Page 27 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 1

IPS30 Diana B.
Considering the new situation, Statistics Estonia decided to start preparing
a register-based census and test the situation in the two trial censuses in 2016
and 2019.
New goals were set to:
• resolve questions of substantive / legal / technical possibility of a
register-based census;
• settle the relationship between the definitions of register and census
characteristics;
• create a concept and plan for capture of census data;
• develop a methodology for determining the population of the census,
i.e. who should be enumerated;
• develop a framework for quality improvement that would ensure
coverage, accuracy, regular updating of data in registers.
In conclusion, during the period of discussions about the register-based
census in 2009–2015, progress was made towards networking and
interoperability of information systems. An address standard has been
adopted by the population register, data quality is measured by both database
keepers and Statistics Estonia, there is a secure data exchange environment,
registers have owners and the owners have tasks, census data can be used for
data methodology work and quality standards have been established for data.
The development of methodology for a register-based census in Estonia
began in 2010 with an inter-institutional methodology project, which resulted
in a relatively negative assessment of Estonia’s system of registers and raised
questions about Estonia’s ability to conduct a register-based census.

Chapter 3
Preparations in 2015–2019
Analysing the methodology report and results of the last census, the
decision was made to continue development of the methodology within the
EU grant works.
From 2015 to 2019, the methodology team for register-based census at
Statistics Estonia has worked in the following main directions:
1. Cooperation with state registers to verify the quality of data therein,
identify shortcomings and support efforts to improve the quality;
2. Development and testing of algorithms for calculation of census
characteristics based on the information found in registers;
3. Development of methodology (indexes) for correcting inaccuracies in
register data through models based on information obtained from
multiple registers and other sources of information.
The main concern in a register-based census pertains to the poor quality
of registers, which results from incorrect data submitted by the population.

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