Are you affected in 2022? In some municipalities in France, the population census began this week, more precisely on Thursday January 20, and should end on February 19.
And it is INSEE, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, which takes care of it. But beware, not all municipalities are affected by this new wave of census, postponed for a year due to the coronavirus.
To find out if you are going to be one of the people interviewed this year, the Insee website provides its list (find it here).
Simply enter the name of your municipality to see whether or not you will soon be concerned.
[#Recensement2022] The census of the #population starts tomorrow, find out what the stages of the investigation are #RP2022 https://t.co/LTROCbhkxu pic.twitter.com/aCYfRfVVrn
— Insee (@InseeFr) January 19, 2022
How? ‘Or’ What ?
If this is the case, one of the thousands of enumerators dispatched for this new campaign, provided with an official photo card to certify his identity, will distribute to you these days to come a document with an access code for be able to answer the digital questionnaire.
Please note, if you do not want or cannot do it on the Internet, you will be provided with a paper version of the questionnaire which an agent will pick up a few days later.
The questions are pretty basic. They relate to housing (number of rooms, area, etc.) and the people who live there (how many, relationship, level of education, etc.).
With a particularity this year. In municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants, people who live in caravans, mobile homes or on boats at the quay will be counted. As well as the homeless.
Why ?
This census is essential to determine their need for infrastructure and collective equipment. As the Insee website explains: “Opening a nursery, setting up a business, building housing or developing means of transport… so many projects that require detailed knowledge of the population of each municipality.”
Indeed, these figures also derive the number of elected members of the municipal council, the determination of the voting method, but also the number of pharmacies. Finally, they make it possible to provide equipment adapted to the population residing in the territory, such as schools, hospitals and transport.
Finally, the number of inhabitants makes it possible to calculate the budget allocated by the State to the various French municipalities: the more a municipality is populated, the greater this participation.
Is it mandatory?
Responding to census questionnaires is mandatory as provided for in article 3 of law no. 51-711 of 7 June 1951 on the obligation, coordination and secrecy in the area of statistics. All responses submitted must also be completed accurately.
In case of opposition, a formal notice from the mayor of the municipality is sent by registered letter. In the event of a new refusal, the person concerned incurs a fine of 38 euros (article 7 of the law of June 7, 1957).
Moreover, all the data collected by the agents is confidential and the questionnaires cannot under any circumstances give rise to administrative or fiscal controls.