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Population census

The Register-based Census is a complete survey of the entire Austrian population and its characteristics (Population Census), as well as of enterprises and their local units of employment, buildings and dwellings. The information needed is not collected from the citizens themselves, but is taken solely from existing administrative registers. 

Censuses are necessary to obtain an accurate overview of the population, the number of buildings, dwellings and local units of employment every ten years. The census results serve as a basis for numerous matters needed by politics, administration, science, media and the population. The population count is very important for the fiscal equalisation between the federal government, the federal provinces and the municipalities, as is the number of citizens for elections. 

The census consists of three parts:

Population Census

  • Persons
  • Households
  • Families

Census of Local Units of Employment

  • Enterprises
  • Local units of employment

Housing Census

  • Buildings
  • Dwellings

Statistics Austria receives and processes fully pseudonymised datasets, according to section 6 (2) Register Census Act, from different register-keeping authorities. Thanks to the eGovernment Act, registers can be linked in absolute compliance with data protection. This is done using the branch-specific personal identification number for official statistics (bPIN OS), which is generated by the Data Protection Commission and does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about individual persons. Data linkage is therefore performed without names using the pseudonym bPIN OS.

A lot of attention is paid to data protection during data processing as well as for publication of the results. At the person level unique or rare combinations of characteristics could allow traceability to individual persons. To prevent individuals from identification, the results are treated with the "record swapping" method.

The Register-based Census uses a large number of basic and comparison registers. Comparison registers are used for quality assurance of the base data.

Basic registers

Comparison registers

  • Register of Foreigners
  • Register of Health Professionals
  • e-Health Directory Service
  • Registers of Public Servants of the federal state and the federal provinces
  • Register of Social Welfare Recipients
  • Familiy Allowance Register
  • Register of Alternative Civilian Service
  • Conscription Register
  • Central Vehicle Licensing Records

All register and administrative data supplied for the census were linked via the branch-specific personal identification number for official statistics (bPIN OS).

The reference date for the Register-based Census 2021 is 31 October 2021. In the period between November 2021 and the end of 2022, a residence analysis took place. Individuals with a doubted main residence were queried.

Once all data submissions are received (→ 6 months after the reference date) and the residence analysis is finished, the Register-based Census results are published in early summer 2023.

Characteristics of the Register-based Census

Demographics

  • sex
  • age
  • country of citizenship
  • legal marital status
  • country of birth
  • year of arrival in Austria
  • place of usual residence one year prior to the census

Education

  • educational attainment
  • field of education
  • participation in formal education

 Households, families

  • type of household
  • household status
  • size of household
  • type of family nucleus
  • family status
  • size of familiy nucleus
  • number of children

Commuters

  • type of commuter (economically active commuters or pupils, students)
  • category of distance
  • distance in kilometers of road
  • commuting time

Employment characteristics

  • current activity status
  • status in employment
  • occupation
  • marginal employment
  • full-time/part-time work

Local units of employment

  • enterprises
  • local units of employment
  • industry (branch of economic activity) 
  • legal form of the enterprise
  • number of self-employed/employed persons

Bulidings and dwellings

  • type of building
  • useful floorspace
  • period of construction
  • type of ownership
  • useful floorspace per occupancy status
  • equipment
  • number of occupants
  • occupancy status
  • type of living quarters
  • housing arrangements
  • number of rooms

Team Registerzählung registerzaehlung@statistik.gv.at
General information service Phone: +43 1 711 28-7070
info@statistik.gv.at Available on weekdays from 9.00 am-4.00 pm
Last updated on 2024-02-09.