Census
Why Is the Population and Housing Census Important to You!
The Census provides a snapshot of who we are as a nation and how we have changed. In essence, it shows how many people live on our island, where we live, the state of our housing stock and so much more.
Primarily, the fundamental purpose of the Population and Housing Census is to provide reliable data necessary for sound policy-making, planning and administrative purposes. Information received from the population of Barbados is essential for describing and assessing the country’s economic, social and demographic circumstances.
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Further to this, academics, researchers and students use the data from the Population and Housing Census as an indispensable source in their scientific analysis. Shifts in the composition and distribution of the population by various thematic areas such as education, fertility, housing, religion are of primary concern.
The decennial census also provides a base to inform business development and investment in our country, which is vitally important for the institutions and individuals within the business and labour community. Accurate information on the size and distribution of the population, especially at the parish or community level proves to be very useful since these indicators influence the demand for labour, goods and services.
Census Publications
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Source: CARICOM Capacity Development Programme (CCDP)
Census Notices!
- Census Day is August 1st, 2021!
- Listen to the Census jingle.
Census Day was 1st August 2021.
Enumeration has started!
How is the Census Progressing?
Estimates as of 29-Oct-2021
Historical Context of Census in Barbados
The first modern Census of the population of Barbados was conducted on June 3rd, 1844. Before 1844 there were some estimates of individual enumeration followed by a period where there was no count of the population (excluding the population slaves) for many years. Therefore this Census represented a count of all citizens, whether they were freed slaves or not.
Another milestone was achieved at the time of the 1946 Census, as this was the first time that the Census was organised with close collaboration with other British Colonies in the Caribbean.
These facts highlight that Barbados has had a long history of Census taking and from 1946 it has always been on the premise of a Population and Housing Census, not just on the Population of Barbados alone. Although, having the practice of conducting Censuses in the early years, they were not conducted on a regular predictable manner, necessary for comparable information produced in a fixed sequence. Read More
Total Population at Each Census
Brief on Census 2021
The date for the 2021 Population and Housing Census is August 1st, 2021, a shift from the Census traditionally being held in a year ending with "0". This is due largely to the restrictions imposed by the effects of COVID-19.
No enumeration will take place on this day; however enumeration will begin the day after, August 2nd, 2021.
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The census will be undertaken using a mixed-mode approach to data collection. Computer- assisted Web interviewing (CAWI), Computer-assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) through the use of tablets and Computer-assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). Some of the advantages of using these technologies include providing an alternate space to complete the Census given the current Covid-19 and Volcanic Ash fall challenges.
In addition these technologies also allow us to avoid the cost of having to print large volumes of census questionnaires, having the completed census documents captured electronically and making the processing time shorter.
The Census exercise is always an exciting time for us, and the use of CAWI and CAPI technology in the 2020 round of Censuses makes it even more so because it represents a departure from the traditional method of Paper and Pencil Interviewing (PAPI).
To ensure that the island’s population is properly enumerated we will be utilizing 305 enumerators to canvas 609 enumeration districts, 61 Census Supervisors, 10 Senior Supervisors and 25 Trainers. These personnel will be critical to ensure that the entire island is canvased completely.
The Population & Housing Census has started!
We are collecting data from...
