4 C
London
Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Population Census 2025: Key Changes and Their Impact on Communities

Date:

Related stories

Potential Sabotage on the New Warship Emden?

Concerns about potential sabotage of the new corvette 'Emden'...

French President of the Central African Republic: Is His Account Hacked for Cryptocurrency Launch?

Professor Faustin Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African...

Title: Bundestag’s General Debate: A Conclusive Farewell Discussion

The upcoming 2025 federal election in Germany is marked...

Hair Growth Gone Awry: The Troubling Experiences of French Citizens Facing Botched Overseas Procedures

Clément seeks corrective hair reconstruction after a flawed transplant...
- Advertisement -

The ‘Population Census 2025’ in the French Republic runs from January 16 to February 22, surveying around nine million residents with new questions, including one about parental birthplace that has sparked controversy. Participation is mandatory, with penalties for non-compliance. The census is crucial for local authorities to adapt community services and infrastructure, as highlighted by the experiences of various municipalities seeking to retain or grow their populations.

The individual bulletin titled ‘Population Census 2025’ prominently features the official designation ‘French Republic’. The campaign for the census of the French population commenced on January 16 and is set to continue until February 22.

Around nine million individuals will be surveyed by Insee, with several new questions introduced this year, one of which has sparked controversy. This operation is being carried out by Insee in collaboration with local municipalities.

Municipalities Involved

Starting from January 16 and lasting until mid-February for mainland areas, residents in towns with populations under 10,000 may encounter an Insee agent who is responsible for counting the local populace. For larger municipalities, those with more than 10,000 residents, the deadline extends to February 22. The census frequency varies based on the municipality’s size; smaller towns are counted every five years, encompassing all households, while larger towns conduct an annual census on a sample of 8% of addresses, which changes each year. In total, approximately 15,000 municipalities will participate in the 2025 census.

Introduction of New Questions, Including a Controversial One

Insee has announced the addition of three new questions to the individual census bulletins this year. These inquiries focus on teleworking habits, daily life activity limitations, and the birthplace of parents. According to Insee, these questions aim to address significant information needs, although such changes are rare.

One of the newly introduced questions has raised eyebrows: ‘What is the birthplace of your parents?’ Concerns about potential political misuse have emerged, prompting five unions and associations (including LDH, CGT, FSU, Solidaires, MRAP) to urge respondents to refrain from answering this particular question. They argue that collecting data based on parental birthplace at a localized level could be misused to frame the population’s identity in a problematic manner.

In response to these concerns, Insee clarified that this question is optional. It is designed to enhance understanding of the population’s diversity and to document generational residential mobility and spatial segregation. Muriel Barlet, head of Insee’s demographics department, stated that this question would help track whether individuals return to live in the areas where their parents were born.

Mandatory Participation

Participation in the census is compulsory. Residents who receive the bulletin are legally required to complete it, and failure to do so may result in a fine. According to Article 3 of Law No. 51-711 from June 7, 1951, individuals must comply with statistical surveys mandated by the government.

Non-compliance may lead to a formal notification via registered mail from the municipality, along with a potential fine of 38 euros for a ‘persistent refusal’. Additionally, knowingly providing inaccurate information can also lead to penalties, although such enforcement is rarely implemented. The overall response rate remains high, with Insee reporting a 97% participation rate nationwide each year.

The Significance of the Census

The responses collected from this questionnaire are vital for municipalities. For instance, the town of Saint-Avold (Moselle) is actively working on initiatives to retain its population of 15,114 residents. Mayor René Steiner emphasizes the importance of completing the questionnaire, stating that it provides crucial indicators across various sectors, including education, early childhood, and employment. ‘We need to adapt our sports and community infrastructures to the changing population.’

The census is especially crucial for certain towns. For example, after surpassing the 500-inhabitant threshold in 2020, the village of Moncel-sur-Seille (Meurthe-et-Moselle) experienced an increase in state funding of 64 euros per resident, enabling it to renovate its community hall and support local businesses.

Latest stories