Croatia’s population census likely to be postponed

(Photo credit: Lucijan Blagonic)

ZAGREB, 9 February (Hina) – The 2021 population census should be held two months later than planned, from 1 June to 4 July instead of from 1 April to 7 May, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) says in an estimate of amendments to the census law.

The amendments are necessary due to problems caused by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Parliament passed the 2021 population census law on 28 February 2020. The census was to have been carried out from 1 April to 7 May 2021 according to the situation as on 31 March.

The estimate of the amendments to the law, which are in public consultation from today until 24 February, says the 2021 census will take place according to the situation as on 31 May.

DZS director general Lidija Brković told Croatian Television a week ago the census would most likely take place in June and that the DZS was following the COVID-19 situation and consulting the national COVID-19 response team.

Population censuses are postponed in exceptional situations and this is one of them, and almost every state in the world which conducts face-to-face interviews has been forced to postpone, she said.

The Census of the Population, Households and Dwellings is the most complex and most comprehensive statistical survey organised, coordinated and conducted by the DZS. The government has set aside HRK 177.3 million for this year’s census.