)

3.3. Coverage - sector

Not applicable.

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

The information is given separately for each census topic.

3.4.1. Statistical concepts and definitions - Usual residence

‘Usual residence’ according to Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 Art.2(d) applies to foreigners with a short-term (less than 3 months) permit if they have resided at least 12 months in the country and received multiple consecutive short-term permits.

3.4.2. Statistical concepts and definitions - Sex

‘Sex’ refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women.

3.4.3. Statistical concepts and definitions - Age

The age reached in completed years at the reference date.

3.4.4. Statistical concepts and definitions - Marital status

On national level there are 7 official marital statuses in Switzerland:
- single
- married (only for opposite-sex couples)
- divorced (only for opposite-sex couples)
- widowed
- unmarried (result from a declaration of invalidity of a previous union or a declaration of disappearance of the former spouse)
- registered partnership (only for same-sex couples)
- dissolved partnership (only for former partners of same-sex couples)

In Switzerland, the minimum age for marriage or registered partnership (only possible for same-sex couples) is 18 for both sexes. Only when both persons have reached the age of eighteen  age can they enter into a marriage/registered partnership (Art. 94 of the Civil Code [ZGB]).

3.4.5. Statistical concepts and definitions - Family status

The family nucleus is defined as married partners or partners in a consensual union or partners in a registered partnership including their children if they are living in the same household as well as a lone parent with one or more children. For children who alternate between two households (for instance if their parents are divorced) the household is considered where the children are officially registered.

3.4.6. Statistical concepts and definitions - Household status

Private households are identified using ‘household- dwelling concept’.

3.4.7. Statistical concepts and definitions - Current activity status

The Employment Act (ArG in German: SR 822.11 - Bundesgesetz vom 13. März 1964 über ... | FEDLEX website
in French: RS 822.11 - Loi fédérale du 13 mars 1964 sur le ... | FEDLEX website)
only permits gainful employment from the age of 15. From the age of 13, young people can do light work. Under the age of 13, employment is permitted in sporting and cultural activities under special conditions and with the approval of a cantonal authority.
'Current activity status' refers strictly to the situation at the reference date (31st December) of the enumeration.

3.4.8. Statistical concepts and definitions - Occupation

Persons are classified according to the occupation they have at the reference date (31st of December) of the enumeration. The categories included in the breakdown 'occupation' correspond to the major groups of the ISCO-08 (COM) classification.

Persons under the age of 15 years were not surveyed.

The allocation of a person within the breakdowns of the topics 'Occupation', 'Industry' and 'Status in employment' is based on the same job.

3.4.9. Statistical concepts and definitions - Industry

Industry (branch of economic activity) refers to the main occupation, if the surveyed person has several jobs.

In the sample survey the surveyed person decides which of several occupations is indicated in the questionnaire. Whether the person has only one or several jobs is answered in a separate question.

3.4.10. Statistical concepts and definitions - Status in employment

The surveyed persons in the Structural Survey (sample survey) indicated their main occupation. If someone has several jobs the main occupation is determined as the job on which one spends the most time. The Status in Employment was then surveyed on the main occupation.

3.4.11. Statistical concepts and definitions - Place of work

Is the location of the place of work outside of Switzerland then it is not considered.

3.4.12. Statistical concepts and definitions - Educational attainment

'Educational attainment' is defined as the highest completed education if several educational attainments are indicated.

3.4.13. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of the locality

A 'locality' is defined as a municipality that existed on the 31st of December 2021.

3.4.14. Statistical concepts and definitions - Place of birth

Information on the ‘Place of birth’ is collected according to the place of usual residence of the mother at the time of the birth on the basis of international boundaries existing on 31 December 2021.

The category 'Information not classifiable according to current borders' covers those persons whose country of birth existed at the time of the birth, but no longer exists at the time of the census, and who cannot be allocated uniquely to one country existing at the time of the census, i.e. according to current borders.

3.4.15. Statistical concepts and definitions - Country of citizenship

Citizenship is based on a list of states on 31 December 2021.

3.4.16. Statistical concepts and definitions - Year of arrival in the country

The data for 2021 refer to the span between 1 January 2021 and the reference date, 31 December 2021.

3.4.17. Statistical concepts and definitions - Residence one year before

All persons that had a different address on 31 December 2020 compared to 31 December 2021 are considered to have changed their usual residence.

3.4.18. Statistical concepts and definitions - Housing arrangements

The topic ‘Housing arrangements’ covers the whole population if the hypercube in which this dimension appears contains only dimensions whose data source are population registers (full enumeration). But if there is at least one other dimension in the hypercube whose data source is the Structural Survey (sample survey) the universe is limited the permanent resident population aged 15 and older in conventional households.

3.4.19. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of family nucleus

The family nucleus is defined as married partners or partners in a consensual union or partners in a registered partnership including their children if they are living in the same household as well as a lone parent with one or more children. For children who alternate between two households (for instance if their parents are divorced) the household is considered where the children are officially registered.

In the Structural Survey (sample survey) the surveyed person indicates the relationships between all the member of the household in the questionnaire. Based on this information the type of family nucleus is determined.

3.4.20. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of family nucleus

The family nucleus is defined as married partners or partners in a consensual union or partners in a registered partnership including their children if they are living in the same household as well as a lone parent with one or more children. For children who alternate between two households (for instance if their parents are divorced) the household is considered where the children are officially registered.

3.4.21. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of private household

Private households are identified using ‘household- dwelling concept’. The size of the household type "couple" may exceed 2 as we allowed  unrelated persons, such as students renting a room, to live in the same household.

3.4.22. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of private household

Private households are identified using ‘household- dwelling concept’.

Primary homeless persons are considered in the counting as well, but cannot be specifically identified.

3.4.23. Statistical concepts and definitions - Tenure status of households

Each surveyed person indicates in the questionnaire of the Structural Survey (sample survey) the ownership types (tenure status), selecting one of the following five categories:

1. as a tenant or subtenant
2. as a member of a cooperative (your household belongs to a housing cooperative and occupies a dwelling in this cooperative)
3. as the owner of the dwelling (floor or apartment)
4. as the owner of the house (please note that this means the building (single family house / multi-family house) in which the dwelling is located)
5. in some other capacity: dwelling is provided free of charge by a relative or employer, company accommodation (e.g. caretaker's apartment), usufruct, leaseholder

Art. 641 Abs. 1 of the Civil Code [ZGB] is the main national law on property.
Foreign non-residents are limited to acquire immovable property by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Immovable Property in Switzerland by Foreign Non-Residents | FEDLEX website.

3.4.24. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of living quarter

All types of living quarter have been taken into account.

In Switzerland there three types: 'Conventional dwellings', 'Collective living quarters' and 'administrative households'.

An administrative household is a fictitious household that was set up mainly for statistical purposes. It includes people who are only formally registered in the municipality without actually living there (e.g. people who live in a retirement home in another municipality). On the other hand
there are also people with no fixed address (e.g. homeless people). There is only one administrative household per municipality that does not have a specific address.

The figures relate only to occupied conventional dwellings. This information is exhaustive, as it is based on the federal register of buildings and dwellings, as well as registers of persons.

3.4.25. Statistical concepts and definitions - Occupancy status

All type of occupancy status have been taken into account. Reference date was the date of enumeration, 31 December 2021.

The figures relate to all dwellings, occupied and unoccupied (holiday homes, unlet dwellings, etc.). This information is exhaustive, as it is based on the federal register of buildings and dwellings, as well as registers of persons.

3.4.26. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of ownership

Each surveyed person indicates in the questionnaire of the Structural Survey (sample survey) the ownership types (tenure status), selecting one of the following five categories:

1. as a tenant or subtenant
2. as a member of a cooperative (your household belongs to a housing cooperative and occupies a dwelling in this cooperative)
3. as the owner of the dwelling (floor or apartment)
4. as the owner of the house (please note that this means the building (single family house / multi-family house) in which the dwelling is located)
5. in some other capacity: dwelling is provided free of charge by a relative or employer, company accommodation (e.g. caretaker's apartment), usufruct, leaseholder

Art. 641 Abs. 1 of the Civil Code [ZGB] is the main national law on property.
Foreign non-residents are limited to acquire immovable property by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Immovable Property in Switzerland by Foreign Non-Residents | FEDLEX website.

Information on occupancy status is only available for occupied dwellings. This is due to the fact that these figures are based on a sample survey (structural survey). The total differs slightly from the Type of living quarters (TLQ) figure for the same reason.

3.4.27. Statistical concepts and definitions - Number of occupants

Hypercubes in which at least one dimension appears whose data source is the Structural Survey (sample survey) only the permanent resident population is counted. 

3.4.28. Statistical concepts and definitions - Useful floor space

Useful floor space is defined as the floor space measured inside the outer walls excluding non-habitable cellars and attics and, in multi-dwelling buildings, all common spaces.

3.4.29. Statistical concepts and definitions - Number of rooms

Kitchen were not counted as rooms.

3.4.30. Statistical concepts and definitions - Density standard (floor space)

Density can be calculated both ways: DFS (useful floor space) & DRM (number of rooms)

3.4.31. Statistical concepts and definitions - Density standard (number of rooms)

Density can be calculated both ways: DFS (useful floor space) & DRM (number of rooms)

3.4.32. Statistical concepts and definitions - Water supply system

All the dwellings were considered to have a water supply system.

3.4.33. Statistical concepts and definitions - Toilet facilities

All the dwellings were considered to have toilet facilities.

3.4.34. Statistical concepts and definitions - Bathing facilities

All the dwellings were considered to have bathing facilities.

3.4.35. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of heating

Data source for the type of heating is the central building register.

3.4.36. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of building

Data source for the type of heating is the central building register.

3.4.37. Statistical concepts and definitions - Period of construction

Data source for the type of heating is the central building register.

3.5. Statistical unit

The EU programme for the 2021 population and housing censuses includes data on persons, private households, family nuclei, conventional dwellings and living quarters.

3.6. Statistical population

Persons enumerated in the 2021 census are those who were legally resident in the territory of Switzerland.

Hypercubes which contain at least one dimension whose data source is the Structural Survey (sample survey) enumerate only persons that belong to the permanent resident population aged 15 years and older in conventional households (private households).

This includes foreigners with a short-term (<=3 months) permit if they have resided at least 12 months in the country and received multiple consecutive short-term permits. Swiss nationals and foreigners with residence permit B (residence permit for 1 year) and C (residence permit for 5 years) are considered having a place of usual residence regardless whether they have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference date or regardless whether a person arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference date with the intention of staying there for at least one year.

3.7. Reference area

Data are available at different levels of geographical detail in EU countries: national, NUTS2/NUTS3 regions and local administrative units (LAU), grids.

3.8. Coverage - Time

Data refer to the census reference date, on 31 December 2021.

3.9. Base period

Not applicable.

Counts of statistical units should be expressed in numbers and where is needed rate per inhabitants enumerated in the country.

See the following sub-concepts.

5.1. EU census reference date

31 December 2021

5.2. National census reference date

31 December 2021

5.3. Differences between reference dates of national and EU census publications

No differences.

6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

The Federal Act of 22 June 2007 on the Federal Census (Census Act) SR 431.112 states in its article 9:

1 The body responsible for the survey is the Federal Statistical Office.
2 The Federal Statistical Office may entrust third parties with the conduct of the surveys.

This law is complemented by the Swiss Federal Ordinance of 19 December 2008 on the Federal Population Census (SR 431.112.1).

More information can be found here: 

SR 431.112 - Federal Act of 22 June 2007 on the Federal Census (Census Act) (admin.ch) (English)
SR 431.112.1 - Verordnung vom 19. Dezember 2008 über die eidgenössische Volkszählung (Volkszählungsverordnung) (admin.ch) (German)
RS 431.112.1 - Ordonnance du 19 décembre 2008 sur le recensement fédéral de la population (Ordonnance sur le recensement) (admin.ch) (French)
RS 431.112.1 - Ordinanza del 19 dicembre 2008 sul censimento federale della popolazione (Ordinanza sul censimento) (admin.ch) (Italian)

6.1.1. Bodies responsible

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO)

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO)

7.1. Confidentiality - policy

• Federal Act on Data Protection of 25 September 2020 (SR 235.1)
• Ordinance to the Federal Act on Data Protection of 14 June 1993 (SR 235.11)
• Federal Statistics Act of 9 October 1992 (SR 431.01)
• Swiss Federal Act of 22 June 2007 on the Federal Population Census (Census Act; SR 431.112)
• Swiss Federal Ordinance of 19 December 2008 on the Federal Population Census (SR 431.112.1)

"Section 5 - Dissemination and services" of the Federal Statistics Act specifies:
Art. 18, par. 3: Unless such publication is required by law, the results may not enable any conclusions to be drawn regarding the circumstances of individual natural persons or legal entities that the person or entity concerned has not already made generally available.
Art. 19, par. 2: The federal statistical bodies providers may disclose personal data for purposes not related to specific persons, in particular for research, planning or statistics, to research and statistical offices of the Confederation and to third parties, if:
a. the data is rendered anonymous, as soon as the purpose of the processing the data is achieved;
b. the recipient divulges the data with the consent of the statistics generators;
c. the recipient only discloses the results so that the persons concerned are not recognisable; and
d. the recipient meets the requirements for compliance with statistical secrecy and the other data protection provisions.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Cell Key method recommended by Eurostat applied on the data for the statistical disclosure control.

8.1. Release calendar

Data are made available 12 months after the end of the reference period (December 2021)

8.2. Release calendar access

Data and metadata are available on internet.

8.3. Release policy - user access

Data are mostly made available through excel-tables and interactive tables (PC-Axis), on the web pages of the FSO, in German and French, and partly in Italian and English Federal Statistical Office | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

For researchers, micro data can be made available for a limited duration, after signing a data protection contract.

Dissemination of Eurostat hybercubes : decennial. Dissemination of annual Swiss census data : annual.

See the following sub-concepts.

10.1. Dissemination format - News release

Press releases for the census can be found on these pages:

Press releases | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch) (English)

Medienmitteilungen | Bundesamt für Statistik (admin.ch) (German)

Communiqués de presse | Office fédéral de la statistique (admin.ch) (French)

Comunicati stampa | Ufficio federale di statistica (admin.ch) (Italian)

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Data are mainly available on the FSO internet pages. A special page is dedicated to the results of the Swiss census:

Census | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch) (English)
Volkszählung | Bundesamt für Statistik (admin.ch) (German)
Recensement de la population | Office fédéral de la statistique (admin.ch) (French)
Censimento della popolazione | Ufficio federale di statistica (admin.ch) (Italian)

but results can also be found under different topics, for example "Population":
Population | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

The yearly printed publications "Statistical Yearbook of Switzerland", "Statistical Data on Switzerland" and "Switzerland's population" present (among other topics) results of the census. They can also be found on the FSO web pages:
All publications | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

The main results of the census are disseminated through interactive tables (PC-Axis):
STAT-TAB - interactive tables (FSO) (admin.ch)

A wider collection of published items by the FSO can be consulted here:
Catalogues and Databases | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

Micro data can be made available to researchers, for a limited period of time, provided they sign a data protection contract.

10.5. Dissemination format - other

Ad-hoc reports and analyses for external clients.

10.6. Documentation on methodology

Methodology reports are available since 2014.

Below are several links to some documents describing the Swiss Census.

Annexes:
Census | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

Harmonisierung amtlicher Personenregister - Amtlicher Katalog der Merkmale | Publikation | Bundesamt für Statistik (admin.ch) (German)
Harmonisation de registres officiels de personnes - Catalogue officiel des caractères | Publication | Office fédéral de la statistique (admin.ch) (French)

Describing the Anticipated Accuracy of the Swiss Population Survey - Methodology report | Publication | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch) (English)

Merkmalskatalog - Eidgenössisches Gebäude- und Wohnungsregister - Version 4.1 | Publikation | Bundesamt für Statistik (admin.ch) (German)
Catalogue des caractères - Registre fédéral des bâtiments et des logements - Version 4.1 | Publication | Office fédéral de la statistique (admin.ch) (French)
Catalogo delle caratteristiche - Registro federale degli edifici e delle abitazioni - Versione 4.1 | Pubblicazione | Ufficio federale di statistica (admin.ch) (Italian)

10.7. Quality management - documentation

The final report on the coverage assessment is available since 2014.

Quality survey of the national census system | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

11.1. Quality assurance

The quality assurance measures are documented in the detailed concepts of each of the four elements of the Swiss Census. These are internal documents only.

The final report on the coverage assessment is available since 2014.

Quality survey of the national census system | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

11.2. Quality management - assessment

In Switzerland, different laws and incentives guarantee that civil status events are registered in the Civil Registers and that persons are registered in the Population registers. Therefore the overall quality of results for the population at their legal residence is judged as very good.
However, homeless or roofless persons, nomads and vagrants are counted only if they are registered in the Population registers.

11.2.1. Coverage assessment

In Switzerland, different laws and incentives guarantee that civil status events are registered in the Civil Registers and that persons are registered in the Population registers. Therefore the overall quality of results for the population at their legal residence is judged as very good.
However, homeless or roofless persons, nomads and vagrants are counted only if they are registered in the Population registers.

11.2.2. Post-enumeration survey(s)

In 2013 a post enumeration survey has been carried out to assess the coverage and the quality of the two register based statistics (Population and Households statistics, Buildings and Dwellings statistic). For details see Quality-survey-national-census-system.

12.1. Relevance - User Needs

The census data disseminated by Eurostat are addressed to policy makers, researchers, media and the general public.

12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

No user satisfaction surveys are conducted. User inquiries are handled by the Eurostat User Support service.

12.3. Completeness

Depends on the availability of data transmitted by the National Statistical Institutes.

In Switzerland, different laws and incentives guarantee that civil status events are registered in the Civil Registers and that persons are registered in the Population registers. Therefore the overall quality of results for the population at their legal residence is judged as very good.
However, homeless or roofless persons, nomads and vagrants are counted only if they are registered in the Population registers.

13.1. Accuracy - overall

Hypercubes based on the Structural Survey surveys only for the permanent resident population aged 15 years or older living in private households.
(HC01-07, HC10, HC12, HC14-36, HC39)

Hypercubes based on the Register-based Survey are collected exhaustively from the municipal or federal register and contain all population and buildings.
(HC08, HC09, HC11, HC13, HC37, HC38, HC40, HC41)

Describing the Anticipated Accuracy of the Swiss Population Survey - Methodology report | Publication | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch) (English)

13.1.1. Overall accuracy - Usual residence

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.2. Overall accuracy - Sex

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.3. Overall accuracy - Age

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.4. Overall accuracy - Marital status

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.5. Overall accuracy - Family status

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.6. Overall accuracy - Household status

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.7. Overall accuracy - Current activity status

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.8. Overall accuracy - Occupation

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.9. Overall accuracy - Industry

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.10. Overall accuracy - Status in employment

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.11. Overall accuracy - Place of work

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.12. Overall accuracy - Educational attainment

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.13. Overall accuracy - Size of the locality

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.14. Overall accuracy - Place of birth

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.15. Overall accuracy - Country of citizenship

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.16. Overall accuracy - Year of arrival in the country

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.17. Overall accuracy - Residence one year before

This information is calculated from the previous year's data. They are provided by the municipal or federal registers for each inhabitant in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.18. Overall accuracy - Housing arrangements

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.19. Overall accuracy - Type of family nucleus

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.20. Overall accuracy - Size of family nucleus

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.21. Overall accuracy - Type of private household

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.22. Overall accuracy - Size of private household

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.23. Overall accuracy - Tenure status of households

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.24. Overall accuracy - Type of living quarter

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each building in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.25. Overall accuracy - Occupancy status

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each building in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.26. Overall accuracy - Type of ownership

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.27. Overall accuracy - Number of occupants

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.28. Overall accuracy - Useful floor space

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each building in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.29. Overall accuracy - Number of rooms

This variable is not used ("Useful floor space" is used instead)

13.1.30. Overall accuracy - Density standard (floor space)

This information comes from a large sample survey (Structural Survey) and is judged to be of good quality.

13.1.31. Overall accuracy - Density standard (number of rooms)

This variable is not used ("Density standard (floor space)" is used instead)

13.1.32. Overall accuracy - Water supply system

This information is mandatory and provided by the municipal or federal registers for each building in Switzerland. This data is accurate.

13.1.33. Overall accuracy - Toilet facilities

This variable is not provided

13.1.34. Overall accuracy - Bathing facilities

This variable is not provided

13.1.35. Impact of the COVID pandemic on data accuracy

The COVID-19 pandemic had no impact on the census accuracy. In the census as it is conducted in Switzerland since 2010 data are collected from administrative registers and by means of online as well as paper questionnaires.

13.2. Sampling error

Not applicable for register-based and traditional censuses.

13.3. Non-sampling error

Homeless or roofless persons, nomads and vagrants are counted only if they are registered in the Population registers.

14.1. Timeliness

The FSO strives to provide statistical data in a timely fashion, while preserving data quality and accessability.

14.2. Punctuality

Data are recorded with good punctuality in the registers and delivered by the various administrations to the FSO, via a secure data exchange platform (sedex, sedex (www.sedex.ch) | Bundesamt für Statistik (admin.ch) ), according to planification.

15.1. Comparability - geographical

Data cover the whole of Switzerland and are completely comparable between geographical areas.

15.1.1. Geographic information - data quality

Data cover the whole of Switzerland and are completely comparable between geographical areas.

15.2. Comparability - over time

Not applicable.

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

Data are coherent. A large number of data verification on micro as well as macro level takes place before the data publication.

The use of a unique personal identifier (the social insurance number) in all data sets allows for record matching during the production of the data and the correction of any incoherence. 

15.4. Coherence - internal

Data are coherent. The use of a unique personal identifier (the social insurance number) in all data sets allows for record matching during the production of the data and the correction of any incoherence.

The annual Swiss Census (since 2010) has considerably reduced the burden on communes and respondents. Indeed register harmonization at national, regional and local levels have made it possible that data from registers can be extracted four times a year. The overall costs of compiling data thus have been reduced.

Further measures that helped reduce cost were: application of project management procedures, controlling, good coordination between developers of IT-applications and census specialists, extensive testing of Census procedures and IT-applications, quality control.

17.1. Data revision - policy

Below is a link to the data revision policy (English).

Annexes:
Revision policy | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch)

17.2. Data revision - practice

There are no updates of the 2021 census data.

18.1. Source data

• Cantonal and communal population registers
• Federal registers of persons
• Structural Survey

18.1.1. List of data sources

• Cantonal and communal population registers
• Federal registers of persons
• Structural Survey

18.1.1.1. List of data sources - Data on persons

Register Survey (full survey STATPOP)

Structural Survey (sample survey)

18.1.1.2. List of data sources - Data on households

Structural Survey (sample survey)

18.1.1.3. List of data sources - Data on family nuclei

Structural Survey (sample survey)

18.1.1.4. List of data sources - Data on living quarters

Register on Buildings and Dwelling

18.1.1.5. List of data sources - Data on conventional dwellings

Register Survey (full survey STATPOP)

18.1.2. Classification of data sources

Classification of the data sources as requested by Reg. 2017/881, Annex point 2.1.

18.1.2.1. Classification of data sources - Data on persons

04.Combination of register-based censuses and sample surveys

18.1.2.2. Classification of data sources - Data on households

04.Combination of register-based censuses and sample surveys

18.1.2.3. Classification of data sources - Data on family nuclei

04.Combination of register-based censuses and sample surveys

18.1.2.4. Classification of data sources - Data on living quarters

02.Register-based censuses

18.1.2.5. Classification of data sources - Data on conventional dwellings

02.Register-based censuses

18.1.3. List of data sources per topic

The register-based Survey (Cantonal and communal population registers, Federal registers of persons) provides information: a) about people and households on age, sex, marital status, nationality, household size, etc.; b) about buildings and dwellings according to age, building category, number of dwellings, number of rooms, area etc. The Register Survey provides basic information about the entire population; the data can be evaluated at a very detailed geographical level.

The Structural Survey provides information on the themes of population, households, families, housing, employment, mobility, education, language and religion. The sample population is composed of persons aged 15 or more of the permanent resident population living in private households. The survey complements the information from the registers and provides additional statistics on the structure of the population. The results are available at geographic aggregation levels: Switzerland, major regions, cantons and communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants.

18.1.4. Adequacy of data sources

Essential features are met

18.1.4.1. Adequacy of data sources - Individual enumeration

The characteristics of each statistical unit are recorded separately, so that each characteristic can be cross-classified with others.

18.1.4.2. Adequacy of data sources - Simultaneity

All information refers to the same point in time (reference date).

18.1.4.3. Adequacy of data sources - Universality within the defined territory

Data are provided for all statistical units in a defined territory (for persons in particular, data are provided for all usual residents in a defined territory).

18.1.4.4. Adequacy of data sources - Availability of small-area data

Data are available for small geographical areas and for small subgroups of statistical units.

18.1.4.5. Adequacy of data sources - Defined periodicity

data are collected annually on the reference date of December 31.

18.2. Frequency of data collection

Annual

18.3. Data collection

Register-based data:
a) A special law was passed to define the content (only census data) of the already existing registers of persons used for the census: the Federal Act of 23 June 2006 on the Harmonisation of the Register of Residents and of other Official Registers of Persons (Register Harmonisation Act, RHA; SR 431.02. See also the Ordinance on Register Harmonisation of 21 November 2007, SR 431.021). It also addresses the transmission of data to the FSO, the legal obligations regarding registration, the delays in reporting, etc.
Art. 11 Duty to notify specifies:
The cantons shall issue the required regulations so that:
a. natural persons notify the official agency responsible for maintaining the register of residents within 14 days of relocation;
b. the persons required to report provide truthful information on the data defined in Article 6 and, if required, the relevant documents.
Persons can be registered in several registers, so during processing the FSO links the records with the help of a unique personal identifier (the social insurance number).
b) Concerning data on buildings and dwellings, the rules concerning the maintenance of the register are fixed in the Ordinance of 31 May 2000 on the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings (SR 431.841).

18.3.1. Data collection - Questionnaire based data

The Structural Survey provides information on the themes of population, households, families, housing, employment, mobility, education, language and religion. The sample population is composed of persons aged 15 or more of the permanent resident population living in private households; this population is surveyed in writing (participation by internet or by completing a written questionnaire). The survey complements the information from the registers and provides additional statistics on the structure of the population. The results are available at geographic aggregation levels: Switzerland, major regions, cantons and communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants.

18.3.2. Data collection - Register based data

Register-based data:
a) A special law was passed to define the content (only census data) of the already existing registers of persons used for the census: the Federal Act of 23 June 2006 on the Harmonisation of the Register of Residents and of other Official Registers of Persons (Register Harmonisation Act, RHA; SR 431.02. See also the Ordinance on Register Harmonisation of 21 November 2007, SR 431.021). It also addresses the transmission of data to the FSO, the legal obligations regarding registration, the delays in reporting, etc.
Art. 11 Duty to notify specifies:
The cantons shall issue the required regulations so that:
a. natural persons notify the official agency responsible for maintaining the register of residents within 14 days of relocation;
b. the persons required to report provide truthful information on the data defined in Article 6 and, if required, the relevant documents.
Persons can be registered in several registers, so during processing the FSO links the records with the help of a unique personal identifier (the social insurance number).
b) Concerning data on buildings and dwellings, the rules concerning the maintenance of the register are fixed in the Ordinance of 31 May 2000 on the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings (SR 431.841).

18.3.3. Data collection - Sample survey based data

The Structural Survey provides information on the themes of population, households, families, housing, employment, mobility, education, language and religion. The sample population is composed of persons aged 15 or more of the permanent resident population living in private households; this population is surveyed in writing (participation by internet or by completing a written questionnaire). The survey complements the information from the registers and provides additional statistics on the structure of the population. The results are available at geographic aggregation levels: Switzerland, major regions, cantons and communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants.

18.3.4. Data collection - Data from combined methods

Since 2010, the census is conducted and evaluated on an annual basis by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). This new census is based on a "Register Survey" that evaluates existing administrative data. To this end, the FSO uses cantonal and communal population registers, federal registers of persons and the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings. For census purposes, the information that is not contained in a register is collected with an additional sample survey, the annual "Structural Survey" of 200,000 people; cantons and cities can enlarge the sample for their area

The Register Survey provides information: a) about people and households on age, sex, marital status, nationality, household size, etc.; b) about buildings and dwellings according to age, building category, number of dwellings, number of rooms, area etc. The Register Survey provides basic information about the entire population; the data can be evaluated at a very detailed geographical level.

18.4. Data validation

All data treatments are done in accordance with the EDIMBUS Recommended Practices on Editing and Imputation in Cross Sectional Business Surveys (see link below). Although these recommendations have been developped for business surveys, they are also applicable to census surveys.

Annexes:

Recommended+Practices-for-editing-and-imputation-in-cross-sectional-business-surveys-2008.

18.5. Data compilation

All data treatments are done in accordance with the EDIMBUS Recommended Practices on Editing and Imputation in Cross Sectional Business Surveys (see link below). Although these recommendations have been developped for business surveys, they are also applicable to census surveys.

Annexes:

Recommended+Practices-for-editing-and-imputation-in-cross-sectional-business-surveys-2008.

18.6. Adjustment

Data are retrieved from various sources. Problems with contracting data of the following variables are treated automatically or manually:

sex
age
marital status

Switzerland has a statistical system which makes it possible to observe the structure and development of the population and households, as well as of buildings and dwellings on a continuous basis. Thanks to this population census system, economic and social change can be analysed effectively. The results cover a wide range of current topics.

Since 2010, the census has been conducted annually by the FSO. In order to ease the burden on the population, the information is primarily drawn from communal or cantonal population registers, federal registers of persons and the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings and supplemented by sample surveys.

Further qualitative metadata on the 2021 Population and Housing Census

The data present the results of the 2021 EU census on population and housing, following Regulation (EC) 763/2008; Regulation (EU) 2017/543; Regulation (EU) 2017/712 and Regulation (EU) 2017/881.

Since 2010, the census is conducted and evaluated on an annual basis by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO). This new census is based on a "Register Survey" that evaluates existing administrative data. To this end, the FSO uses cantonal and communal population registers, federal registers of persons and the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings. For census purposes, the information that is not contained in a register is collected with an additional sample survey, the annual "Structural Survey" of at least 200,000 people; cantons and cities can enlarge the sample for their area.

The Register Survey provides information: a) about people and households on age, sex, marital status, nationality, household size, etc.; b) about buildings and dwellings according to age, building category, number of dwellings, number of rooms, area etc. The Register Survey provides basic information about the entire population; the data can be evaluated at a very detailed geographical level.

The Structural Survey provides information on the themes of population, households, families, housing, employment, mobility, education, migration, language and religion. The sample population is composed of persons aged 15 or more of the permanent resident population living in private households; this population is surveyed in writing (participation by internet or by completing a paper questionnaire). The survey complements the information from the registers and provides additional statistics on the structure of the population. The results are available at geographic aggregation levels: Switzerland, major regions, cantons and communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants.

Given the different survey types in the Swiss census system the use of full survey data is prefential to sample survey data. Where possible, hypercubes are therefore produced with data from our Register Survey. But as soon as a dimension or variable occurs in a hypercube that can be found only in the Structural Survey data the data source of a hypercube becomes the Structural Survey enriched by Register Survey data. Further, Structural Survey data are split in two different datasets, in a "survey person" dataset and a "household" dataset which normally should have the same number of records as only one person per household receives a questionnaire of the Structural Survey. Due to inconsistencies in the total number of persons in a household between information provided by the surveyed person and information we obtain from the Register Survey we exclude records in the "household" dataset. The person weights of the household dataset vary therefore from the weights of the "survey person" dataset. This difference in the weight distribution shows particularly in dimensions or variables that refer to the surveyed person, such as e.g. SIE, EDU or IND. Here again, due to the larger number of records the use of the "survey person" dataset is preferential to the use of the "household" dataset. But if a household dimension or variable occurs in a hypercube, the only available data source in the Swiss census system is the "household" dataset, using person weights in order to produce that hypercube. Small differencies in the data extrapolation of specific dimensions or variables that refer to the survey person may occur depending on whether the data source used to produce a hypercubes is the "survey person" dataset or the "household" dataset.

19 February 2025

The information is given separately for each census topic.

The EU programme for the 2021 population and housing censuses includes data on persons, private households, family nuclei, conventional dwellings and living quarters.

Persons enumerated in the 2021 census are those who were legally resident in the territory of Switzerland.

Hypercubes which contain at least one dimension whose data source is the Structural Survey (sample survey) enumerate only persons that belong to the permanent resident population aged 15 years and older in conventional households (private households).

This includes foreigners with a short-term (<=3 months) permit if they have resided at least 12 months in the country and received multiple consecutive short-term permits. Swiss nationals and foreigners with residence permit B (residence permit for 1 year) and C (residence permit for 5 years) are considered having a place of usual residence regardless whether they have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference date or regardless whether a person arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference date with the intention of staying there for at least one year.

Data are available at different levels of geographical detail in EU countries: national, NUTS2/NUTS3 regions and local administrative units (LAU), grids.

See the following sub-concepts.

Hypercubes based on the Structural Survey surveys only for the permanent resident population aged 15 years or older living in private households.
(HC01-07, HC10, HC12, HC14-36, HC39)

Hypercubes based on the Register-based Survey are collected exhaustively from the municipal or federal register and contain all population and buildings.
(HC08, HC09, HC11, HC13, HC37, HC38, HC40, HC41)

Describing the Anticipated Accuracy of the Swiss Population Survey - Methodology report | Publication | Federal Statistical Office (admin.ch) (English)

Counts of statistical units should be expressed in numbers and where is needed rate per inhabitants enumerated in the country.

All data treatments are done in accordance with the EDIMBUS Recommended Practices on Editing and Imputation in Cross Sectional Business Surveys (see link below). Although these recommendations have been developped for business surveys, they are also applicable to census surveys.

Annexes:

Recommended+Practices-for-editing-and-imputation-in-cross-sectional-business-surveys-2008.

• Cantonal and communal population registers
• Federal registers of persons
• Structural Survey

Dissemination of Eurostat hybercubes : decennial. Dissemination of annual Swiss census data : annual.

The FSO strives to provide statistical data in a timely fashion, while preserving data quality and accessability.

Data cover the whole of Switzerland and are completely comparable between geographical areas.

Not applicable.