The mid-term population and housing census will be conducted on April 1, 2014.

TAccording to the General Statistics Office, implementing the National Statistical Survey Program, the Prime Minister's direction on integrating housing survey into the mid-term population survey and on the basis of coordination with the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management (Ministry of Construction), the unit will conduct the mid-term Population and Housing Survey on April 1, 2014.

It is known that according to the National Statistical Investigation Program (issued with Decision No. 803/QD-TTg dated June 28, 2012 of the Prime Minister), every 10 years, Vietnam conducts a National Population and Housing Census to collect a complete number of households, population and housing. To obtain annual population data between two Census periods, the General Statistics Office conducts an annual population change and family planning survey with a small sample size, enough to estimate the national and provincial population. For years ending in 4, the General Statistics Office organizes a larger-scale Mid-Term Population Census to obtain detailed data down to the district level.

Housing was also surveyed during this period. (Photo: HNV)

According to the implementation plan, the investigation has three main purposes including:

Firstly, collect data on population and housing nationwide as a basis for evaluating national programs on population and housing, thereby assessing the implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the period 2011 - 2015; develop policies and make plans for population and housing to serve the preparation of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the period 2016 - 2020; and monitor the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to which the Vietnamese Government has committed.

Second, providing data on population size to the district level 5 years after the 2009 Population Census; as a basis for reviewing and adjusting annual population data for the period 2010 - 2014; supplementing the General Statistics Office's population and housing data warehouse to serve the research, analysis and forecasting of population and housing development between two Population Census periods nationwide and in each locality to serve international comparison requirements.

Third, provide a sample frame for statistical surveys of households.

On that basis, the survey subjects include: actual permanent population of households; deaths of households; housing of households in selected survey areas.

The survey unit is the household. The surveyor must go to the household to directly interview the head of the household (or the person providing information) and the household members who are women aged 15-49 to fully record the answers on the survey form.

This is a large-scale sampling survey with a total of 20% of the country's areas (equivalent to 37,395 areas) selected to survey 30 households/area. Thus, the whole country will have about 1,121,850 households surveyed. The sampling frame is the overall frame from the results of the 2009 Population and Housing Census. The sample is selected by district. The country has a total of 699 district-level sampling frames (except for 4 small island districts that were not selected for the survey sample).

The investigation time is 0:00 on April 1, 2014. The investigation time in the area is about 20 days, starting from 7:00 am on April 1, 2014 and ending no later than April 20, 2014.

To facilitate and effectively conduct the investigation, the plan for the remaining tasks has been completed. Accordingly, from January to the end of February 2014, diagrams will be drawn, lists will be made; investigators, team leaders and supervisors at all levels will be recruited; investigation manuals and survey forms will be completed. In March 2014, the General Statistics Office will provide training on investigation techniques for investigators, team leaders and supervisors; print and distribute survey forms; and disseminate information about the investigation on mass media. From April 1 to 20, 2014, information will be collected in the field; from May to July 2014, forms will be accepted at all levels; from August to November 2014, data will be processed; in October 2014, the results of the quick summary will be announced; in December 2014, the official results will be announced./.

According to the Communist Party of Vietnam