This is the largest ever census since the nation’s formation. It will be carried out in all 63 provinces and cities, concerning approximately 94 million people and 26.2 million households.
The entire census saw a large number of conductors: around 120,000 census takers and 9,300 supervisors at all levels.
The census focuses on general information on population; migration status; education and professional level; disability status; fertility, mortality and population growth rates; birth registration status for newborns; the situation of labour and employment; housing status; and households’ basic living conditions.
The application of science and technology into all stages will be a new feature of this year’s national census of population and housing. Specifically, both direct and indirect survey methods will be applied during the census, instead of just the direct survey through filling in a form as with ten years ago.
Regarding the indirect survey method, households provide information about population and housing through e-form on mobile device (CAPI) and webform. Therefore, people will not take time to receive census takers and can answer at any convenient time. In addition, the improvement will contribute to improving the quality of data, increasing transparency, shortening the time needed to publish the results of the census, and reducing the cost of long-term statistical surveys, in line with the world's survey trend.
In addition to the benefits from information and technology application, the national census of population and housing faces many challenges due to limitations of information and technology infrastructure in the statistics sector and also funding. However, the results collected from the fifth national census will have a great significance for the research and analysis of population and housing development, meeting information needs to evaluate the results of implementation of socio-economic development plans over the past 10 years as well as planning strategies for the next ten years.
It is also an important database for the monitoring of the implementation of the 12th Party Central Committee's Resolution on population in the new situation and the implementation of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals committed to by the Government. The census will also provide information, serving for the construction of a national database on population in the current period. If the results and information are not correct, the policy making will risk being affected or deviated, causing disadvantage to the quality of issuance and implementation of the Party’s and State’s policies.
In order to ensure the effectiveness, safety and savings of the 2019 national census of population and housing, the Government has asked the Party committees and authorities at all levels to thoroughly grasp the purpose, scale and context of the census. The Ministry of Information and Communications should ensure the smoothness of information systems and transmission lines during the process of collecting information and data as well as direct telecommunications companies to transfer the messages to mobile subscribers. In addition, it is crucial to accelerate the communication and information work, creating consensus and active participation from people.
