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Census 2021 round (cens_21)

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National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Statistics Finland

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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.

14 October 2024

The information is given separately for each census topic. See the sub-concepts 3.4.1 - 3.4.37.

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

The census data covers the persons with permanent residence in Finland. Permanent residence is measured by the stay or intention to stay in the country lasting at least 12 months, based on information in the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

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

Information is provided in the sub-concepts 5.1 - 5.3.

Administrative registers and other register-based data are mainly used as source data for the census statistics. Thus, the quality of the statistics is directly dependent on the quality of the source data. Direct data collection takes place only in the definition of establishment data for those employed by multi-establishment enterprises and in the definition of occupation for unorganised enterprises.

In Finland, the reliability of register-based data was studied even before the decision was made about the transition to a register-based population census system. In the 1980 and 1985 census data describing the population's economic activity and employment were still collected with questionnaires, but register-based data were also available at the same time. In the 1980 census a comparative survey was made for 20 municipalities and in the 1985 census for all municipalities. The survey compared register-based data on the population's main type of activity and status in occupation with data collected with questionnaires. The differences in data produced on the basis of registers and questionnaires were found to be so small that the decision to move to register-based statistics production could be made.

An extensive reliability study was conducted in 1990 in connection with the first entirely register-based population census. The register statistics were compared with the data provided by the sample-based questionnaire inquiry. The sample comprised around two per cent of buildings, dwellings and persons. The reliability study showed how large a share of the questionnaire data and register data differed from each other but not ultimately which data were correct. For example, a person with several jobs reported a different job as the main job in the questionnaire inquiry than the one inferred from the register. A working student was inevitably defined as employed based on register data even if he/she had not reported his/her job. Studies have shown that the difference between register-based and questionnaire-based data is not greater than the difference between two questionnaire-based data. Comparative studies have been published in Statistics Finland's series.

The use of the Labour Force Survey as comparison data has become the most important quality control method for the register-based employment statistics. The reliability studies of the 1995 and 2000 censuses were also based on the use of the Labour Force Survey as comparison data.

The use of the Labour Force Survey as comparison data works on two levels. On the one hand, the aim is to monitor the level of the results produced by these two methods and on the other hand, how well the methods produce data classified in the same manner at unit level. Unit-level comparisons are made by cross-tabulating register-based and interview-based data on main type of activity and industry from the same time for persons in the sample data of the Labour Force Survey. Comparisons have been made since 1987.

The deviations can often be explained by differences between the register system and the interview method, and it cannot always be unambiguously said which method produces the right result, that is, even the data obtained with the interviews are not necessarily absolutely correct. Often in reality the person or the interviewer has to make a decision based on conflicting information, while an unequivocal rule has been compiled in the register method. The advantage of the register method is then its logicality: the machine always makes the decision in the same way, but persons with the same information can end up with different results.

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

In Finland, administrative registers use the same identification number for persons, which makes it possible and easy to combine data from different registers for statistical purposes.

Statistical units such as persons, buildings, dwellings and establishments are linked together via different codes. All dwellings are linked to a building via a building code maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The building code provides the co-ordinates for the respective unit. Persons and dwellings (buildings and map co-ordinates) are linked via building code.

Employed persons are annually linked with emterprises and their establishments. With the help of the address it is possible to link the establishment with the building number and co-ordinates in the building register.

Source of the population and housing census are administrative data sources, statistical registers and other statistical data. In addition to registers, some inquiries are made to collect data on place on work of persons working in multi-establishment enterprises and occupation of employed of unorganised enterprises.

Data is combined from different data sources using the unique identifiers (personal identification number, building number, dwelling number and business-id).

Decennial.

At the national level, data is available annually.

 The first data related to the population census was published three months after the reference date (population structure) and the last data 22,5 months after the reference date (occupation).

All Census  hypercubes were delivered to Eurostat in February 2024 (before the legal deadline)

Metadata was delivered in March 2024

The data of the census statistics can be produced with both national and European regional classifications (NUTS), given that the statistics include coordinate data for buildings and persons. The statistics are compiled primarily on the basis of concepts and definitions in line with the UN’s recommendations.

The changing regional classifications (such as changes in municipalities) affect the comparability of certain data (e.g. commuting between municipalities). Employment outside the borders of Finland may cause errors in the employment data of border municipalities.

Regarding educational data, the under-coverage is greatest in the regions with the greatest number of immigrants. Under-coverage also pertains to the regions from which individuals head abroad for studies (such as the Åland Islands). 

Not applicable.