First results of the 2022 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings

The first results of the 2022 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings (the Census) indicate that 6 690 887 inhabitants live in the Republic of Serbia. Data on 2 520 854 households and 3 628 175 dwellings were also collected through the Census.

The Census was carried out from 1 to 31 October 2022. Field data collection was extended in several towns up to 7 November. Telephone enumeration was enabled up to 17 November 2022 for citizens who, for whatever reason, were not enumerated.

As the purpose of the population census is to provide an exhaustive picture of the entire population, in line with the positive international practice, the database obtained by direct enumeration was complemented with data from administrative records.

The first results of the Census contain the main data on the total number of enumerated persons, number of inhabitants, households and dwellings, according to the situation on 30 September 2022.

The first results of the Census are subject to changes during the statistical processing of data. The final results of the Census will be published successively, from April 2023 to June 2024.

The Census was not conducted on the territory of AP Kosovo and Metohija.

Methodological explanations

Total number of enumerated persons  

The data on the total number of enumerated persons include all persons for whom the Individual Questionnaire (Form P-1) was completed.

The Census covers the citizens of the Republic of Serbia having a place of residence/domicile in the Republic of Serbia, as well as the citizens of the Republic of Serbia temporarily residing abroad, permanently settled foreigners and foreigners who were granted temporary residence in the Republic of Serbia, as well as other persons who resided at the moment of the Census on the territory of the Republic of Serbia (e.g. asylum seekers, migrants without defined status, etc.).

The total number of enumerated persons includes also temporarily present persons who were enumerated twice, once in the place where their household lived, and the second time in the place where those persons attended education, or work, as well as persons being absent from their place of residence who resided abroad at the critical moment of the Census, whatever the duration of their absence.

Number of enumerated inhabitants

The data on the number of enumerated inhabitants was derived according to the concept „usual population“, according to which a person is considered an inhabitant of the place where she/he usually spends her/his daily rest alone (in the case of a one-person household) or with her/his household members.

According to the definition of the usual place of residence, the total number of inhabitants of certain place includes:

- persons who live in that place at least 12 months uninterruptedly before the critical moment of the census, as well as

- persons who live in that place less than 12 months, but with the intention of staying there at least one year.

It is worth mentioning that when producing the first results of the Census all parameters for defining total population have not been taken into account, which will be used for the production of the final results of the Census.

Complement from administrative sources

The legal basis for using administrative data in order to enhance the coverage and quality of census data is the Law on 2022 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings, Law on Official Statistics and Law on Personal Data Protection.

Administrative registers and records used to define the set of data for completing the Census are:

- Central Population Register,

- Central Register of Compulsory Social Insurance (CRCSI),

- Records of the National Employment Service,

- Unique Education Information System,

- Records of the Fund of Pension and Disability Insurance,

- Records of the Ministry of Labour, Veterans and Social Affairs, and Ministry of Demography and  

   Family Care about the beneficiaries of different types of social welfare,

- Records of the Republic Fund of Health Insurance about the beneficiaries of health insurance cards.

Total number of inhabitants

The data on the total number of inhabitants represent the sum of enumerated inhabitants and the complement from administrative sources.

Number of enumerated households

A household is every family or other community of persons who live together and spend together their income to meet their basic needs. Data for private and collective households are collected in the Census.

The first Census results contain data on the total number of enumerated private (individual) households.

Number of enumerated dwellings

The Census covers occupied and unoccupied dwellings, dwellings used for rest and recreation or during seasonal agricultural work, as well as dwelling used activity. The Census does not cover dwellings owned by foreign countries, dwellings under construction not yet authorized to be occupied, dwellings used completely to keep agricultural tools, agricultural products and firewood/fuel, as well as dwellings vacated for reasons of demolition in view of constructing new structures, or being decayed (e.g. dilapidated houses).

The total number of dwellings refers to all enumerated dwellings, whether someone lives in or are used for other purposes. Collective dwellings, premises occupied out of necessity, and occupied business premises are not included in the total number of dwellings.